Statement by WGAS Chair Nicola Beer MEP on the rise of antisemitic political crime in Germany
"The number of antisemitic attacks in Germany rose by 13 percent in 2019. According to the latest annual report on political crime by the Federal Ministry of the Interior, there were 2,000 offenses recorded. This amounts to six crimes per calendar day, that’s six crimes too many. The increase in these crimes in Germany is...
75 years after the end of World War II: The EU must send a strong signal against antisemitism and improve measures at European level
Statement by MEP Nicola Beer, Chair of the Working Group Against Antisemitism “The coronavirus crisis is fuelling antisemitism across Europe. Fake news, targeted false reports and hate speech are booming in the current crisis. There has been a glaring rise in antisemitic stereotypes, and prejudice and hostility are not only being spread online, but have…
Statement from the Chair of the Working Group Against Antisemitism (WGAS) regarding the German federal government ban on Hezbollah
WGAS Chair Nicola Beer (FDP/Renew Europe) calls for an EU-wide ban: 30 April 2020 – The German federal government ban on Hezbollah is a long overdue step for which we liberals have long fought. Now an EU-wide ban must quickly follow. It is unacceptable that Hezbollah can continue to act unhindered and enlist support in…
EJC President Moshe Kantor at high-level European event: “Crisis of antisemitism is a slippery slope to global catastrophe”
(Brussels, December 11, 2019) – European Jewish Congress (EJC) President Dr. Moshe Kantor warned that antisemitism should no longer be seen as just a Jewish issue because it poses a wider threat to society as a whole, at the event “After Halle: From words to action against antisemitism” held in Brussels, hosted by the European...
European Parliament Working Group on Antisemitism holds a constitutive meeting for the parliamentary term 2019-2024
04 December 2019, European Parliament, Brussels - The European Parliament Working Group on Antisemitism (EP-WGAS) - a cross-party working group of Members of the European Parliament held its constitutive meeting for the new legislature, setting priorities and agenda for this term. In the face of rising antisemitism in Europe, and in the wake of recent attacks, threats...
Chair of European Parliament Working Group on Antisemitism condemns wave of violent attacks
The Chair of the European Parliament Working Group on Antisemitism (EP-WGAS), Heinz K Becker MEP (Austria, EPP), condemns the wave of antisemitic attacks that have taken place across Europe following President Trump’s recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital. “The conflict between Israel and the Palestinians, or any other political issue, can never serve as justification…
WGAS Statement on the campaing against George Soros in Hungary
The recent political campaign by the Hungarian Government against George Soros utilized motifs with a very problematic anti-Semitic past, including the image of a shadowy puppeteer pulling the strings of politicians. The European Parliament Working Group on Antisemitism (WGAS) would like to draw attention to the IHRA working definition of antisemitism, which lists one of…
Condoleances on the death of Shimon Peres
In my capacity as Chair of the European Parliament Working Group on Antisemitism (EP-WGAS), on the immensely sad occasion of Shimon Peres death, I want to express my deepest condolences and sympathies. I had the privilege to meet with Shimon Peres several times. He was a political giant and a peace hero, one of the wisest politicians and human…
Letter to President Martin Schulz from the Working Group on Antisemitism
Dear President Schulz,
The Board of the European Parliament Working Group on Antisemitism learned about the recent declarations of our colleague, MEP Martina Anderson, during a meeting that took place in the European Parliament on 25th of May 2016.