Brussels, 19/02/2004 (Agence Europe) - In an atmosphere that was solemn and consensual, the seminar on anti-Semitism opened in Brussels on Thursday, jointly organised by the European Commission and World Jewish Congress. Romano Prodi added his voice to those of representatives from the Jewish community to condemn anti-Semitism and propose an action plan for fighting it. Facing representatives from the Jewish community, who painted a picture of the disastrous situation facing Jewish citizens in Europe, Mr Prodi and Joshka Fischer, German foreign affairs minister, displayed a common front in their presentation of the European Union's fight against all kinds of racism, especially in the Europe which was very far from that of the 1930s and 40s.
Prodi's action plan looks at the positions taken the day before by Cobi Benatoff, president of the European Jewish Congress (EUROPE yesterday p 4). The current Commission is expected to produce a proposal for targeted action involving its departments of justice and home affairs, social affairs, jobs and education, as well as the Justice and Home Affairs and Education Councils of the EU. Prodi has called on the Council to rapidly adopt the framework decision against racism and xenophobia presented in November 2001 (!) by the Commission. it also considers that Member States should make proposals on fighting all kinds of racism and xenophobia on their territory and that Europe provides itself with systems for inspecting this phenomenon at national and Community levels. Prodi also hopes that the European Monitoring Centre on Racism and Xenophobia in Vienna rapidly publishes its "new" study on anti-Semitism (the failure to publish its previous study provoked controversy between the EU and Jewish community: EUROPE 3-4 December) and that a resolution on anti-Semitism is adopted at the UN General Assembly.
In his introduction, Cobi Benatoff "sounded the alarm in Europe" and said that he was frightened by the "indifference of European citizens" faced with anti-Semitism of which Jewish citizens in Europe were suffering. The 1986 Nobel Prize Winner and writer, Elie Wiesel declared that "Jewish communities in Europe were living in fear". Elie Wisel was also shocked by the kind of language used by some quarters about Israel (slogans such as "Ariel Sharon = Hitler" and Israel = Nazi state"). He said that the Israeli government had to be criticised with "moderation" and by paying attention to the language used to describe it. In a strong appeal from the former president of the Knesset, Avraham Burg declared that they did not have a monopoly on suffer and they still had to listen attentively concerning the suffering of others.
Romano Prodi recognised that they had to speak out clearly against anti-Semitic prejudice and clearly recognise the historic vestiges of anti-Semitism. "We can see with our eyes attacks against synagogues, vandalism of Jewish cemeteries and physical attacks on Jews", said Prodi, who, nevertheless wanted to put things in perspective, adding, that "Europe today did not resemble the Europe of the 1930s and 40s" (allusion to the ideas expressed by the US Ambassador to the EU, Rockwell Schabel: EUROPE 14 February p 5). Joschka Fischer declared that the comparison with the 1930s was not apt. He brought up the impact of the Middle East conflict on the development of anti-Semitism in Europe, the two men addressed a warning: criticism of Israeli policy could not justify certain blunders. Mr Prodi declared that in Europe they were able to see that the conflict fed frustration but recognised that certain criticism of Israel was inspired by a form of resentment or anti-Semitic prejudice. Fischer said that no criticism could question Israel's right to exist. Pointing to allegations of the misuse of EU loans to the Palestinian Authority, Fischer stated that if the EU were to stop funding the Palestinian Authority, Hamas would take its place and that this would be a disaster.