Katharina von Schnurbein, the EU official tasked with combating antisemitism, has raised concerns about the growing tide of antisemitism in Europe and

urged immediate action to address it.

Speaking at the European Jewish Association summit in Amsterdam, von Schnurbein emphasized the shared struggle against antisemitism, stating, "Your struggle is our struggle." She assured community leaders of her commitment to eradicating antisemitism from Europe.

Appointed in 2015 as the European Commission Coordinator on combating antisemitism and fostering Jewish life, von Schnurbein highlighted the pressing need to address antisemitism within some migrant communities. She clarified that while antisemitic prejudice can be higher within these communities, she does not place the blame for bigotry solely on immigration. "Antisemitism has been in EU countries long before mass migration," she said, referencing the Holocaust.

Von Schnurbein noted a significant increase in antisemitism across Europe since October 7, driven by the conflict in Gaza. Incidents have included a firebombed synagogue in France, protests at a new Holocaust Museum in the Netherlands, demonstrations outside Auschwitz in Poland, and various bomb threats and attacks on Jews. She emphasized that antisemitism is a threat to democracy, stating, "The EU can only prosper if its Jewish communities prosper too."

She also praised the increased awareness and action from EU governments, mentioning that out of 96 recommendations she made in 2021, 70 have already been implemented. These include more training for police and teachers and increased funding for civil society actions.

Von Schnurbein commended the German government for banning the slogan "from the river to the sea, Palestine will be free," which she identified as antisemitic according to the IHRA definition. However, she left it to individual member states to decide on enforcement.

Despite government support, von Schnurbein acknowledged that antisemitism remains deeply ingrained in parts of society. She highlighted the role of online platforms in spreading antisemitic content and called for changes to social media algorithms to prevent the perpetuation of hate.

To better tackle antisemitism, von Schnurbein is working on a system to record all incidents of Jewish hate crimes across the EU, drawing inspiration from the UK's Community Security Trust (CST).

At the EJA conference, a motion was unanimously passed calling for tougher prosecution of antisemitic incidents and the appointment of dedicated officials to address antisemitism in each European country. The motion also demanded a zero-tolerance approach to violent protests and the legal enshrinement of IHRA principles.

In response to the rising threat, EJA chair Rabbi Menachem Margolin announced plans to roll out Krav Maga training across Europe, emphasizing the need for Jews to defend themselves. Photo by © European Union, 2024, Wikimedia commons.