Jewish population may FLEE EUROPE unless Islamic terror threat is tackled
JEWISH people may flee Europe if leaders do not stop Islamic terrorism and growing anti-Semitism, a senior religious leader has warned.
Rabbi warns of growing anti-Semitic forces in Europe
Moscow’s chief rabbi Pinchas Goldschmidt warmed MEPs Jewish people from Europe are facing “existential threats”.
Terror attacks in the hands of Islamic fanatics and the rise of the far-right throughout the continent could push the Jewish population of Europe to leave.
The head of Conference of European Rabbis compared the current events to “trains coming at each other with ever increasing speed” with Jewish people feeling like they standing on the tracks.
There are Jews who are afraid of going to a synagogue
Rabbi Goldschmidt said: “One train is the train of radical Islam and Islamic terrorism ... the other train is the anti-Semitism of old Europe, the extreme right.
“Both trains have to be halted before it’s too late.”
He delivered his speech in front of MEPs in Brussels during special debate “The future of Jewish communities in Europe” on Tuesday.
Rabbi Pinchas Goldschmidt warned about the threats to European Jews
Talking about the aftermath of the terror attacks throughout Europe, the rabbi referred to the “tens of thousands” of Jewish people leaving France, Belgium and other European countries.
He added: “We know of the high percentage of Jews who are afraid of coming to Jewish events or to a synagogue.”
Mr Goldschmidt then brought attention to the rise of the far right and its anti-Semitic views.
MEPs congregated in Brussels for a special debate about the future of Jewish communities in Europe
He said: “The extreme right, who are trying to fight the Jewish people by forbidding and outlawing two basic Jewish practices which are circumcision and the preparation of kosher meat.”
In Britain, The Labour Party has been a the centre of an anti-Semitism row.
Leader Jeremy Corbyn has so far failed to effectively tackle the anti-Semitic sentiment among many MPs.
Jeremy Corbyn has come under pressure to tackle Labour MPs anti-Semitic sentiments
Jackie Walker was suspended as vice-chair of Momentum
Last week, Mr Corbyn’s ally Jackie Walker was suspended from her post as vice-chair of Momentum - the grassroots movement supporting the Labour leader.
Ms Walker was received widespread criticism from comments she made about Holocaust Memorial Day.
Ken Livingstone was also suspended from the Labour party earlier this year after linking the Nazis to Zionism in an interview.