In a joint written question submitted to the European Commission, several WGAS members have expressed grave concern over the surge in antisemitic and anti-Israel incidents across the European Union following the Hamas attacks of October 7, 2023.
The initiative, led by WGAS Chair and MEP Alice Teodorescu Måwe and co-signed by MEPs Niclas Herbst, Hildegard Bentele, Lukas Mandl, Antonio López-Istúriz White, Sabrina Repp, and Pina Picierno, highlights a disturbing trend of targeted harassment and violence against Jews and Israeli citizens in several Member States.
The MEPs cite recent incidents, including:
- 50 French Jewish children removed from a Vueling flight in Spain after singing in Hebrew, and subsequently called “Israeli brats” by a Spanish minister;
- Israeli tourists forced to divert from a cruise in Greece due to protests;
- The violent assault of two Israelis in a Dutch holiday park;
- Intimidation of an Israeli tourist in Stockholm by pro-Palestinian activists.
The signatories call on the Commission to clarify how it intends to support Member States in protecting European Jews and Israeli visitors, and what measures will be taken to combat antisemitism increasingly disguised as anti-Israel sentiment.
This initiative reflects growing concern across the political spectrum about the deteriorating climate for Jews in Europe and the urgent need for institutional action.