Israel and the New Anti-Semitism: “there is something different going on at the moment which we need to challenge”

In the aftermath of the October 7th terrorist outrage in Israel, during which Hamas murdered more than 1,400 Israelis, mostly civilians, including children, a debate has opened up about the levels of anti-Semitism in our societies.

In Brussels, in the shadow of the European Commission, Hungarian Ambassador His Excellency Dr Tamás Iván Kovács addressed a meeting of journalists and other concerned parties under the heading of Israel and the New Anti-Semitism.

The key speakers at the event were, Emmanuel Abramowicz, spokesman, National Office for Vigilance Against Anti-Semitism (France), Daniel Ben Ami, journalist; author, Radicalism of Fools,and Sabine Beppler-Spahl, chair of the Freiblickinstitut (Berlin), and Germany correspondent for Spiked.

Sabine Beppler-Spahl

After the discussion Ms. Beppler-Spahl spoke of the need to understand the “new anti-Semitism” as opposed to the “anti-Semitism we have had for years.”

She continued, “I do think its important to pinpoint, and to say that there is something different going on at the moment which we need to challenge”

According to figures compiled by the Anti-Defamation League and released on Tuesday, nearly 590 antisemitic incidents have been reported to police in France alone since October 7th.

In Germany, the number of such incidents has risen by 240% compared to the same period last year, while in Austria they have increased by some 300%.

Elsewhere in the EU The Netherlands, Portugal and Spain have also reported disturbing trends in this area.

In the UK, according to the Jewish Community Security Trust, (CST), from October 7th to October 23rd , more than 600 antisemitic incidents were reported, the highest total in a 17 day period since CST began recording such incidents in 1984, and a 641% increase compared to the same period last year.

The event was organised by Mathias Corvinus Collegium (MCC) Brussels.

A video of speakers’ comments can be viewed here: https://www.facebook.com/MCCBrussels/videos/356423400236692

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