A committee of Jewish leaders from the European Jewish Association (EJA) convened on Wednesday for an emergency two-day meeting in Rome to discuss the challenges faced by Jewish communities in Europe amid growing antisemitism and to formulate steps to ensure that European governments act to mitigate threats against Jewish communities across the continent.
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Some 40 leaders of Jewish communities and leading Jewish organizations in Europe have unanimously agreed on an operational framework to enhance the local communities' security, take political and legislative steps to promote a ban on the sale of Nazi memorabilia, and expand the agents combating antisemitism, including through leading sports clubs in Europe.
"Despite commitments to safeguard Jewish communities and promises to combat antisemitism, too many European governments aren't acting on the matter sufficiently," The Jewish leaders said at the gathering.
According to their statements, "There's a political failure and severely limited enforcement of laws against hate and the BDS movement. Moreover, while many countries have signed the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance's (IHRA) international definition of antisemitism, almost none of them follow its principles."
EJA Chairman Rabbi Menachem Margolin, who headed the event, said: "As Jewish leaders, it is our duty to protect our communities. The message from community leaders in this committee is clear: the European Union and various governments must turn their words about ensuring the safety of Jewish communities into actions."
He added, "The test of governmental commitments to safeguarding European Jewry is taking place right now. This board's message is clear, based on the evidence so far presented, European governments are failing this test."
Chairman of EJA Jewish Leader's Board and President of Consistoire of Paris and European Centre of Judaism Joel Mergui, said at the conference: "We refuse to live in fear, we're strong and will overcome this current wave of hatred. It's unacceptable that calls for murder and ethnic cleansing are commonplace today."
"The various laws and adoption of the IHRA's definition of antisemitism aren't worth the paper they're printed on right now," said Ellen van der Zwaan, leader of the Jewish community in the Netherlands.