Translate


Thursday, March 14, 2019

The EU Survey on Anti-Semitism: What It Hides

Yesterday, I posted a Dutch article from the Dagelijkse Standaard on the latest EU anti-semitism survey. The article pointed out that according to the survey (which covered all EU member nations), anti-semitism in the Netherlands was more likely to come from the left than the right.

In going through the actual EU report, which covers all EU countries, I am struck not by what is covered, but by what is left virtually buried-the issue of anti-semitic attitudes and hate crimes committed by Muslims in Europe. In short, it is like looking for a needle in the proverbial haystack.

https://fra.europa.eu/en/publication/2019/experiences-and-perceptions-antisemitism-second-survey-discrimination-and-hate

Table 6 of the report lists the perpetrators country by country. The 12-member average for "someone with an extremist Muslim background" is 30%, only exceeded by "someone else whom I cannot describe" at 31%. How they define an "extremist Muslim background" or how many of the latter category consists of Muslims vs native Europeans is not specified.

There are also references to one motivation for anti-semitism as being "Israel behaves like Nazis  towards Palestinians". There is a section on the impact of the Arab-Israeli conflict and the policies of Israel as factors but without specifying Muslims vs native Europeans.

Another point I found surprising is the attention devoted to "71% of respondants' concerns about  'increasing intolerance towards Muslims". Why is that even in there?

Of course, it is hardly surprising that the EU would attempt to downplay or bury the extent to which its recently-arrived wave of Muslim migrants and refugees has led to a dramatic increase in anti-semitism not seen in Europe since the 1930s and 40s. It is good that the EU shows concern over the issue, but without fully discussing the perpetrators and the reasons, it does not lead to much of a solution, does it?


No comments: