Jewish leaders from across Europe have unanimously voted in favour of a motion that seeks to stem rising antisemitism across the continent.
Attendees at the annual conference of the European Jewish Association, which met this week in Amsterdam to discuss “fighting back for our future”, this morning voted to pass a motion demanding tougher prosecution of antisemitism in a bid to confront rising levels of Jew-hate across the continent.
It is hoped that the motion will reduce the risk of Jews leaving Europe en masse.
EJA chair Rabbi Menachem Margolin said on Monday that Israel should prepare itself for mass Jewish emigration from Europe. If European governments “carry on as they have so far, if they continue to tolerate this flood of Jew hate, they can expect hundreds and thousands of us to leave”, he warned.
The motion calls for a tougher EU stance on antisemitism at protests, on campuses, in EU institutions and on the streets of Europe and for “the immediate establishment by European governments of an online reporting mechanism” for incidents antisemitism. This should be "directly linked to law enforcement agencies for rapid response.”
Additionally, police officers should be trained in “identifying antisemitism, dealing with antisemitism and arresting those that perpetrate antisemitic acts”.
The motion also addresses the mass anti-Israel rallies that have taken place across many European cities and demands authorities adopt “a zero-tolerance attitude towards violent and/or intimidatory protests to include terrorist organisation banners, flags or insignia.”
Countries across Europe are urged to appoint a dedicated figure to deal with reports of antisemitism, to pursue “much tougher responses to antisemitic incidents, and establish a fast-track procedure towards prosecution”.
The summit yesterday noted the widespread adoption of the IHRA definition of antisemitism and urged European parliaments to “enshrine in law the principles of the IRHA, and establish the legal means to prosecute those in breach of those principles”.
Universities and colleges should be included in the same law, to prohibit and prosecute antisemitic incitement "in classes, lectures, and in activities on campus properties”, delegates heard.