Further details have emerged from last week's pogrom in Amsterdam proving that it was a premeditated “Jew hunt” - a chilling reminder of the persistent antisemitic threats facing Jews in Europe. Additional incidents of anti-Jewish violence transpired in Amsterdam later that week, including the firebombing of a tram by rioters screaming “Cancer Jews.”
Amid the 86-year anniversary of Kristallnacht, the Amsterdam attacks harken back to the attacks against Jews and Jewish institutions during that Nazi-era pogrom. As violent Jew-haters attempt to "globalize the intifada," it is time for action, not merely words, from world leaders.
The violence serves as a stark reminder of the consequences when leaders fail to address all forms of antisemitism, including anti-Zionist rhetoric. Amsterdam Mayor Femke Halsema’s remarks at our 2021 Mayors Summit Against Antisemitism, where she argued that criticizing Israel is not antisemitic - thus stating the obvious while overlooking anti-Zionist hate - now appear especially insufficient in light of recent events.
Indeed, since the start of 2024, the Antisemitism Research Center by CAM has documented 460 incidents of violence or vandalism targeting Jewish sites worldwide, several of which occurred under the pretext of anti-Zionism. The majority occurred in the United States, Canada, and Western Europe.
Incidents this week further underscored the dire situation. In Washington, D.C., a vandal smashed the windows of Char Bar, the American capital's only kosher restaurant. Neo-Nazi demonstrators protested a performance of the play The Diary of Anne Frank in Howell, Michigan. In Chicago, Illinois, two Jewish DePaul University students were assaulted while displaying support for Israel, prompting police to open a hate crime investigation.
Identifying and countering such threats remains integral to CAM's mission. Earlier this week, top government officials, lawmakers, diplomats, clergy, and grassroots activists from 19 countries convened in San José, Costa Rica, for our fourth annual Latin American Forum Against Antisemitism. The four-day forum convened high-profile government officials, diplomats, and community leaders from across the Americas to establish a unified regional response to antisemitism through collaborative action and a comprehensive joint declaration.
Posts