European Jews are afraid following a spike in antisemitic attacks sparked by the latest Israel-Hamas war despite authorities increasing protection, Rabbi Menachem Margolin, the chairman of the European Jewish Association, has told Euronews.
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00:00 For some people, it might just be a message on the wall, but for others, it means fear.
00:07 This graffiti in front of a Jewish building in Brussels was done after a big pro-Palestinian
00:12 demonstration at the European quarter in the Belgian capital.
00:16 And the message is not so innocent, as one rabbi tells Euronews.
00:22 You know you are here.
00:23 You know this is a synagogue.
00:24 And this is the main message.
00:29 Since the Israeli-Hamas conflict started, there`s been a huge increase in anti-Semitism.
00:34 Attacks against Jews include physical incidents and verbal aggression, but also hate graffiti
00:39 and online threats.
00:42 And even though the authorities are increasing protection levels, European Jews are afraid.
00:49 Rabbi Margolin says it`s something not seen now for decades.
00:55 We do get a lot of information, a lot of calls, a lot of e-mails from Jewish people from Europe,
01:02 both individuals and institutions, synagogues, schools.
01:07 People see in the street, they get much more remarks, many more bad looks, hatred looks,
01:18 and call for death and physical incitements.
01:23 Jews visited this synagogue in the heart of Brussels, but for security reasons, did not
01:27 film outside the building.
01:30 The safety measures are draconian.
01:32 Rabbi Margolin showed us images of hate incidents from all over Europe.
01:36 This is a school in Germany that you could see marked of graffiti.
01:43 This is a demonstration against Jews that took place in Spain.
01:48 This is another graffiti on a Jewish house, which remind us the Kristallnacht, where unfortunately
01:55 people broke windows of synagogues.
01:58 He also says that people are taking extra measures to try to protect their families.
02:04 There are many, many people now who are -- who secure their doors, install cameras, they
02:09 change the windows, they try to have bulletproof windows, they try to have fireproof doors,
02:19 and yet many people know it is not enough.
02:22 According to him, the main tool for hate messages is social media.
02:27 He`s now asking for better oversight of content, as well as greater education against racism.
02:34 The European Commission has raised concerns about the increase in hate speech and hate
02:38 crimes targeting both Jewish and Muslim communities in Europe, saying it`s one of its top priorities.
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