|
Breaking News Stories
These are news stories filed after the publishing of this Word
from.
The NEW Anti-Semitism
...an End Time Factor?
Anti-Semitism Rising, State Dept. Says
Yahoo News
By BARRY SCHWEID, AP Diplomatic Writer WASHINGTON - A rise in the number
of Muslims in Western Europe, many of them poor and uneducated, is
contributing to an increase in already deeply rooted anti-Semitism
there, the State Department said in a report to Congress.
However, far-right groups still account for a significant proportion of
attacks on Jews and Jewish property, the report said. In eastern Europe,
skinheads and other members of the radical political fringe are
responsible for most anti-Semitic incidents, according to the report,
obtained Tuesday by The Associated Press. In Russia, Belarus and
elsewhere in the former Soviet Union, anti-Semitism remained a serious
problem, with most incidents carried out by ultra-nationalists and other
far-right elements. "The stereotype of Jews as manipulators of the
global economy continues to provide fertile grounds for anti-Semitic
aggression," said the report to the Senate and House foreign relations
committees. The report, which covered the period between July 2003 and
December 2004, gave no worldwide totals but did include statistics
provided by some countries. There are dwindling Jewish populations in
the North Africa and the Middle East, except for Israel, and there are
few incidents involving Jews who remain in those areas. But Syria
condones and supports "a virulent domestic anti-Semitism" as
government-supported media demonize Israel and its leaders, the report
said. Beyond Europe and the Middle East "there are also worrying
expressions" of anti-Semitism, the report said. In Pakistan, where there
is no Jewish community, anti-Semitic sentiment fanned by anti-Semitic
press articles, is widespread, the report said. Anti-Semitism where
there are virtually no Jews is a recent phenomenon, the State Department
told Congress. In Europe, where millions of Jews died in the Holocaust,
anti-Semitic acts have increased both in frequency and severity since
2000, the report said. The sense of safety and security of Jewish
communities has been disrupted, the report said. Contributing to the
trend, the report said, is a rising Muslim population with
"long-standing antipathy toward both Israel and Jews" as well as
developments in Israel, the occupied territories and Iraq (news - web
sites). In Europe and other regions of the world, many governments have
become increasingly aware of anti-Semitism and have spoken against it.
Countries such as France, Belgium and Germany have taken effective
measures to combat anti-Semitism and have increased protection for
Jewish communities and Jewish properties, the report said. Abraham H.
Foxman, national director of the Anti-Defamation League, said "the U.S.
should be applauded for its leadership in recognizing the reality of the
problem, which is the old anti-Semitism and the newly Muslim
extremist-engendered anti-Semitism. "It is forthright in recognizing the
changing nature and threat of anti-Semitism, its connection, and its
virulent demonization of Israel and Zionists," Foxman said in a
statement.
|