New opportunities to fight hate

The president of the Israeli-Jewish Congress voiced 5 main points on how to combat hatred and anti-Semitism in Europe and how to strengthen community cooperation.

Nowadays, in spite of all efforts, religious anti-Semitism in Europe is gaining more and more momentum. Since the Holocaust,it has reached unprecedented levels. According to Vladimir Sloutsker, the president of the Israeli-Jewish Congress, the number of anti-Semitic attacks is systematically increasing. More than 760 attacks were registered in the UK. This is a 30% increase over the same period in 2016 and is the highest since 1984, the first spark of anti-Semitism. It is also frightening that the number of violent attacks has increased significantly.

The fight against anti-Semitism is not aimed at eliminating these harmful processes, but only on reducing the number of attacks. Mr. Sloutsker also stresses thatsuch tactics are ineffective in this situation. He focuses his speech on five key points that will help solve the situation:

1. First of all, Europe needs to define the notion of anti-Semitism and it must be universal. Such definition has already been proposed by the Israeli-Jewish Congress, and it should be supported and accepted in Europe. How is it impossible to overcome a phenomenon that does not have a clear definition?

The UK has already demonstrated its concern about anti-Semitism. Last year they have adopted a comprehensive and clear definition of this phenomenon. According to it, attacks on Zionism, as well as delegitimization of Israel, are also manifestations of anti-Semitism.

2. Intolerance and hatred concern not only Jews but also other minorities. It is important that the Jewish community also collaborates with other religious groups and learn new methods of combating hatred. And even more, the whole society, and not just the Jewish people, must fight anti-Semitism.
3. Education plays a key role in the fight against anti-Semitism. It is important to focus not only on Holocaust history and anti-Semitism but also to emphasize the contribution to the European culture, its development, which is made by Jews. Young people need to understand how dangerous hate crimes are, and the procedure for reporting for such crimes must be simplified. It is essential to change the thinking of the rising generations from an early age because nobody is born with hatred.
4. Another key element in eliminating anti-Semitism is the ways of transmitting information. Modern world shares a lot of information through social networks and that contributes to the spread of hatred. But the active use of social networks can also be directed to combat anti-Semitism. Social networks can be used as a platform for conveying personal stories, messages aimed at eradicating hatred. Besides, it is important to involve large technology companies in the dialogue, without which it is virtually impossible to influence the modern digital sphere.
5. It is necessary to stop the incitement of hatred with the help of already developed legal frameworks that operate in the countries of the European Union. The punishment of committed crimes will be able to demonstrate the supremacy of the law and will eliminate the desireto commit offenses of this nature.

Vladimir Sloutsker (https://www.thejc.com/comment/comment/vladimir-sloutsker-a-new-way-to-fight-antisemitism-1.447253) emphasizes that it is necessary to act as actively, creatively and, most importantly, more intelligently when it comes to the fight against hatred.There are many opportunities that can help to fight it. For instance, technological innovation is helping to fuel hatred and it can be directed to fight anti-Semitism. The European Union is struggling with crimes committed on the basis of hatred. Nevertheless, EU governments need tovoice their position and provide all available resources in order to effectively combat hate crimes.