Europe’s presidents and prime ministers have shown themselves willing to make speeches condemning anti-Semitism and expressing solidarity with Jews, but at the same time they are often supportive of anti-Israel policies and declarations that only legitimize anti-Semitism. Fiamma Nirentstein comments:
Hungary and the Czech Republic made great strides against anti-Semitism by abstaining from the UN General Assembly’s 2017 vote that condemned Donald Trump’s recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital. A stand against anti-Semitism was [also] made by the six European member states . . . that opposed a resolution by the EU’s high representative for foreign affairs and security policy Josep Borrell earlier this month that called for a joint European condemnation of Trump’s Middle East peace plan. Through their opposition, they opened a real discussion about Israel’s security needs and the legality of the settlements.
Anti-Semitism cannot be defeated so long as the EU continues to authorize anti-Israel incitement by making claims about the “illegality” of the settlements and presents the “Green Line” armistice demarcation as a border for two states. In this manner, the central European authority shows a refusal to protect Israel from unending and active terrorism and warfare while insisting upon an inconsistent and unfounded definition of “illegality.” The settlements are not illegal; they are disputed. They are [located in a territory that is] an essential part of the cradle of Jewish history. By completely ignoring this last point, the EU promotes instead the idea of Jewish colonialism, with collateral slaughters, genocide, apartheid—all anti-Semitic canards.
The only way to fight [anti-Semitism] is through policy action: . . . stopping the discriminatory labeling of Israeli products sold in Europe, abolishing blacklists of businesses active in the disputed territories, and [combating] the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) movement.
Read more on Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs: https://jcpa.org/the-only-way-to-fight-anti-semitism-is-through-policy-action-not-with-lip-service/