Estonia has joined 20 other European nations in condemning a recent surge in anti-semitic and anti-islamic attacks following developments in Israel and Gaza since early October. The statement was signed by both the European Parliament and the chairs of 21 parliamentary foreign affairs committees Europe-wide. It urged governments to intensify efforts to safeguard Jewish and Muslim communities, condemn these actions when they occur, and implement national strategies to combat the dark tide of bigotry and hatred.
Anti-semitic hate crime investigations have tripled on year in New York and London, while in France, 1,040 anti-semitic incidents were documented in the month following the October 7th attack. Both Jewish and Muslim community organisations have reported of incidents in many other countries, with religious or easily identifiable Jews and Muslims being disproportionately targeted compared with members of other groups.
The European Commission states that „none of this is acceptable.” The statement concludes that no one should live in fear of discrimination or violence because of their religion or identity. The statement was signed by Riigikogu Foreign Affairs Committee Chair Marko Mihkelson on behalf of Estonia, along with his counterparts from Armenia, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Moldova, Norway, Spain, Sweden, the U.K., Ukraine, and the European Parliament.
Unrest in the Holy Land between Israel and Palestine has occasionally led to a rise in antisemitism in Western Europe. During military operations like Operation Protective Edge in 2014, protests against Israeli actions sometimes escalated into antisemitic incidents. However, it is crucial to note that attributing such incidents solely to geopolitical events oversimplifies the complex nature of antisemitism, which has deep historical roots and manifests independently of contemporary conflicts. Yet, with large immigration to Europe from the Muslim world in recent decades, any conflict between Israelis and Palestinians now reverberates strongly on European streets.
