The promotion of Jewish life and the fight against antisemitism. On these two pillars the Council of Europe based its recently approved declaration addressing the dramatic increase in antisemitism across the Old Continent as a consequence of October 7. The two topics are inseparable, as crimes against Jewish individuals and institutions have “dramatically increased” since the Hamas pogroms a year ago, according to the international organization. This has led to a call for “maximum firmness” in combating these actions and an urgent need to foster Jewish life “through culture, education, and Memory.”
\nDivided into several chapters, the document was positively received by the European Jewish Congress (EJC). Particularly for the section linking the rise of antisemitism to the events in Israel after October 7, acknowledging the distortion of the Holocaust at various levels of European society, \u201cthrough the inversion of victim and perpetrator, as well as the attribution of political responsibility to European Jewish citizens for the actions of the State of Israel in a moment when the ancient antisemitic trope of \u2018dual loyalty\u2019 is widespread in our societies.\u201d
\nIn point 6, the Council of Europe observes that “harmful effects for collective historic memory and for the resilience, cohesion and security of European democratic societies should not be underestimated and need to be confronted”, urging vigilance against downplaying these threats.
\nA day earlier, the EU Commission had approved a report outlining its strategy on these issues. “The determination to fight antisemitism is more urgent than ever,” it noted, with the strategy extending until 2030. However, the “worsening situation” calls for further measures to ensure its effective implementation. The Commission also emphasized its intention “to use all available legal and political tools to ensure Jewish life can thrive.”<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"