Members of the Israeli parliament’s immigration, absorption and diaspora affairs committee met Monday several European diplomats to discuss the worrying situation of Jewish communities in Europe and rising anti-Semitism as calls of ''death to Jew'' and ''burn the Jews in gas chambers'' are heard regularly on the streets during anti-Israel demonstrations organized since the launch of Operation Protective Edge.
Representatives of Jewish communities were also present at the meeting to offer testimony.
Among the diplomats were the ambassadors of Denmark, Sweden and The Netherlands in Israel as well as officials from the embassies of Britain, Belgium, Italy, Hungary, Austria and Germany.
The meeting, which was chaired by Israel lawmaker Yoel Razvozov, was called by the Knesset’s diaspora affairs committee with the cooperation of the Israeli-Jewish Congress.
Nathan Gelbart, the head of Germany’s Keren Hayesod (United Jewish Appeal) in Berlin, reported that the German Jewish community is scared “because these are things that have not occurred since 1933.” He cited demonstrators shouting “death to the Jews” and other anti-Semitic slogans.
“These demonstrators are marching in the heart of Berlin shouting these slogans, in front of the police. Shouting ‘Jews are pigs’ is an incitement: Why isn’t the Germany police taking the details of these people shouting in an aggressive way ‘Death to the Jews’?” asked Gelbart.
”These protesters (against Israel’s Gaza operation) don`t know how to say `hello` in German, but they know very well how to shout that Israel is fascist and cruel,” he said.
Benjamin Albalas, president of the Jewish Community of Greece, declared: “The attitude in Europe is promoting delegitimization of the State of Israel… and is a first step toward the intimidation of the Jews’ right to live in their own home countries.”
Vladimir Sloutzker, head of the Israeli-Jewish Congress, said: “Never before since the Holocaust have we seen such a situation as today. We are potentially looking at the beginning of another Holocaust now.”
“These events will only grow in scale across Europe,” he warned.
Knesset member Israel Hasson told the foreign diplomats that ”if the European countries fail to protect the Jews within their territory, the State of Israel will. Jewish blood is not cheap blood.”
The European envoys condemned the anti-Semitic attacks in their countries and described the tools their governments use to combat the phenomenon.
A representative of the French embassy in Tel Aviv said his country pledges ”zero tolerance for displays of anti-Semitism, adding that ”every attack on France`s Jews is an attack on all of France.” France, he said, has beefed up security around the Jewish communities even before the recent anti-Israel demonstrations. ”France is not denying that there is a problem…The French government`s efforts against acts of racism will gradually increase,” said the official.
Dutch Ambassador to Israel Caspar Veldkamp noted that his country`s attorney general has opened cases against 40-50 people who participated in a radical demonstration and chanted anti-Semitic slogans. ”The acts of anti-Semitism call for strong measures; otherwise we will all slide down the slope. Europe should have exported a position of mutual respect rather than import the hate and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict,” he told the meeting.
Danish Ambassador Jesper Vahr said: ”As an ally and as a country we will not tolerate anti-Semitism…but Denmark, as a country that respects freedom of speech, allows people to express their objection to actions taking place on the ground. My government`s position is that Israel has a right to defend itself.”
MK Razvozov concluded the meeting by saying that
The State of Israel is committed to protecting every Jew in the Diaspora, said Razvozov. ”Take into account that if the terror groups lay down their arms, there will be peace; but if Israel lays down its arms, Israel will cease to exist. This is the sad truth.”

by Maureen Shamee