CHECK AGAINST DELIVERY
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Dear Minister Bóka, dear Ministers,
Last week marked one year since the 7 October Hamas attacks against Israel and the war that ensued in Gaza. Some commentators have noted that there has been a ‘tsunami’ of antisemitism in the months since.
To put the impact of these attacks in context, survey data collected by my Agency – based on responses from 8,000 people – show that 96% of Jewish people in the EU had experienced antisemitism before these tragic events took place.
Jewish community organisations we consulted after 7 October confirmed the findings of the survey: Jewish people across the EU fear for their safety and security, and encounter antisemitism on a continual basis. This has a negative impact on their ability to live an openly Jewish life and has a chilling effect on their participation in society.
Nearly every respondent in our survey had experienced antisemitism, and the findings show that such encounters are part and parcel of everyday life for Jewish people across the EU. This is a strong indicator that the phenomenon is deeply ingrained in our societies.
It is also striking to note that Jewish people who are citizens of their own country are sometimes considered to be foreigners. This attitude calls into question the very fact that Jewish people, culture and traditions are inherent to European identity.
Jewish people in the EU are often confronted with antisemitic hate speech, including online. Vast bodies of research have shown that antisemitic content can quickly become viral, as reactions to the Covid-19 pandemic, the war in Ukraine and 7 October have shown.
Our survey indicates that Jewish people encounter antisemitism across all online platforms, news outlets and internet forums. In other words, antisemitism festers online. Respondents told us that they avoid posting content that would identify them as Jewish.
The survey shows that about half of the respondents are worried that they will be a victim of antisemitic verbal insults or harassment when they are in a public space. Nearly half of them worry that they will be the victim of a physical attack.
Concerns over their safety and security influence Jewish people’s behaviour and point to another chilling effect, namely hiding their identity. This manifests in people choosing not to wear or display symbols that would identify them as Jewish, and not visiting Jewish events and sites.
In other words, it can be said that experiences of antisemitism push Jewish people into hiding. This is a sobering thought, considering the history we are all aware of.
Against this backdrop, it is extremely disappointing but not surprising that 41% of respondents said that they were considering emigrating or had emigrated from their own country because of not feeling safe there.
A finding that could be of particular interest to you today is that the level of satisfaction with governmental efforts to support Jewish communities is generally low. Indeed, only one in five respondents were satisfied with actions taken by their governments to combat antisemitism.
As you can see, there is much work still to be done; the volume of antisemitism is growing, with online antisemitism being particularly challenging to address. To this end, the EU’s Digital Services Act will be a true test for the effective take down of illegal online content – including incitement to violence and hatred against Jewish people.
The Declaration you approve today is to be welcomed. Allow me to highlight just three of FRA’s recommendations for concrete ways forward:
First, we encourage Member States to ensure the effective monitoring and appropriate funding of strategies and action plans they put in place to combat antisemitism and foster Jewish life.
Second, we encourage all Member States to appoint special envoys or coordinators on antisemitism, and to ensure that they are appropriately staffed and resourced.
Third, we encourage Member States to meet and fund the security and protection needs of Jewish communities and to work with Jewish communities in identifying those needs.
FRA remains available – with its expertise and data – to support the EU and Member States in their efforts in this regard.
Thank you.
