- Sputnik International
World
Get the latest news from around the world, live coverage, off-beat stories, features and analysis.

Israeli Think-Tank Reveals Surge in Islamophobia, Drop in Anti-Semitism in EU

© AP Photo / Armin Weigel/dpaMigrants heading to Germany during a snow shower at the German-Austrian border near Wegscheid, Germany, Saturday Nov. 21, 2015
Migrants heading to Germany during a snow shower at the German-Austrian border near Wegscheid, Germany, Saturday Nov. 21, 2015 - Sputnik International
Subscribe
The number of violent incidents of anti-Semitism dropped 12 percent worldwide, a recent report by the Kantor Center for the Study of Contemporary European Jewry read.

Police have block a area in central Oslo and arrested a man after the discovery of bomb-like device, in Oslo, Norway April 8, 2017 - Sputnik International
Violent Islamism 'Likely' to Sweep Through Norway, Europe due to Poverty, Crime
The Kantor Center presented its "Annual Report on Anti-Semitism for 2016" at Tel Aviv University on Sunday.

According to the report, the decline in anti-Semitic incidents is especially evident in Europe. The trend is most evident in France, where the Interior Ministry reported a 61 percent decrease in incidents, and in Belgium which saw a 60 percent drop.

The report also noted that the ongoing migration crisis in Europe did not lead to an increase in anti-Semitism, despite a fear that it would do so. Instead, the study revealed that the far-right leaders in Europe have focused to immigration issues, mainly targeting Muslim refugees, with many of these leaders denouncing anti-Semitic statements.

Moreover, according to the report, another possible reason is "the growing fear in Europe of terror cells originating in extremist Islamist circles."

Among the reasons for the decrease in the number of violent cases, the report also mentions improved security measures to protect the population in general, and the heavy presence of soldiers and police.

Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump arrives to speak at the Republican Jewish Coalition Presidential Forum. - Sputnik International
Trump Denounces Anti-Semitism After Bomb Threats at Jewish Centers
However, despite this visible trend, the Jews remain at risk of potentially being exposed to anti-Semitic manifestations, researcher Arie Zuckerman said.

In turn, Moshe Kantor, president of the European Jewish Congress, said that the migrant influx to Europe resulted in a surge in far-right ideologies, which "led to manifestations of violence against all minorities, including the Jews."

Migration and terrorism are one of the most serious challenges Europe has faced in recent years. Probably, this fact is among the reasons behind far-right politician Marine Le Pen’s success in the first round of the French presidential election Sunday.

With most of the votes counted, centrist candidate Emmanuel Macron, founder of the "En Marche!" movement, came in first with 23.86 percent of the votes. Le Pen, leader of the National Front movement, received 21.43 percent and came in second place.

Le Pen has long been known as a critic of the open door policy and vowed to combat radical Islamism.

French presidential election candidate for the far-right Front National (FN) party Marine Le Pen. (File) - Sputnik International
Le Pen Says to Fight Terrorism France Needs to Control Borders
Among other things, the populist politician's presidential program includes the restoration of national borders, an exit from the Schengen zone, the re-establishment of customs offices, a denial of French citizenship to undocumented immigrants and a simplification of their deportation.

Moreover, Le Pen has repeatedly called for closing the Union of Islamic Organizations of France (UOIF) for promoting ideas of the radical Islamist movement of the Muslim Brotherhood in France. She also promised to shut down all Salafist mosques preaching against French values in the country and to expel all foreigners suspected of terrorist ties.

On Monday, after the results of the first round were announced, Le Pen said she was going to "emphasize the fight against Islamist terrorism," adding that Macron was "weak" on the matter.


Never miss a story again — sign up to our Telegram channel and we'll keep you up to speed!

Newsfeed
0
To participate in the discussion
log in or register
loader
Chats
Заголовок открываемого материала