The Israeli government’s war policy fuels increased anti-Semitism in Europe
Anti-Semites generally lump all Jews together and accuse them of being co-responsible for the Israeli right-wing extremist government’s atrocities in Gaza. Making all Jews a scapegoat is based on classic anti-Semitic conspiracy theory and prejudices but has become increasingly common since 7 October 2023.
Innocent non-combatant Palestinians, men, women and children, should not be forced to live in disgusting conditions, starving and being killed, because Prime Minister Netanyahu clings to power in an internal government crisis in Israel. Nor should Jews in the diaspora have to be subjected to anti-Semitic hate crimes because of the Israeli government’s war policy.
During the Middle Ages and well into modern times, Jews were accused by the church for the crucifixion of Jesus, an event that according to the New Testament occurred over 2,000 years ago. The accusation led to discrimination and persecution that culminated in the Holocaust. Today we see that even ordinary people have fallen into the trap of anti-Semitism when confronted with news coverage of the war in Gaza.
Jews in Europe have strong ties to Israel but most of them have no plans to emigrate there. Like everyone else, they can and do protest against the Israeli government but they have no voting rights and cannot influence its policies. Those who express their support for Israel’s right to exist and defend itself are associated with genocide, gagged and bundled with the Israeli government.
The line between anti-Semitism and legitimate criticism of Israel and its government is often blurred and has been politicized by the Israeli government. However, questioning Israel’s right to exist or denying the Jewish people their right to national self-determination is a form of anti-Semitism according to the working definition of anti-Semitism (IHRA) adopted by a majority of EU member states.
Jews outside Israel are used to anti-Semitic “background noise”. What is new since 7 October is anti-Semitism in the political and academic environment from people from the majority society who have not previously expressed it.
Jews are being urged to take a stand on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict or to persuade the Israeli government to end the war. There has been a clear shift in norms regarding what is permissible to say about Jews in the media and at demonstrations.
Although the number of anti-Semitic incidents has decreased since 7 October 2023, it is still at a higher level in several countries than before the war. The Israeli government denies any responsibility for the increase in anti-Semitism and claims that anti-Semitism has always existed in Europe. It dismisses international criticism of its warfare as support for Hamas and an expression of anti-Semitism.
This may have been possible at the beginning of the war when Hamas’ attack on Israel was openly celebrated in demonstrations in European cities but not any longer. The international legitimacy for continuing the war has long since eroded.
The murderous Hamas attack cannot excuse the indiscriminate killing of innocent civilians, the total destruction of buildings and infrastructure, and the use of humanitarian aid deliveries as a weapon against Hamas. It violates international law, constitutes war crimes, and could possibly even amount to genocide if the International Court of Justice in The Hague can prove intent in its upcoming ruling.
As in many other wars, the warmongers in Israel invoke and abuse religion to justify ethnic cleansing and colonization of Gaza and are indifferent to the suffering of the Palestinians. The boundaries between Hamas and the civilian population have become increasingly blurred the longer the war has dragged on.
Of course, this contradicts the fundamental values of Judaism and only a fanatical minority of Israeli settlers believe in this form of “messianic” Judaism. Nor is it the real reason why the war has dragged on and why recent negotiations for a new ceasefire-hostage agreement that could lead to an end to the war have so far failed.
It is about the political survival of the Netanyahu government after its failure to foresee and prevent the terrorist attack of 7 October. The government depends on the support of the militant religious far right, which threatens to overthrow it if the war ends in a way that leads to a political solution based on the two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
Netanyahu’s survival also depends on the silence and lack of criticism within his own party. It was also forces within his own party that launched the judiciary “reform” before the war. It is still ongoing, in the midst of a raging war, and threatens to transform Israel into an authoritarian-ruled and illiberal democracy.
The government was elected by a narrow majority of the electorate before the war and would have been forced to resign if new elections were held today. In no other country at war are there so many mass demonstrations and protests against the war, as well as criticism and satire in the media. But the government refuses to listen and resign.
The Netanyahu government’s warfare and the senseless continuation of the war has led to international isolation and condemnation of Israel. It has also led to increased anti-Semitism and is therefore a threat to the security of all Jews worldwide. Israel is at a crossroads, and new elections will be crucial for its future security and democracy and for the prospects for Israeli-Palestinian peace.