Media

Topic

Antisemitism

Combating Antisemitism and all Forms of Bigotry.

Within living memory of the Holocaust, the remnants of Europe’s Jewish communities have endured a steep rise in anti-Semitism. Since 2012 alone, at least 14 people have been killed in anti-Jewish violence in the EU. The numbers of European Jews emigrating to Israel or the United States has also increased significantly.

 

AJC Strategy Conference on Combating Anti-Semitism

The AJC Transatlantic Institute, together with AJC offices in Berlin, Paris, Rome and Warsaw, works together with EU officials, policy makers and civil society to expose and combat anti-Semitism. In 2015 the AJC Transatlantic Institute hosted in Brussels the ground-breaking conference “A Defining Moment for Europe,” where it presented an action plan for European governments to address the intensifying crisis of anti-Semitism.

⇨ Learn more about this event

 

Identifying Anti-Semitism – The Working Definition of Anti-Semitism

In order to effectively confront anti-Semitism, we must first define it. In June 2016, the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA), which includes 25 of the EU’s 28 Member States, adopted the so-called Working Definition of Anti-Semitism. That definition crucially encompasses contemporary forms of anti-Semitism, such as the demonization of Israel and holding all Jews responsible for Israel’s actions. The AJC Transatlantic Institute has consistently called for the EU and its Member States to officially adopt this definition as well. In a first step, the European Parliament in May 2017 did so and urged member states to follow suit.

⇨ Learn more about we're doing to promote the Working Definition of Anti-Semitism

Related events

January 24, 2024

AJC, Partner Organizations Honor Holocaust Remembrance Day

On Wednesday, January 24 AJC Transatlantic Institute, in cooperation with the Konrad Adenauer Foundation and the Israeli Mission to the EU, organized its annual Holocaust Remembrance event under the patronage of the German state of Hesse. This year’s event featured a keynote speech from Dani Dayan, Director of Yad Vashem, and a panel discussion between TAI’s Daniel Schwammenthal, EU Commission Coordinator for Combating Antisemitism and Fostering Jewish Life Katharina von Schnurbein, and Yohan Benziri, World Jewish Congress Executive Board Member. All speakers emphasized the need to not only remember the past, but to also combat the current explosion of antisemitism.
January 28, 2020

International Holocaust Remembrance Day 2020

The AJC Transatlantic Institute partnered with the Mission of Israel to the EU and NATO, the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung and B’nai B’rith International to commemorate the Holocaust. As part of an “Intergenerational Conversation,” Belgian Holocaust survivor Baron Julien Klener and British Jewish youth activist Hannah Rose shared their very personal experiences about the past and present. Commission Vice President Margaritas Schinas, the Israeli and German ambassadors, and AJC CEO David Harris also addressed the 150 guests who were invited to view artwork of Holocaust survivors made available by Yad Vashem.
February 21, 2019

The Rise of Anti-Zonism: Countering the Threat to Jewish Life in Europe

Watch the highlights of the breakfast discussion "The Rise of Anti-Zionism: Countering the Threat to Jewish Life in Europe” the AJC Transatlantic Institute co-organized at the European Parliament with MEPs Lukas Mandl (EPP), Doru-Claudian Frunzulică (S&D), and Ilhan Kyuchyuk (ALDE).

Media

09/04/2013

New European Anti-Semitism Report Should Serve As Wake-Up Call

April 8, 2013 – New York – AJC called a new study of anti-Semitism in Europe, showing a 30 percent spike in incidents, a wake-up call that should lead governments and civic organizations to step up efforts to address this growing danger.

“The Tel...

21/03/2013

Counterpoint: A Conversation with Acclaimed Author Leon de Winter

Acclaimed Dutch author Leon de Winter joined Joshua Goodman, Daniel Schwammenthal (AJC Transatlantic Institute), Roland Freudenstein (Centre for European Studies) and Jan Techau (Carnegie Europe) for an in-depth discussion about his...

14/03/2013

Counterpoint: Shimon Peres Addresses the European Parliament

On 12 March 2013, Israeli President Shimon Peres delivered a historic speech to the European Parliament's plenary in Strasbourg, France. To mark the moment, Counterpoint played the speech in its entirety the following day. Afterwards, Daniel Schwammenthal (Director of the...

11/03/2013

TAI Welcomes Ashton's Condemnation of Erdogan's Remarks

11 March 2013 -- Brussels -- The AJC Transatlantic Institute welcomes EU High Representative Baroness Catherine Ashton's condemnation of Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan's hateful remark that Zionism is a "crime against humanity."

“...

11/03/2013

MEPs - EU Must Condemn PM Erdogan's Hateful Remarks Against Israel

11 March 2013 -- Brussels -- The AJC Transatlantic Institute praised a group of European parliamentarians for urging EU Foreign Policy chief Catherine Ashton to condemn Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s hateful rhetoric towards Israel at today's Foreign Affairs...

30/01/2013

Douglas Murray: Europe Must Respond to Arab Anti-Semitism

The AJC Transatlantic Institute interviewed Douglas Murray, Associate Director of the Henry Jackson Society (London), on the need for Europe to respond to Arab Anti-Semitism following its workshop (co-organised with the Konrad Adenauer Stiftung) on that subject.

30/01/2013

Ambassador Gideon Behar: Arab Anti-Semitism a Danger to Peace

TAI interviewed Ambassador Gideon Behar, Director of the Israeli Foreign Ministry's Department for Combating Anti-Semitism, the dangers of Arab Anti-Semitism for Jewish communities around the world and the prospects for peace. The conversation took place at the conclusion of...

20/12/2012

AJC Applauds Hispasat Ban on Iranian TV Channels

December 20, 2012 – New York – AJC applauded Hispasat, the Spanish communication satellites group, for deciding to terminate the broadcasting of two Iranian television channels, Hispan TV and Press TV. Transmission of the Iranian channels is expected to end on December 21....

12/12/2012

Counterpoint: Extremism in Europe

On this edition of Counterpoint, Joshua Goodman (host) is joined by Roland Freudenstein of the Centre for European Studies as they look at hatred in Hungary, Euroskepticism in the UK and the deterioration of the situation in Egypt. Andi Grgely, President of the European...

26/04/2012

Giving a Jewish View on EU Affairs

By Toby Vogel

European Voice

26 April 2012

Daniel Schwammenthal on how his...