European Rabbi Warns: Recognition of Palestinian State Emboldens Antisemitism

As three European nations announce their recognition of a Palestinian state, Rabbi Pinchas Goldschmidt, president of the Conference of European Rabbis, sounds the alarm on the resurgence of antisemitism. He urges these countries to understand the dangerous implications for their own Jewish populations.

### Spain's Diplomatic Recognition and Antisemitic Incidents

Spain's Prime Minister, Pedro Sánchez, declared his country's diplomatic recognition of a Palestinian state with pre-1967 borders. While claiming the move was "in favor of peace," Jewish leaders expressed concerns about increased antisemitism.

In the six months following the recognition, Spain's Observatory for Religious Freedom and Conscience recorded 36 attacks on the Jewish community, including attacks on a synagogue, boycotts, antisemitic graffiti, and a Star of David hung from a gallows.

### Ireland's Ambiguous Stance and Criticism of Curriculum

Irish Prime Minister Simon Harris hailed the recognition as "contributing to peace" in the Middle East, but critics condemned statements by members of parliament that had stoked anti-Israel tensions.

A primary and secondary school curriculum about the Israel-Palestinian conflict was heavily criticized for charging Israel with genocide, omitting Hamas' atrocities, and encouraging students to fight for Palestinian justice without mentioning peace with Israel.

### Norway's Diplomatic Elevation and Antisemitic Concerns

Norway confirmed the conversion of its diplomatic office in the West Bank into an embassy, recognizing Palestinian statehood. However, Rabbi Joav Melchior of Oslo raised concerns about a "wave of antisemitism" in the country, leading to debates among Norwegian Jews about their future.

Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide was photographed with Mona Osman, the daughter of a Palestinian terrorist responsible for a deadly attack on Paris Jews in 1982. Despite the Foreign Ministry's statement that Eide was unaware of her sign's text, Osman boasted about "radicalizing" him.

### Europe-Wide Surge in Antisemitism

Since the Hamas attacks on Oct. 7, 2023, antisemitism has escalated across Europe. Synagogues have been attacked in France, Germany, and Poland; Jewish cemeteries vandalized in Austria and Belgium; and Holocaust memorials defaced in Drancy, Paris, Rome, Berlin, and Copenhagen.

In the U.K., 2023 saw a record 4,103 antisemitic events, with London being labeled the "most antisemitic city" by Israeli Minister Amichai Chikli. Swiss authorities increased security at Jewish establishments after a Swiss teen attacked a 50-year-old Jewish man in Zurich.

### Rabbi Goldschmidt's Warnings

Rabbi Goldschmidt stressed the dangerous impact of recognizing a Palestinian state on European Jewish populations. He emphasized that as long as the population is controlled by Iranian proxies and radical Islamist ideology, "it is not going to bring peace."

He urged these countries to consider the influence of terrorist and totalitarian entities in the region and to recognize that deradicalization and peaceful coexistence are essential for a two-state solution.

### Israeli Concerns and Conclusion

Israeli officials expressed their concerns about the heightened hostility towards Israel in Europe. Rabbi Goldschmidt pointed out that Israelis continue to face the realities of living beside Hamas and that the primary discussions in Israel now revolve around the prioritization of hostage return or the destruction of Hamas.

The recognition of a Palestinian state, while ostensibly aimed at promoting peace, has unleashed a wave of antisemitism that threatens the safety and well-being of Jewish communities across Europe. Rabbi Goldschmidt's warnings serve as a chilling reminder of the fragility of religious tolerance in the face of political expediency.