KJF-2024: Almost all Jews in the EU face anti-Semitism online or offline – European Commission

Over the past year, Europe has seen a significant increase in the number of hate incidents and violence against Jews. These include arson attacks on synagogues, physical attacks on Jews, their homes, restaurants, and shops. Across Europe, Holocaust monuments have been defaced with false comparisons between Jews and Nazis.

This was reported by Katharina von Schnurbein, European Commission Coordinator on combating antisemitism, during the Fifth Kyiv Jewish Forum.

"The incidents that we have seen over the past year have reminded us of the darkest page in the history of Europe," Katharina von Schnurbein stated.

According to her data, almost all Jews in the EU now face anti-Semitism online or offline, and eight out of ten avoid wearing or displaying objects that could identify them as Jews in public.

In addition, the Jewish community has been seriously affected by Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. The European Commission coordinator cited data showing that the Jewish community in Ukraine is the fourth largest Jewish community in Europe. "Like all citizens of Ukraine, the community is suffering greatly because of the war, and many have been forced to leave their homes," the EC representative said.

Katharina von Schnurbein emphasized that both wars – the war of Hamas against Israel and the war of Russia against Ukraine – are deeply intertwined with the global rise of anti-Semitism. Anti-Semitism has especially increased after the Hamas attack on Israel and the subsequent events in Gaza.

According to Katharina von Schnurbein, the European Commission has set itself the task of leading the global fight against anti-Semitism. To this end, the EC joined forces with international partners and signed the Global Guidelines for Countering Antisemitism in July 2024. As of now, 42 countries and international organizations have already signed them.

"Our ultimate goal is to ensure that Jews can live without security concerns and lead their lives in accordance with their religious and cultural traditions, like everyone else," the European Commission representative added.

The organizers of the Fifth Kyiv Jewish Forum are the Jewish Confederation of Ukraine and The Jerusalem Post. This year, the main venue of the Forum is centered in Washington, D.C. The speakers are discussing how to confront the modern axis of evil formed by Russia, Iran, and North Korea. They are also discussing how to eliminate the threat of anti-Semitism rising around the world and how to preserve the unity of the Jewish diaspora.

The media partners of KJF-2024 are NV, Oboz.ua, RBC-Ukraine, Telegraf.ua, Inter.

Let’s recall that during the opening of the forum, President of the Jewish Confederation of Ukraine and Vice President of the World Jewish Congress Boris Lozhkin emphasized that Ukrainians and Israelis have high hopes for the return of the U.S. administration that has previously demonstrated its determination to help both Ukraine and Israel.