Rabbi Menachem Margolin, Chairman of the European Jewish Association (EJA), has urgently called on European governments to take decisive action against the surge of antisemitism across the continent. During a meeting in Cyprus on January 13, 2025, Margolin highlighted the alarming rise in antisemitic incidents since October 2023, with reported cases increasing by 2,000 percent.
Margolin warned that if European governments fail to act on these escalating threats, the Jewish community in Europe could face an uncertain future. He noted that approximately 40,000 Jews have already left Europe in recent years due to the growing climate of antisemitism. In an interview with the Associated Press, Margolin stressed that mere verbal condemnation was not enough and called for concrete measures to address the issue.
Other Jewish organizations, including the European Jewish Congress, have also documented a rise in antisemitic activities, such as the defacement of synagogues in Italy and Slovenia with hateful graffiti during protests. These incidents have further fueled concerns about the safety and security of Jewish communities across Europe.
In response to the broader geopolitical climate, the European Union (EU) has taken steps to address rising extremism, extending sanctions on individuals and groups supporting violent actions by Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad. This decision was made on January 13, 2025, alongside sanctions against Israeli extremists impeding humanitarian aid to Gaza, reinforcing the EU’s support for a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
References:
- European Jewish Association (EJA) Statements
- European Jewish Congress Reports
- European Union Council Decision on Sanctions
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