By Jonathan A. Greenblatt – CEO and National Director of the Anti-Defamation League (ADL)
The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not reflect the editorial stance of Euronews.
In October 2021, the European Commission urged all member states to establish national strategies aimed at combating antisemitism. However, three years later, the Belgian Federal Government has yet to respond adequately to this call to action. Such inaction is simply unacceptable.
Recently, we witnessed a disturbing surge in violence against Jewish communities throughout Europe, reminiscent of traumatic events from a previous century.
In Amsterdam, the night leading up to the anniversary of Kristallnacht saw a series of coordinated and brutal attacks against Jews. Meanwhile, in Berlin, Jewish children faced a barrage of antisemitic epithets on a soccer field, followed by a terrifying chase by a mob armed with knives. In Antwerp, social media erupted with horrific calls for a “Jew Hunt,” leading to the arrest of five individuals before they could carry out their vile intentions.
It’s critical to acknowledge that this level of violence is abnormal, and what we are witnessing is emblematic of attempts to “globalize the intifada.”
Across Europe, propaganda and blood libels have radicalized populations, filling social media feeds with misinformation from sources like Al Jazeera and accounts linked to Hamas and its backers in Tehran. This virulent propaganda is compounded by the silence—or worse, the complicity—of elected officials, public figures, and religious leaders. As a result, latent prejudice morphs into active antisemitism, culminating in tangible acts of violence against Jews.
The recent events, while shocking, are unfortunately not surprising. According to a 2023 survey conducted by the EU Agency for Fundamental Rights, Jewish communities are living under constant threat of antisemitic violence, feeling increasingly unable to express their identity openly.
The survey highlights alarming realities, with over half of the Jewish population in the EU concerned about becoming targets of hate crimes. A staggering three out of four individuals choose to avoid visible markers of their Jewish identity for safety. Even more troubling, one in three refrains from attending Jewish community events due to security fears. This data was gathered before the outbreak of violent antisemitism following the Hamas terror attack on Israel on October 7th. It’s hard to fathom how these numbers have shifted since then.
Regrettably, the situation has deteriorated significantly since that fateful day. Antisemitic incidents across Europe have reached historic highs. In France, home to Europe’s largest Jewish community, anti-Jewish incidents increased tenfold in the three months following October 7th. This alarming trend is ongoing, with the French Ministry of Interior reporting a threefold rise in incidents in the first half of 2024 compared to the same period in 2023.
Jewish communities are deeply unsettled by the growing antisemitic sentiments among their neighbors. As part of the J7 Large Communities Task Force Against Antisemitism, the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) conducted comprehensive opinion polling in 2024 regarding antisemitic attitudes across various countries, including France, Germany, the UK, the USA, Canada, Australia, and Argentina. The results revealed that 56% of respondents from these nations subscribed to the harmful “dual loyalty” myth, which suggests that Jews prioritize loyalty to Israel over their home countries.
This is merely one of several longstanding myths that appear to be gaining momentum rather than dissipating in our modern world.
What can be done to combat this escalating crisis? Addressing antisemitism demands concentrated efforts in three pivotal areas: security, education, and political leadership. The responsibility for advancing these initiatives is primarily with EU member states.
The European Commission has made significant strides in this battle by appointing a Coordinator for combative antisemitism and promoting Jewish life. Additionally, the Commission is funding initiatives in member states to tackle antisemitism, facilitating collaboration between officials and Jewish community leaders to share best practices while highlighting areas of need and assessing progress— or lack thereof—in implementing national strategies and action plans.
Building on these efforts, the most recent report from the European Commission revealed that only 14 out of 27 member states have adopted independent national strategies against antisemitism. Another 9 have included antisemitism within broader anti-racism strategies. However, the Commission urged caution regarding some plans that acknowledge “antisemitism” in a general anti-racism framework without addressing its unique and distinct challenges.
For instance, while racism often manifests through derogatory comments about specific ethnicities or skin colors, antisemitism frequently revolves around pernicious conspiracy theories about secret Jewish control or anti-Zionist narratives that dehumanize the Jewish state and its supporters.
Notably, three countries stand out for their lack of both standalone antisemitism policies and any integration of antisemitism into their existing anti-racism frameworks: Belgium, Lithuania, and Malta. Among these, Belgium has the largest Jewish population, estimated at around 29,000 individuals.
In summary, Belgium, an ancient European hub and home to the European Parliament, emerges as a considerable laggard in confronting the endemic issue of antisemitism within its borders.
The Belgian government’s failure to acknowledge or combat the threat of antisemitism transcends mere political negligence; it poses a direct threat to the safety and well-being of its Jewish citizens. This neglect has left Belgian Jews feeling isolated and vulnerable.
I share their concerns.
Just last April, in an open letter addressed to Prime Minister Alexander de Croo, the Jewish community expressed their growing exasperation:
“In recent years, the Belgian Jewish community has suffered from increasing antisemitism, which has dramatically escalated since October 7, 2023 … In the absence of any sign of genuine empathy, community members feel isolated and abandoned, prompting many to contemplate their future in Belgium.”
The incoming government has a unique opportunity to restore trust within the Jewish community. To achieve this, it must take decisive, proactive steps to combat anti-Jewish sentiments. A national strategy needs to be not just developed but also implemented in collaboration with Belgian Jewish leadership. Moreover, beyond formulating a plan, immediate actions must be taken to safeguard the fundamental rights of the local Jewish community.
The stakes could not be higher. Even before the turmoil of October 7, the EU’s survey indicated that 51% of Jews contemplated emigration due to constraints on living openly as Jews. Such a demographic collapse from the heart of Western Europe is unacceptable during these times—and yet, it may be inevitable.
Antisemitism begins with Jews but does not stop there. The virulent and violent nihilism that currently threatens Belgian Jewry is akin to a raging inferno. If we fail to contain it, those embers will spread, putting the entire fabric of Belgian society at risk. The warning signs are evident.
Belgian Jewish leaders are caught in a tragic dilemma: to remain in Belgium and endure escalating antisemitism, or to move to Israel, a nation at war but where one can live without fear and engage in daily life—shopping, socializing, attending sporting events—without trepidation.
As a parent, what would you choose?
I implore the next Belgian government to break free from past inaction and resolve this profound dilemma.
Publicly commit to and follow through with meaningful measures that ensure Belgian Jews, like all citizens, have the fundamental right to live openly, proudly, and securely as Jews.
This is not just an obligation to your Jewish community; it is an imperative for your country as a whole.
________________________________________
Jonathan A. Greenblatt is the CEO and National Director of the Anti-Defamation League (ADL)
Photo credit & article inspired by: Euronews
