12/02/2020

Plenary intervention on fighting against antisemitism, racism and hatred across Europe

“Mr. President, Esteemed Colleagues,

In the last decade, antisemitism has raised its ugly head once again throughout Europe.

Sadly, though this is factually substantiated, according to a 2019 “Eurobarometer” survey there is a striking discrepancy of perception about antisemitism in Europe. 89% of Jews feel that antisemitism has significantly risen over the past 5 years but only 36% of the all European citizens agree.

Europe cannot allow the poison of antisemitism to spread. It must support and protect its Jewish citizens and it must effectively combat anti-Semitic perpetrators.

There is no question that Hezbollah, Iran’s most deadly proxy is a doctrinate, violent, antisemitic group which poses a serious threat to Jewish life in Europe.

Yet the EU refuses to follow in the footsteps of some of our closest allies, the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom, and to end this false distinction between ‘military’ and ‘political’ arms – a distinction Hezbollah itself dismisses as a joke!

This hypocrisy must end, the EU must place Hezbollah in its entirety on the EU terrorist list if the EU is to be credible, and more importantly effective, in combatting antisemitism and the atrocious acts it leads to.”

Watch the intervention here