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Jews in Europe Report a Surge in Anti-Semitism Jews in Europe Report a Surge in Anti-Semitism
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BRUSSELS — Fear of rising anti-Semitism in Europe has prompted nearly a third of European Jews to consider emigration because they do not feel safe in their home country, according to a detailed survey of Jewish perceptions by a European Union agency that monitors discrimination and other violations of basic rights. BRUSSELS — Fear of rising anti-Semitism in Europe has prompted nearly a third of European Jews to consider emigration because they do not feel safe in their home country, according to a detailed survey of Jewish perceptions released Friday by a European Union agency that monitors discrimination and other violations of basic rights.
The survey, carried out by the bloc’s Fundamental Rights Agency, focused on eight countries that account for more than 90 percent of Europe’s Jewish population and found that “while member states have made sustained efforts to combat anti-Semitism, the problem is still widespread.” The survey, by the bloc’s Fundamental Rights Agency, focused on eight countries that account for more than 90 percent of Europe’s Jewish population and found that “while member states have made sustained efforts to combat anti-Semitism, the problem is still widespread.”
The Vienna-based agency, in a lengthy report on its findings, did not reach any conclusions about the cause of a perception among European Jews of rising bias. But the results of its survey suggest that prejudices traditionally associated with far-right nationalist political groups like those that collaborated with the Nazis during World War II have now spread to other segments of society and are increasingly driven by conflict in the Middle East rather than homegrown bigotry.The Vienna-based agency, in a lengthy report on its findings, did not reach any conclusions about the cause of a perception among European Jews of rising bias. But the results of its survey suggest that prejudices traditionally associated with far-right nationalist political groups like those that collaborated with the Nazis during World War II have now spread to other segments of society and are increasingly driven by conflict in the Middle East rather than homegrown bigotry.
One-third of respondents said they considered statements critical of Israel as anti-Semitic.One-third of respondents said they considered statements critical of Israel as anti-Semitic.
“It paints a clear picture of an issue in Europe today that we need to address more firmly and take seriously,” said Morten Kjaerum, the Danish director of the Fundamental Rights Agency, an independent organization funded by the European Union. He said he was particularly struck that 29 percent of those surveyed said they had considered emigrating because of security considerations. “That is a clear indication of an issue we need to address,” he said in a telephone interview.“It paints a clear picture of an issue in Europe today that we need to address more firmly and take seriously,” said Morten Kjaerum, the Danish director of the Fundamental Rights Agency, an independent organization funded by the European Union. He said he was particularly struck that 29 percent of those surveyed said they had considered emigrating because of security considerations. “That is a clear indication of an issue we need to address,” he said in a telephone interview.
The survey gathered information from nearly 6,000 Jews living in France, Belgium, Germany, Sweden, Hungary, Italy, Britain and Latvia. The data was collected online by self-selecting respondents, but Mr. Kjaerum said the process nonetheless provided a “fairly representative” sampling of views. The survey gathered information from nearly 6,000 Jews living in Belgium, Britain, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Latvia and Sweden. The data was collected online by respondents who identified themselves as Jewish, but Mr. Kjaerum said the process nonetheless provided a “fairly representative” sampling of views.
Jewish groups in countries like France have long warned that Europe’s economic crisis, lingering prejudice and a surge of Muslim immigrants often hostile to Israel have stoked a revival of hostility toward Jews. But the new survey, due to be released Friday on the eve of the 75th anniversary of Kristallnacht violence against Jews in Nazi Germany, gives the first detailed snapshot of Jewish perceptions of the problem across Europe. Jewish groups in countries like France have long warned that Europe’s economic crisis, lingering prejudice and a surge of Muslim immigrants often hostile to Israel have stoked a revival of hostility toward Jews. But the new survey, released on the eve of the 75th anniversary of Kristallnacht violence against Jews in Nazi Germany, gives the first detailed snapshot of Jewish perceptions of the problem across Europe.
Sixty-six percent of respondents said they considered anti-Semitism to be a major problem in their countries, while 76 percent said the situation had become more acute over the past five years.Sixty-six percent of respondents said they considered anti-Semitism to be a major problem in their countries, while 76 percent said the situation had become more acute over the past five years.
The Internet has become a particular cause for concern among European Jews, with 75 percent of those surveyed stating that they considered anti-Semitism a problem online. Nearly the same proportion said they believed it had grown more serious over the past five years. A quarter said they had experienced some form of anti-Semitic harassment.The Internet has become a particular cause for concern among European Jews, with 75 percent of those surveyed stating that they considered anti-Semitism a problem online. Nearly the same proportion said they believed it had grown more serious over the past five years. A quarter said they had experienced some form of anti-Semitic harassment.
Physical violence, however, is comparatively rare, with 4 percent responding that they had experienced violence or threats of violence because they were Jewish in the 12 months prior to the survey. Physical violence, however, is comparatively rare, with 4 percent responding that they had experienced violence or threats of violence because they were Jewish in the year before the survey.
Most previous efforts to assess the level of anti-Semitism have relied on the number of officially reported incidents of harassment or physical violence in individual countries. Such figures, however, appear to understate the extent of the problem, as most incidents do not get reported and only 13 of 28 countries in the European Union collect data on anti-Semitic incidents. Most previous efforts to assess the level of anti-Semitism have relied on the number of officially reported incidents of harassment or physical violence in individual countries. Such figures, however, appear to understate the extent of the problem, as most incidents are not reported and only 13 of the 28 countries in the European Union collect data on anti-Semitic incidents.
More than three-quarters of Jews with experience of anti-Semitic harassment who took part in the survey said they had not reported the incidents to the police.More than three-quarters of Jews with experience of anti-Semitic harassment who took part in the survey said they had not reported the incidents to the police.
Asked who they thought was responsible for such harassment, 27 percent of respondents said the perpetrators had “Muslim extremist views,” 22 percent said they had “left-wing political views” and 19 percent blamed people with “right-wing views.”Asked who they thought was responsible for such harassment, 27 percent of respondents said the perpetrators had “Muslim extremist views,” 22 percent said they had “left-wing political views” and 19 percent blamed people with “right-wing views.”
Anti-Semitism in Europe has historically been connected to extreme right-wing nationalist groups, often those with links to conservative elements of the Catholic Church. These include groups like Action Française, an organization founded in the late 19th century that rallied to the collaborationist regime of Marshal Philippe Pétain during World War II and continued in various forms until the late 20th century. Anti-Semitism in Europe has historically been connected to extreme right-wing nationalist groups, often those with links to conservative elements of the Roman Catholic Church. These include groups like Action Française, an organization founded in the late 19th century that rallied to the collaborationist Vichy government of Marshal Philippe Pétain during World War II and continued in various forms until the late 20th century.
This strand continues in places like Hungary, where the virulently anti-Semitic Jobbik party has surged on the back of support from extreme Hungarian nationalists. Ninety percent of Jews surveyed in Hungary ranked anti-Semitism as a “very big” or “fairly big” problem, the highest level in Europe. This strand continues in places like Hungary, where the virulently anti-Semitic Jobbik party has surged with support from extreme Hungarian nationalists. Ninety percent of Jews surveyed in Hungary ranked anti-Semitism as a “very big” or “fairly big” problem, the highest level in Europe.
In other countries, however, hostility to Jews is now rooted more on the left and in Muslim immigrant communities, the survey’s findings indicate. More than three-quarters of respondents in France and Belgium, both of which have large populations of Muslim immigrants, identified anti-Semitism as a problem. Eighty percent of respondents in these same two countries described immigration as a problem, too, suggesting tense relations between Jewish communities and recently arrived immigrants. In other countries, however, hostility to Jews is now rooted more on the left and in Muslim immigrant communities, the survey’s findings indicate. More than three-quarters of respondents in Belgium and France, both of which have large populations of Muslim immigrants, identified anti-Semitism as a problem. Eighty percent of respondents in the two countries described immigration as a problem, too, suggesting tense relations between Jewish communities and recently arrived immigrants.
About 90 percent of respondents in Belgium and France reported that the Arab-Israeli conflict had had a “notable impact” on the safety of Jews. Only 40 percent reported the same in Hungary, which has few Muslim immigrants, while a majority of respondents in most other countries surveyed said tensions in the Middle East had affected their feelings of safety either a “great deal” or a “fair amount.”About 90 percent of respondents in Belgium and France reported that the Arab-Israeli conflict had had a “notable impact” on the safety of Jews. Only 40 percent reported the same in Hungary, which has few Muslim immigrants, while a majority of respondents in most other countries surveyed said tensions in the Middle East had affected their feelings of safety either a “great deal” or a “fair amount.”