Antisemitism in Europe and across the world has been on the rise in recent decades, skyrocketing after the brutal Hamas massacre of 7 October 2023.
A heterogeneous phenomenon, antisemitism manifests itself in crude and age-old forms of religious hatred, in intolerance towards the “other”, and in extreme forms of nationalism and far-right hostility towards Jews. Equally, it is expressed in the pernicious and ever-growing anti-Zionism of the far left, which often relies on antisemitic tropes, engages in conspiracy theories, and demonises the Jewish state, often seeking to disguise itself as legitimate political critique.
The normalisation of antisemitism on the streets, online, and within mainstream society, across politics and the media, legitimises and encourages acts of violence against Jewish individuals and institutions. In recent years, the most violent expressions of antisemitic hatred have once again increased to the point of becoming commonplace in Europe and beyond.
Antisemitism remains a persistent and pernicious threat to Jews. In the view of many Jewish communities, the situation has deteriorated to such an extent that it calls into question the very continuation of Jewish life in Europe.
This spate of attacks has sadly demonstrated that antisemitism is a global issue that needs to be addressed with a common strategy.
Moreover, antisemitism poses a wider threat to society as a whole. When a Jew is assaulted in the street for being Jewish, it is essentially an assault against democratic values and the rule of law. Among extremists, antisemitism is a common denominator and an essential element of the politics of division and intolerance on which these movements thrive and which pose an existential threat to our democratic societies. They promote and feed off antisemitic tropes and conspiracy theories, which have become more commonplace in recent times.
This alarming long-term growth in antisemitic incidents shows, with every passing year, that it is time for decision-makers and civil society actors to join forces and act vigorously against antisemitism—for the security and well-being of Jewish communities across Europe, for a tolerant and peaceful society, and for the well-being of future generations.
