Von der Leyen calls for vigilance and stronger response in the wake of rising anti-Semitism - Hoofdinhoud

“Anti-Semitism is a poison for our community. And it is up to all to fight it, to prevent it and to eradicate it,” said Commission President Ursula von der Leyen i at the high-level event “After Halle: from words to action against anti-Semitism” on 10 December in Brussels.

On 9 October 2019 in Halle, Germany, Jewish congregants were attacked in front of their local synagogue and two persons were killed. This happened on the day of Yom Kippur, the holiest day of the Jewish year.

“Today we honour those young victims who got killed while simply living their lives in front of the local synagogue. We stand together with their families and their loved ones, as they go through trauma which no one should ever have to,” said President von der Leyen.

Jewish communities have in recent years repeatedly become targets of anti-Semitic attacks. Consequences and repercussions of these attacks impact all of us, our way of life, our values and our tolerance, von der Leyen stressed in her speech, calling everybody to act to prevent and eradicate it.

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“This fight against anti-Semitism is as much for every other part of our community as it is for Jewish people. And it is one which must be led at local, regional, national and European level. We must all do our part. The Jewish community is not alone,” she said.

She announced the EU i would continue to build on the work done in the past years, at all levels - through security means, in education systems and in public debates.

“I have entrusted my Vice-President for Promoting our European way of life, Margaritis Schinas i, to lead the fight against anti-Semitism”, von der Leyen said and announced that he would be supported by a new dedicated team, who would work with the European Commission Coordinator for combatting anti-Semitism.