One of the major factors behind the worrying trend of rising anti-Semitism in Western Europe is the large number of Muslim immigrants, Fidesz MEP Balázs Hidvéghi said at a session on combating anti-Semitism and racism in the European Parliament on Wednesday.
“Attacks against Jews also support the (position that) illegal immigration into Europe cannot be allowed,” Hidvéghi said in the debate, adding that by supporting immigration, Europe is in fact importing the conflicts of the Middle East.
He also said that while anti-Semitic incidents are on the rise in Western Europe, the Hungarian Jewish community is thriving and doesn’t have to fear attacks in public places. Hungary has an estimated Jewish population of 100,000.
“The only possible approach to anti-Semitism is zero tolerance,” Hidvéghi told the session. “Hungary’s public and politicians fully agree on that point.”
Anti-Semitism a serious issue in European countries with large Muslim populations
Hidvéghi said that anti-Semitism, especially after what happened in World War II, is unacceptable and zero tolerance is the only adequate answer.
The Times of Israel has underlined the growing threat of Muslim populations in Europe and the anti-Semitic views many of them hold, with the publication accusing Germany of hiding the Muslim identities of those conducting attacks on Jews in the country.
Statistics also back up the Hidvéghi’s statements to the European Parliament.
In France, immigrants from Muslim countries and their descendants are responsible for more than half of all incidents of anti-Semitism, and nearly all the violent ones, according to the National Bureau of Vigilance Against Anti-Semitism.
A number of studies have also shown that Jews feel safer in Hungary than in other European countries and report far fewer incidents of anti-Semitism.
EU officials say xenophobia is rising
Speaking on behalf of the Croatian presidency of the Council of the European Union, Nikolina Brnjac raised concern that xenophobia was growing in the EU. Whereas legal means against discrimination and racism do exist, she said, these need to be embedded in national legislation. Hate crimes should be addressed firmly by the police of member states, she said, adding that it was also important that the victims themselves should turn to the authorities.
EU Commissioner for Values and Transparency Věra Jourová said hatred endangered democracy and cultural diversity. Xenophobia, she said, was present in many areas of the EU and hate speech was spreading online. The European Commission is making efforts to fight this, she noted.
Title image: Fidesz MEP Balázs Hidvéghi in the European Parliament. (MTI/Szilárd Koszticsák)
