"The Holocaust was a result of hatred, incitement, ignorance, power and the silence of leaders. The current level of hatred in Europe is comparable to that which existed before the Holocaust, implying the potential for it to happen again if ignorance and silence persist. However, there is a crucial difference now: the presence of the State of Israel. Nevertheless, it has been learned that Israel cannot stand alone, and it is the responsibility of leaders to speak out and take action."
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Rabbi Menachem Margolin, the chairman of the European Jewish Association (EJA), delivered these words during a memorial ceremony held at the Auschwitz-Birkenau extermination camp.
The ceremony was attended by presidents, prime ministers, parliamentary leaders and Jewish leaders from various countries, marking International Holocaust Remembrance Day.
Representing the State of Israel at the ceremony were former Israeli President Reuven Rivlin, Minister for Diaspora Affairs and the Fight against Antisemitism Amichai Chikli and the head of the Department for Combating Anti-Semitism and Community Resilience at the World Zionist Organization Racheli Baratz-Rix.
Noa Levy, a Jewish student at Queen Mary University in London, expressed her concerns, stating, "The situation in Britain is very complicated. My university did not withdraw an invitation from a pro-Palestinian speaker who denied the atrocities on October 7. I cannot walk freely on my campus, I cannot show the Star of David, and the university is not doing enough to ensure my safety. Universities should be safe places where we can all participate in peaceful and respectful discussions. Unfortunately, that is not the case today."
Bianca Sirdzinka, a Jewish student at the University of Groningen in the Netherlands, "The situation for Jewish students is dire! It's frightening to walk in the streets. Recently, there was an incident where students at the Holocaust Memorial were targeted with thrown stones. Shockingly, it took the police 40 minutes to respond, revealing their lack of seriousness and attentiveness. We are enduring immense suffering.
"The professors propagate that Israel is a terrorist state, and unfortunately, many students perceive it as an exemplar. The campuses have transformed into hazardous zones for Jewish and Israeli students. Revealing your origin is risky; you have to conceal your identity. It's utter chaos. Our safety is compromised, and antisemitism is pervasive in the Netherlands."
The memorial ceremony in Poland marked the conclusion of a two-day annual gathering organized by the EJA in Auschwitz, which aimed to raise awareness among European leaders about the threat of anti-Semitism. During the conference, the European Leaders Forum for Combating Anti-Semitism was launched, with former President Reuven Rivlin at its helm.
The forum featured notable figures from European countries, including former Chancellor of Austria Sebastian Kurz, former Prime Minister of France Manuel Valls, former Prime Minister of Italy Matteo Renzi, former Prime Minister of Sweden Stefan Löfven, former President of Bulgaria Petar Stoyanov, former Prime Minister of the Czech Republic Andrej Babiš, former President of Greece Prokopis Pavlopoulos, former President of Slovenia Borut Pahor, and former President of Montenegro Milo Đukanović. Its primary objective is to advocate for more stringent legislation against hate speech and anti-Semitism within campuses and sports clubs.
Matteo Renzi, the former Prime Minister of Italy, expressed his views, stating: "Following the tragedy on October 7, it is crucial to persist in the fight for civilization. The true adversary of the Palestinians is Hamas. We cannot attain the aspiration for peace with Hamas."
Former Prime Minister of France, Manuel Valls, "Hamas are not freedom fighters; they seek the extermination of Jews. It is imperative that we combat them. When South Africa employs terms like 'genocide' and 'apartheid', we must reject such language. Behind these notions, we discover the influence of Iran and Turkey."
He added: "October 7 is a turning point for Western civilization. What happened on October 7th is related to Israel, but make no mistake, it is not only about Israel and the Jews. It is a problem that concerns all of humanity. It is our duty to address what is happening at this moment. There are generous people toward Hamas. Antisemitism has seen a significant rise at all levels. This hatred toward Israel seems to be the best definition we can find for antisemitism. It is a mistake to think that antisemitism is a relic of the past. There are also conspiracy theories that have gained strength with the COVID-19 pandemic.
"Part of the left has now become antisemitic through anti-Zionism, and this is supported by phenomena related to the WOKE movement, as evidenced in American and European universities. Many feminists have remained silent, and that was astonishing. The role played by numerous international organizations is a genuine cause for concern. I believe that Europe should seriously consider completely banning TikTok. Europe has a long Christian and Jewish heritage. Europe has been a theater of tragedies, of upheavals, throughout the 20th century. We are the home to millions of Muslims. The strength of Europe lies in the ability of different people to live together."
The Minister of Diaspora Affairs and the Fight against Antisemitism, Amichai Chikli, said at the conference: "There were those who believed that antisemitism would disappear after the Holocaust, but after a short respite, it still exists. We are witnessing a moral decline, for example, in universities in the United States like Harvard. The Jewish people have not encountered such obsessive hatred since the 1930s, especially against the only Jewish state, Israel. I can assure you that we will never give up. 'Am Yisrael Chai' (the people of Israel live) is not just a slogan, but our life's mission."
The statement from Seán Ó Fearghaíl, Chairman of the Irish Parliament (Ceann Comhairle), highlighted the situation in Ireland, stating: "Ireland had a very small Jewish community, which now numbers around 2,100 Jews. Historically, the Jewish community was well-regarded by the population. However, this perception has changed due to the influence of the extreme left and immigrant populations. Regrettably, there are elements within society that promote hatred. It is imperative that we all make a commitment to stand against hatred."
During the conference, Benjamin Jacobs, the Chief Rabbi of the Netherlands and head of the EJA Committee to Combat Antisemitism, expressed his concern: "Antisemites are becoming increasingly visible in the Netherlands. As someone who was born in the shadow of World War II, I recall my father telling me, 'Don't be afraid. It will never happen again.' Unfortunately, that sentiment is not entirely accurate. The possibility of history repeating itself is very real."
Raheli Baratz-Rix, Head of the Department for Combating Antisemitism and Enhancing Resilience at the World Zionist Organization, said: "Antisemitism has reached new heights since October 7th, unlike anything seen in recent decades. Hatred and ignorance are explosive and prevalent among young people on university campuses. It is imperative for all those engaged in this work to urgently develop an international action plan led by the State of Israel, which includes legislation to prevent Holocaust denial, stricter enforcement worldwide, and dedicated educational programs starting from elementary schools."
Yad Vashem Chairman Danny Dayan, expressed his thoughts to the leaders, saying: "When world leaders visit Yad Vashem and utter the words 'never again,' I find myself questioning their sincerity. Is it a genuine sentiment or just a cliché? I have a litmus test to gauge their commitment: do they have an operational action plan in place to combat antisemitism, a plan that is actually being implemented? Only then does their declaration of 'never again' truly reflect a deep commitment. However, if they lack a plan, then the statement from Yad Vashem may come across as hypocritical. This is a shared ethical responsibility, not only toward the victims of the Holocaust and Jews worldwide but also toward themselves and their allies."