You Jew haters can learn from this:
Ending a 'Deadly Hate' of Jews
At Berlin Forum, Powell and Other Diplomats Pledge Vigilance
By Peter Slevin
Washington Post Staff Writer
Thursday, April 29, 2004; Page A21
BERLIN, April 28 -- Delegates from 55 countries gathered Wednesday in the former heart of the Third Reich to pledge vigilance against resurgent anti-Semitism in Europe. They plan to endorse increased public education to refute stereotypes and to expand the collection and sharing of data about anti-Semitic incidents.
Elie Wiesel, a Holocaust survivor and Nobel Peace Prize laureate, flew to Berlin with Secretary of State Colin L. Powell aboard a U.S. Air Force jet to plead for the world to "stop the poison from spreading."
"The Jew I am belongs to a traumatized generation," Wiesel told 500 delegates to the Conference on Anti-Semitism. "We have antennas. Better yet, we are antennas. If we tell you that the signals we receive are disturbing, that we are alarmed . . . people had better listen."
Israeli President Moshe Katsav declared that "European leaders have done a lot lately, but not enough." Powell said anti-Semitism is "not just a fact of history, but a current event."
An opinion poll released this week by the U.S.-based Anti-Defamation League found that large numbers of Europeans are still suspicious of Jews, although overall attitudes in many countries have improved. The poll also confirmed widespread opposition in Europe to the policies of Israel in its conflict with the Palestinians.
The two-day conference, sponsored by the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, convened at a time of increased violence against Jews in Europe.
Delegates discussed the degree to which young Muslim immigrants angry over the Israeli-Palestinian conflict are to blame for the upsurge, and what role traditional anti-Semitic groups such as neo-Nazis are playing.
Hans Winkler, head of the Austrian delegation, cited a "new form of violence against Jews, which has to do with the basic conflict between Jews and Arabs, and the deadly hate." He said, "those countries that have a large Muslim community are obviously more in danger of falling victim to this sort of thing."
The Munich-based newspaper Sueddeutsche Zeitung wrote Wednesday of a "new anti-Semitism" growing as a result of Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's policies.
"Whoever talks about anti-Semitism today is not talking about a few scattered neo-Nazis in Germany," the newspaper said. "Most often, the anti-Semitism comes without violence: Sharon is drawn in caricatures with a Star of David. Palestinian president Yasser Arafat is shown wearing concentration camp clothes."
Powell told delegates in a short speech that hate crimes against Jews had increased in recent years. He said the United States "has its share of anti-Semites and skinheads and other assorted racists, bigots and extremists who feed on fear and ignorance and prey on the vulnerable."
Criticism of Israel is permissible, but there must be boundaries, said Powell, who spoke at a celebration of Israeli independence in Washington on Tuesday before departing for Berlin.
"It is not anti-Semitic to criticize the policies of the state of Israel," said Powell. "But the line is crossed when Israel or its leaders are demonized or vilified, for example, by the use of Nazi symbols and racist caricatures."
During a break, two Danish delegates discussed the implications of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict on anti-Semitism.
"There are many people saying that the growing anti-Semitism in Europe is fueled by the Middle East conflict," said Ole Olsen. "But I have not heard anyone taking the consequences of this and saying, 'Then we have to solve this conflict.' " Olsen added: "Every attack on a Jew is one too much."
The other Danish delegate, Marianne Beck-Nielsen, replied: "But every attack on a Palestinian is one too much."
In a survey of attitudes in 10 European countries, the Anti-Defamation League found that the percentage of people with anti-Semitic attitudes had declined in many countries in recent years. In France, the proportion declined to 25 percent of respondents from 35 percent in 2002, while in Spain it was down to 24 percent from 34 percent. The figure in Italy fell to 15 percent from 23 percent.
But in Germany, the percentage with anti-Semitic views held roughly steady at 36 percent. The percentage increased in Britain from 18 percent to 24 percent and in the Netherlands from 7 percent to 9 percent.
The ADL measured attitudes by seeking responses to such statements as "Jews are more loyal to Israel than to this country" and "Jews are more willing than others to use shady practices to get what they want."
Attitudes toward Israel have become more critical in the same period. Only 34 percent of respondents believe Israel wants to reach agreement with the Palestinians, compared with 40 percent in 2002. About 26 percent said Israel is more responsible for the violence in the region, while 14 percent said Palestinians were more responsible.
Special correspondent Shannon Smiley contributed to this report.
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