Incidents and Controversies
This list of antisemitic incidents in Europe provides readers with an overview of incidents and controversies all over Europe. It is definitely not complete and to some extent unbalanced, i.e., some countries are better represented than others. However, that does not mean antisemitism is more virulent in countries that are more present in this list; it is simply better monitored there. You can help improve monitoring by reporting incidents that have occurred in your country to the Forum.
Haaksbergen, Netherlands: Steep Rise of Antisemitism Across Holland
February 06, 2009.
Antisemitism has stepped up in the Netherlands in the wake of the Gaza war, including attacks on synagogues and Jewish centers. Amongst others, a synagogue in Haaksbergen was targeted by assailants who hurled stones at it. Molotov cocktails were also thrown at a Jewish-owned building in Amsterdam.
Source: www.haaretz.com, 02-06-2009
Ankara, Turkey: Antisemitic Article Published on Ruling Party’s Website
February 06, 2009.
An article rife with antisemitic commentary was published on the website of Turkey’s ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) and later removed after a journalist called the party to get a statement. In the piece under the heading “The Promised Land – Palestine”, Jews were dubbed as “a swarm of grasshoppers,” among other derogatory terms. The article also denied that the Holocaust had happened and claimed that a number of Adolf Hitler’s closest associates were Jews.
Source: www.ynetnews.com, 02-06-2009
Lutzk, Ukraine: Explosive Device Placed Inside Synagogue
February 05, 2009.
A bottle of white powder hooked up to a timing device was discovered in the ventilation system at the Lutzk Progressive Jewish Congregation. The explosive did not explode due to a technical malfunction, according to a preliminary investigation. The Ukrainian Secret Service classified the attempt as a case of illegally manufactured explosives and not as a terroristic act. Ukrainian Jewish community expressed criticism following the police classification.
Source: www.jta.org, 02-05-2009
Amstelveen, Netherlands: Shots fired at Jewish Center
February 04, 2009.
Two gunshots were fired at the “Sinai” Jewish center in Amstelveen. No one was wounded in the incident and bullet holes in a window were only discovered a day later.
Source: www.jpost.com, 02-04-2009
Larnaca, Cyprus: Increase of Violent Antisemitic Attacks in Cyprus
February 01, 2009.
The Cypriote Jewish Community has suffered a growing number of antisemitic attacks since the beginning of Israel’s military operation in Gaza, according to the island’s chief rabbi. Incidents included the vandalism of a car carrying a Hanukka menorah. Two of the car’s windows were broken. Other attacks included the throwing of eggs and stones and the demolition of a large menorah. The chief rabbi complained that the local authorities do not seem to recognize the dire nature of the situation and claimed that they were ineffective in their response. The police reject the allegations.
Source: www.jpost.com, 02-01-2009
Lille, France: French Court Convicts Man Over Synagogue Attack
January 31, 2009.
A young neo-Nazi was sentenced to six months in prison for scrawling a swastika and antisemitic graffiti on a synagogue in northern France on January 13. The conviction is believed to be among the first related to an upsurge of antisemitic attacks in France prompted by the war in Gaza.
Source: www.jpost.com, 01-31.2009
Arson Attack Damages Kosher Warehouse
January 25, 2009.
A major kosher food warehouse in Paris was badly damaged in an arson attack. Molotov cocktails were found near the house. A video camera showed one person firebombing a car parked in front of the shop. Police said the flames from the vehicle could have spread to the warehouse.
In another incident reported, a father and son were spit at and threatened as they left a synagogue that had been firebombed two weeks prior in a northern Parisian suburb.
Source: www.jta.org, 01-25-2009
Vatican City, Vatican: Pope Lifts Excommunication of Holocaust Denier
January 24, 2009.
Pope Benedict XVI lifted the excommunication of four bishops belonging to the ultra-conservative Society of St. Pius X – one of whom denies the Holocaust. The Society’s Bishop Williamson stated in an interview with Swedish journalists that he considers himself to be a revisionist. He said that he doubted that gas chambers ever existed and estimated that 200,000 to 300,000 Jews died in concentration camps.» Read more.
Amsterdam, Netherlands: House torched in Amsterdam
January 23, 2009.
A house was torched in a suburb of Amsterdam and the word “Jood” or “Jew” was daubed in yellow paint on the window, neighbors said. Part of the scrawled word was missing in the broken glass and police have not classified it as a racist act.
Source: International Herald Tribune, 01-23-2009
Vienna, Austria: Imam Calls Israel a „Beast“
January 15, 2009.
According to the Daily newspaper „Der Standard“, Adnan Ibrahim, Imam of the Schura Mosque in Vienna, made anti-Israel remarks during a sermon. He was quoted saying: “Israel is the actual beast, Israel is the villain.” The political parties of Austria have demanded that Ibrahim, who is reported to have lost 3 members of his family in the recent Gaza conflict, revoke his words.
Source: www.tagesspiegel.de, 01-15-2009
Malmo, Sweden: Jewish Cemetery Firebombed
January 14, 2009.
Unknown suspects have firebombed the burial chapel of a Jewish cemetery in Sweden’s third largest municipality. The attack was the third in recent weeks. Other communities in Sweden have faced anti-Semitic attacks since Israel began its Gaza operation.
Source: www.jta.org, 01-14-2009
Berlin, Germany: Germans Consider Israel Aggressive
January 14, 2009.
According to a recent survey every second interviewee thinks Israel is an aggressive country. 59% agreed that Israel pursued its interests without considering other countries. On the other hand 45% stated Israel was a likeable country and 13% questioned its right to exist.
Source: www.stern.de, 01-14-2009
Duisburg, Germany: Police Remove Israeli Flag During Pro-Palestinian Demonstration
January 13, 2009.
Police in the western City of Duisburg have admitted to removing flags a student had hung in his apartment in support of Israel during a pro-Palestinian protest march in the city. Officers broke down his door and removed the flags because protesters below were bothered by it. The city’s police chief has issued an apology.
Source: www.spiegelonline.de, 01-13-2009
Berlin, Germany: Palestinian Attacks Policeman Guarding Synagoge
January 13, 2009.
The 35-year-old suspect attacked and injured the policeman with an iron bar. The policeman had to be hospitalized, a colleague and the attacker were only slightly injured. The suspect was arrested and stated that he wanted to protest Israel’s action in Gaza.
Source: www.tagesspiegel.de, 01-13-2009
Paris, France: Hand Grenade Thrown at Synagogue in Paris Suburb
January 12, 2009.
A hand grenade was thrown at a synagogue in Saint-Denis, a northern Paris suburb, setting fire to a contiguous restaurant. The building caught fire but all those inside escaped unharmed.
According to Sammy Ghozlan, head of the National Bureau of Vigilance Against Antisemitism, a witness saw three people fleeing the scene. Ghozlan said he had warned local authorities that a protest demonstration against Israel’s operation in Gaza would incite to violence and Jewish hatred. He asked for the demonstration to be prohibited.
Source: www.jta.org, 01-12-2009
London, England: Prominent British Jews Threatened
January 10, 2009.
British anti-terrorism officers warned prominent Jews to be extra vigilant after references to a "Jewish hit list" in an Islamist Internet site.
Posters to the Ummah.net website refer to the singer Amy Winehouse, industrialist Alan Sugar and Foreign Secretary David Miliband, among others, as potential targets for "reprisal" attacks, media reported this week. Miliband's father was Jewish. There are also references to "financial supporters of Israel."
Source: www.jta.org, 01-10-2009
Greece: AJC Alarmed by Manifestations of Anti-Semitism in Greek Media
January 08, 2009.
New York – AJC expressed alarm at prominent displays of anti-Semitism in the Greek media during the ongoing conflict in Gaza, and urged their condemnation by Greek political and religious leaders.
“There is a line between legitimate criticism of Israel and anti-Semitic demonization of Jews, and some Greek media have brazenly and repeatedly crossed that line in recent days,” said AJC Executive Director David A. Harris. “The press has the freedom to publish, but government and civil society have the obligation to speak out against hate. We call upon Greek political and religious leaders to condemn such displays of anti-Semitism, and to make clear that they are as unacceptable during the current conflict as always.”
Oslo, Norway: AJC Condemns Anti-Israel Violence
January 08, 2009.
AJC expressed its concern over yesterday evening’s violence in Oslo, in which pro-Palestinian demonstrators attacked a pro-Israel group.
“Yesterday’s events in Oslo are a sobering reminder—Europe must not allow Hamas’ violence against Jews to be ‘exported’ to its city streets,” said AJC Executive Director David A. Harris. “We appreciate the response of the Norwegian authorities, and we urge all governments to remain vigilant against any anti-Semitic behavior.”
Paris, France: Jewish Girl Beaten Over Gaza
January 08, 2009.
A Jewish girl was beaten in a northern Paris suburb by schoolmates who claimed revenge for Israel's offensive in Gaza. A group of youths kicked and pushed to the ground the 14-year-old as she left school in Villiers-le-Bel on Monday with a friend. They broke the teen's glasses and shouted, "You'll pay for what the Israelis are doing in Gaza."» Read more.
Berlin, Germany: Police Arrest 8 in Anti-Israel Demonstration
January 04, 2009.
Police made eight arrests during a demonstration by thousands against Israel in Berlin. Some clearly anti-Semitic posters were displayed, said Levi Salomon, who coordinates the task force against anti-Semitism for Berlin's Jewish community. Salomon told JTA he saw a family with small children holding a sign that read "Israelis are child murderers." Police arrested the adults at his urging, Salomon said, adding that what made the statement illegal was its condemnation of Israelis as a people. An estimated 7,000 people turned out for Saturday's march, one of several held in European cities over the weekend protesting Israel's military operation in the Gaza Strip.
Source: www.jta.org, 01-04-2009
