AJC Welcomes Joint French, German, Italian Statement on Anti-Semitism

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Jul 22, 2014, 10:12 ET

NEW YORK, July 22, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- AJC welcomed today's powerful statement on European anti-Semitism by the foreign ministers of France, Germany and Italy.

"At a time when 'Death to the Jews' chants can be heard at public gatherings in European capitals, allegedly in protests against Israel, the bold, timely and unambiguous words of the three foreign ministers send a strong message that should be embraced by all EU member states," said AJC Executive Director David Harris. "Now the challenge will be to translate the clear words into equally clear actions. Threats to Europe's Jews threaten Europe's core values and very future."

"Anti-Semitic agitation and hostility against Jews, attacks against people of Jewish faith and against synagogues have no place in our societies," declared Ministers Laurent Fabius of France, Frank-Walter Steinmeier of Germany, and Frederica Mogherini of Italy.

The three foreign ministers denounced "the ugly anti-Semitic statements, demonstrations and attacks of the last few days," and stressed that "nothing, including the dramatic military confrontation in Gaza, justifies such actions in Europe."

Recognizing that anti-Semitism threatens not only Jews but the very fabric of European societies, the ministers vowed to use "all legal measures available to constitutional democracies when the threshold to anti-Semitism, racism and xenophobia is crossed."

"Together and in our individual countries, we will do everything to ensure that our citizens can continue to live safely and peacefully and free from anti-Semitic hostility," the ministers concluded.

AJC offices in Brussels, Berlin, Paris and Rome have been in frequent contact with French, German, Italian and EU officials regarding the surge of anti-Semitism in several European countries.

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SOURCE American Jewish Committee