portugal 2008/9

 

Emails and letters sent to Jewish individuals and institutions during Israel’s war in Gaza reflected traditional Portuguese perceptions about Jews.

 

The jewish community

The small Jewish community is well integrated into Portuguese society and well-regarded by the political authorities. The 4,000 Jews in Portugal (including continent and islands) out of a population of 10 million are organized into four independent Jewish communities − Lisbon, Oporto, Belmonte and Algarve. The leading one is the Lisbon community, Comunidade Israelita da Lisboa (www.cilisboa.org), which maintains a synagogue (with daily services), a Jewish club, and a cemetery; it publishes a periodical, Tikva, and provides kosher food through the shop El Corte Inglés. The Somej Nophlim association cares for the Jewish aged as well as the needy. The Oporto Jewish Community (http://comunidade-israelita-porto.org/) provides regular services in the synagogue. The Algarve Community is oriented basically toward non-Portuguese Jews holidaying in the south of Portugal. The Belmonte Community was formed recently for descendents of the anusim (forced converts to Catholicism). It provides a synagogue with regular services and maintains a cemetery, and promotes traditional Portuguese kosher products such as olive oil and wine.

 

political organizations

Left-wing parliamentary groupings such as the Left Bloc (BE) and the Democratic Unity Coalition (CDU), the latter a coalition between the Portuguese Communist Party and the Greens, were active in condemning Israel for starting the war in Gaza, and attempted to pass anti-Israel motions in the legislature.

            The extreme right, represented, for example by the National Renewal Party (PNR – see ASW 2007) and the skinhead movement, is relatively weak and marginal in Portugal. Widely criticized by the majority of the population, their results in national elections tend to be insignificant.

 

Antisemitic Activity

Traditional perspectives about Jews (see ASW 2007) came to the fore in Portugal during Israel’s war in Gaza in late December 2008−January 2009. In emails and letters sent to members of the Jewish community or community institutions denunciation of Israel was mixed with antisemitic slurs, such as: 1) Israel’s attack is supported by the richest and most powerful people on earth; 2) Israel is perpetrating a "holocaust" on the Palestinians; 3) the Jews in Israel were cowards during World War II because they cowered in a corner rather than attack the Nazis; and 4) everyone living in the Middle East is Semitic, therefore those who criticize Israel cannot be accused of antisemitism. Vice president of the Lisbon Jewish Community Esther Mucznik, who has a biweekly column, with an email address, in one of the widely read daily newspapers, Jornal Publico, received several messages in her electronic mail box sent by regular readers of this newspaper, and criticizing her for supporting Israel. Some contained antisemitic motifs, especially comparisons of Israelis and Jews with Nazis.

On the other hand, the general attitude expressed by both opinion leaders and the public in general, especially in mainstream newspapers and on television, tended toward support of Israel in its fight against Hamas. The atmosphere during the Gaza war differed considerably to that during the second intifada, when there was much more criticism of the State of Israel and its then Prime Minister Ariel Sharon.

            The perpetrators of the 2007 Jewish cemetery desecration in Lisbon remained behind bars while their trial was ongoing (see ASW 2007).