While Europe boasts of great cultural assimilation the recent
incidents of the Charlie Hebdo and the targeted attacks on Jews in Toulouse, Brussels,
Paris and now in Copenhagen indicate otherwise. Recent killings in Copenhagen and
subsequent attacks on Jews brought to fore the characteristic anti-Semitism of
the European society. Anti-Semitism had its roots in Christian beliefs in Europe
from the medieval period who believed that Jews were collectively responsible
for the death of Jesus. They were accused of murdering the children of
Christians and using their blood in religious rituals. Further the claims of
the well poisoning and host desecration has propelled the European persecution
of the Jews and expulsion of Jews from England, France. Spain and Portugal
witnessed such largest forced expulsions in 1492 and 1496 respectively and Jews
were ordered either to convert to Christianity or forced to emigrate.
During renaissance period in Europe, Jews who were experts in
commerce and banking were partly patronised and employed by the Monarchs with
special privileges as treasurers. But in the event of collapse of the kingdom
or death of the Monarch, Jews who were their right-hand were mercilessly
persecuted. Jewish population was mostly concentrated in the central and
eastern part of Europe but further penetration into Russia was restricted to
protect the interest of their local merchants. By the end of 19th
century a new wave of anti-Semitism spread across Europe denying Jews of equal
civil rights sparking riots that killed thousands of Jews. Finally in The
Holocaust from 1941-46 six million Jews or nearly two-thirds of European Jews
were murdered by Nazi’s. The surviving Jews began to emigrate to Great Britain,
the US and the British controlled Palestine. Post-1945 the pogrom continued in several
disguised forms and after the foundation of Israel and escalation of Israeli-
Arab conflict a new form of anti-Semitism began to emerge.
Since the year 2000, there has been significant rise in
anti-Semitism in Europe with increase in verbal attacks against Jews, fire
bombings of schools and desecration of cemeteries and synagogues. The rise can
be attributed to the Muslim anti-Semitism that began to brew due to the failure
of assimilation of the Muslim immigrants. Subsequently they were drawn towards
the fundamentalist ideas which leading to massive radicalisation of the Muslim
youth. Moreover the escalation of Israeli-Palestine conflict has sown seeds of
hatred towards Jews. European Jews were perceived pro-Israeli by the Muslims
and thus became targets of intense hatred. Post 2008 economic recession in
Europe the angst against Jews received impetus with a rise in anti-Semitic rightist
political parties.
The recent killings of Jews in Copenhagen and Paris
epitomized resurgence of age-old anti-Semitism. While the political parties and
people expressed solidarity and support to the bereaved community, the stark
increase in crimes against Jews is a harbinger for greater unrest in the society.
European political parties which were earlier Muslims-centric are now leaning
towards Jews. Ever since the eruption of air strikes between Israel and
Palestine in 2014 targeted killings have become more frequent foreboding
looming dangerous repercussions on the European society. Meanwhile Benjamin Netanyahu
impelled Jews to emigrate to Israel, but the European Jews intend to return to
their native land out of love not fear.
Europe has already become salubrious for Islamic extremism
and the unbridled anti-Semitism can threaten to push the continent into a
veritable den of violent and brutal killings. Growing incidents of targeted
attacks have terrorised the Jews who are living under constant threat and
insecurity. Security has been beefed up at synagogues, religious congregations
and Jewish Institutions to rein covert attacks. But additional layers of
protection and deployment of elite police indicate that lives of Jews in
particular are under danger.
With unhindered spread of Islamic State the obnoxious fundamentalism
is set spread to African countries and the Mediterranean region. Meanwhile the
unabated unrest in the Middle East is bound to increase influx of Muslim
migrants to Europe. Hence European countries should jointly step into action
with a concrete framework of legal action to stem the rot the Islam extremism and
anti-Semitism. EU must intensify operations to hunt down terrorists through
vigilant surveillance and nip their nefarious activities. Any dereliction or
lee-way in curtailing the radical Islam terror and anti-Semitism can threaten
the very essence of the continent which was built on the principles of freedom
of thought and speech.
While the anti-Jewish feeling has declined significantly among
the non-Muslim Europeans, rightist political parties that once embraced
anti-Semitism are now strictly opposed to the immigration of the Muslims. Besides
increasing security in the terror-prone regions, the long term proactive
strategy of the European countries must be to bolster the intelligence services
and partaking extensive combing operations.
The remarkable story of Jews is marred by incidents of
relentless persecution through the course of the history epitomises
extraordinary resilience and triumph. The creation of Israel in 1948, a
permanent abode for Jews and the return of Jews to Germany after the Holocaust displays
their indomitable spirit. Western European countries still have sizeable
populations of Jews and the strongly entrenched hatred towards them might have
a great bearing on the progress and development of the continent altogether.
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