Czech blogger “Kubák” was given a four-month suspended sentence with one-year probation by a Prague District Court on May 10, 2011. Kubák was found guilty of disseminating racism and death threats on Roma discussion forums. This is the first time a Czech court has convicted someone of intolerance and threats on an internet discussion board.
Sources: wienerzeitung, 07-April-2011; tt.com, 05-April-2011
May
Argentina’s DAIA Wins Injunction against Google
The Argentinean Jewish umbrella organization DAIA successfully applied for a court injunction against Google, whose web search engine referred users to antisemitic websites, including those denying the Holocaust. A Buenos Aires judge ruled that Google must remove the “suggested searches,” which guide internet users to websites that incite to violence against people or propagate racist and antisemitic libel, since they were illegal under Argentinean law. The judge also ordered Google not to place advertisements on such websites.
Sources: Prensa Judia, 18-May-2011; Hate Monitor, 18-May-2011
May
Study Points to Increasing Influence of Antisemitic Positions within Germany’s Die Linke
Although not officially released, excerpts from the study "Antisemiten als Koalitionspartner?" (Antisemites as Coalition Partners?), by political scientists Samuel Salzborn from the University of Giessen and Sebastian Voigt from the University of Leipzig were posted online, with a link to full text, by Frankfurter Rundschau on May 18, 2011. According to the article, antisemitic positions, often manifested in radical anti-Israel activities, have become increasingly influential within the Die Linke (The Left) party. The reasons, the authors claim, lie in the party's origins in the former GDR (German Democratic Republic) where anti-Zionism was part of government doctrine. The findings of the study, which were rejected by the party leadership, triggered a debate, on May 25, in the German parliament, which called on Der Linke to clearly distance itself from all forms of antisemitism.
Sources: TAZ, 21-May-2011; Deutscher Bundestag, 25-May-2011; Jerusalem Post, 27-May-2011; Leipziger Volkszeitung, 25-May-2011; Frankfurter Rundschau, 19-May-2011
May
Belgian Survey Finds Direct Link between Muslims and Antisemitic Views
On May 11, 2011, the Belgian Morgen published a study titled “Jong in Brussel,” by the Youth Research Platform, according to which 50% of Muslim high school students in Brussels are antisemitic. The chapter on antisemitism was written by sociologist Mark Elchardus, from the Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB). According to the survey, which polled 2,837 students in 32 Dutch-speaking schools, 56.8% of Muslim respondents agreed with the statement: Jews want to dominate everything (non-Muslims: 10.5%); 47.1% concurred that Jews think they're better than others (non-Muslims: 12.9%); 47.5% believed that if you do business with Jews you should be extra careful (non-Muslims: 12.9%); and 53.7% agreed that Jews incite to war and blame others (non-Muslims: 7.7%). The results were alarming and, unlike in the case of racist Belgians, unrelated to low educational level or social disadvantage, said Elchardus, who pointed to a direct link between Muslims and antisemitic attitudes.
Sources: rightsidenews.com, 17-May-2011; demorgen.be, 12-May-2011; islamineurope.blogspot.com, 15-May-2011
May
Former Hamas Minister Delivers Antisemitic Harangue
Jews are the most despicable and contemptible people on earth, declared former Hamas minister of culture `Atallah Abu al-Subh, in a Friday sermon aired on Hamas' al-Aqsa TV on April 8, 2011. Since they killed the prophets, he argued, they would be killed by Allah. In previous TV interviews from 2008, al-Subh presented excerpts from The Protocols of the Elders of Zion, and referred to former secretary of state Condoleezza Rice as a black cobra and to George Bush as Dracula who served Zionism and drank Palestinian blood for pleasure.
Sources: Memri, 19-May-2011
May
Article Explains Jobbik’s Popularity
An article by Peter Kreko, published on May 15, 2011 in the Budapest Times, claims that antisemitism is central to the ideology of Hungary’s right-wing extremist Jobbik party. In
“Jobbik Needs Jews to Run the World,” Krekó states that Jobbik’s popularity can be understood by the people's need for an explanation for the social injustices and economic situation in the Hungary. "Social fears and emotional unrest are fertile ground for the
manufacturing of conspiracy theories” and the shaping of nationalist identity, he said, “with Jews frequently becoming the targets of collective scapegoating.”
Sources: Juedische Allgemeine, 18-May-2011; Budapest Times, 15-May-2011; TAZ, 13-Apr-2010
May
Scottish Council Expands Cultural Boycott of Israel
On May 24, 2011, several districts in southwestern Scotland announced they would expand their cultural boycott of Israel by banning Israeli books in stores. Shortly after Israel’s Cast Lead operation (late December 2008-January 2009), the West Dunbartonshire Regional Council approved a bill calling to boycott goods produced in Israel. Following the Gaza flotilla incident in May 2010, the council expanded the boycott to include a ban on the purchase of English translations of Israeli books and their distribution in public libraries throughout its jurisdiction. When Dundee joined the embargo, the mayor was advised to refrain from enforcing it legally in order to avoid future lawsuits, since the EU cannot implement boycotts that haven’t been agreed on by members of the Union. Instead, the municipality plans to distribute posters throughout the city, calling on its 150,000 residents to abstain from buying Israeli goods, and to mark Israeli products in order to make them easily identifiable. "A place that boycotts books is not far from a place that burns them," said Israel's ambassador to the UK Ron Prosor in response.
Sources: Ynet, 26-May-2011; EJPress, 25-May-2011; European Jewish Congress, 25-May-2011; Free Republic, 21-May-2011; Modernity Blog, 23-May-2011
May
Report Warns against Rising Xenophobia and Racism in Europe
Turkish Foreign Minister Davutoglu warned against rising xenophobia and racism in Europe during the inauguration of the 121st meeting of the Committee of Ministers of the 47-nation Council of Europe in Istanbul. Davutoglu was referring to the report “Living Together: Combining Diversity and Freedom in 21st-Century Europe,” released on May 10 by the “Group of Eminent Persons.” Chaired by former German Foreign Minister Joschka Fischer, the Group draws attention to “rising intolerance toward immigrants and Muslims throughout Europe.” The document, which analyzes the challenges arising from increasing intolerance and discrimination, highlights growing hostility toward religious and ethnic minorities. Among its guidelines for dealing with these problems it recommends embracing diversity and multiple identities: “If one can be an African- or Italian-American, why not a ‘hyphenated European’ — a Turkish-German, a North African-Frenchwoman or an Asian-Briton?” it asks.
Sources: humanrightseurope, 11-May-2011; Dunya Times, 11-May-2011; Hürriyet Daily News, 11-May-2011
May
Arson Attack on Greek Mosque
After smashing the building's windows and spray-painting swastikas on its walls, on May 8, 2011 arsonists set fire to a makeshift mosque in Kallithea neighborhood, Athens, Greece. The attack caused significant damage to the premises but no injuries were reported, since the place was empty at the time.
Sources: skynet.be, 8-May-2011; europe1.fr, 8-May-2011; europenews.dk, 16-May-2011
April
Antisemitic Attack in Austria
A 19-year-old man was reportedly attacked in early April in Innsbruck, Austria, by two men, who he claimed were of Turkish immigrant origin. The perpetrators apparently saw his Star of David chain and falsely identified him as a Jew. They hit him twice in the face and shouted antisemitic insults such as, "Hitler should have finished off all the Jews" and "Israelis are child murderers."
Sources: wienerzeitung, 07-April-2011; tt.com, 05-April-2011
April
Jewish Community Demands Action against Italian Teacher for Alleged Antisemitism
An article published in the daily La Repubblica on April 14, 2011 describing Milan high school teacher Barbara Albertoni as a Holocaust denier and an antisemite aroused a furor in the Jewish community. The article's findings were based on the teacher's posts on her anarchist and pro-Palestinian internet blog, which makes "repeated attacks on the Jews and Israel," and includes pictures and cartoons showing the Israeli flag equated with the swastika. It quoted one post in which she called the Holocaust "the founding myth of Zionism." Italian Jewish leaders have called on the country’s education minister to take action against the teacher. Albertoni has rejected the accusations, but added that the "Zionist lobby" was behind efforts "to cut off the voices of dissent, above all on the Palestinian question."
Sources: milano.rebubblica.il, 17-Apr-2011; jta.org, 14-Apr-2011
April
Antisemitic Neo-Nazi Group Meets in Colombia
On April 24, 2011, 122 Colombian neo-Nazis, members of a group called Tercera Fuerza, reportedly met in a Bogota hotel to commemorate Adolf Hitler's 122nd birthday. The group, led by a man called Diego, known as "El Comandante" by his followers, meets twice a week, for lectures and video discussions; they also participate in military-style training. According to "Cuchito," one of the members, the group is guided by the concept of "racialism," according to which all races must confront the Jewish race. They deny the Holocaust, referring to it as a "Holotale." The Confederation of Jewish Communities of Colombia (CCJC) published a communiqué stating that they were drafting a law that would penalize incitement to hatred.
Sources: Semana, 24-Apr-2011; Centro Israelita de Bogota, 27-Apr-2011
April
Neo-Nazis March in Moscow
On April 23, 2011, about 300 people marched in the streets of Moscow "calling for the forceful expulsion of non-Slavic migrants from Russia." Some of the participants held red and white flags with Nazi eagles and shouted "Hail Russia! Stop feeding the Caucasus!" According to the Moscow Bureau for Human Rights, about 70,000 neo-Nazis are active in Russia.
Sources: Haaretz, 23-Apr-2011; romea.cz, 25-Apr-2011
April
Greek Synagogue Target of Arson Attack
During the night of April 19, 2011, the synagogue on the Greek island of Corfu was set alight, damaging prayer books. The door was also damaged and two empty gas cans were found on the premises. This was the third such attack in Greece in less than two years, police said. Staged just as the Passover festival was beginning, the attack alarmed the country’s Jewish community. There are some 8,000 Jews in Greece, and about 150 on Corfu. Two days later, Greek police announced that they had arrested two suspects for the attack. Greek security forces are examining the connection between the two suspects and terror groups.
Sources: Alert Net, 21-Apr-2011; Keep Talking Greece, 19-Apr-2011; Haaretz, 20-Apr-2011
April
Populist Right-Wing Party Wins Almost One-Fifth of Finnish Votes
On April 17, 2011 the right-wing populist True Finns party gained nearly 19 percent of the vote in the elections to the Finnish Parliament (Eduskunta), compared to 4 percent in the previous 2007 election. The party platform calls for restrictions on immigration and withdrawal from the EU agreement, as well as a prohibition on abortion and of same-sex union. The party was criticized repeatedly during the campaign for racist and islamophobic slurs, such as allegations of a “genetic affinity” of Somali immigrants to “thievery and parasitism” and calling the Prophet Muhammad a pedophile.
Sources: Katholische Nachrichten, 21-Apr-2011; BBC News Europe, 18-Apr-2011; Der Standard, 21-Apr-2011; Guardian, 17-Apr-2011
March
Jewish Radio Station Cancels Interview with French FN Leader
Following an uproar in the Jewish community over an invitation to France’s far right Front National (FN) leader Marine Le Pen to be interviewed on the French Jewish radio station "Radio J," the latter cancelled the event. The French Jewish students union UEJF declared that the FN remained a “structurally antisemitic, racist [party]… outside the republican camp,” while the BNCVA, the national bureau for monitoring antisemitism, and CRIF, the representative council for Jewish organizations in France, protested that the interview would give Le Pen a “stamp of respectability.” The FN said that it would file a libel suit against two of the organizations that opposed the broadcast.
Sources: lemonde.fr, 9-Mar-2011; english.rfi.fr, 9-Mar-2011; thejc.com, 17-Mar-2011; ynetnews.com, 22-Mar-2011
March
Pope’s Book Exonerates Jews
Excerpts from Pope Benedict XVI's new book Jesus of Nazareth - Part II, which exonerates the Jewish people for the death of Jesus Christ, were released on March 2, 2011. They explain why, biblically and theologically, there is no basis in the Scriptures for accusing the Jewish people for Jesus' death. The Vatican had already rejected this accusation in general terms in 1965 with the landmark Nostra Aetate document issued by the Vatican II Conference. Jewish organizations, such as the ADL and American Gathering of Holocaust Survivors and Their Descendants, praised the pope's declaration, calling it “an important and historic moment” in Catholic-Jewish relations.
Sources: national post, 11-Mar-2011; news.yahoo.com, 2-Mar-2011; guardian.co.uk, 2-Mar-2011; haaretz.co.il, 11-Mar-2011
March
Jewish-Muslim Committee Pledges to Resist Far Right Parties
Members of the Coordinating Committee of European Muslim and Jewish Leaders met in Paris on March 7, 2011, and pledged to stand together against the rise of far right xenophobic and racist parties. These parties, they said, were a threat to ethnic and religious minorities across Europe, including Jews and Muslims. They also planned a series of public events in European capitals, on May 9 (Europe Day).
Sources: WJC, 7-Mar-2011; Jerusalem Post, 7-Mar-2011
March
Europe-Wide Survey Shows High Intolerance to “Others”
On March 11, 2011, the Friedrich Ebert Stiftung in Berlin published a report on tolerance and discrimination in Europe (UK, France, the Netherlands, Italy, Portugal, Poland and Hungary). The study showed that animosity to groups of people perceived as "other," "different" and deviating from the norm is high in Europe. The level is not equally distributed, and was lower in the Netherlands but higher in Poland and Hungary with regard to homophobia, sexism and antisemitism. Islamophobia, racism and xenophobia were more equally spread over the continent. About half of all Europeans think there are too many immigrants in Europe and that Islam is a religion of intolerance. Seventeen percent of Dutch and more than 70 percent of Poles think the Jews exploit the Holocaust to their advantage; 17 percent of Dutch, and 88 percent of Poles think that gays should not have equal rights.
Sources: Friedrich Ebert Stiftung, 11-Mar-2011; Telepolis, 13-Mar-2011
March
More Anti-Arab Attacks in Safed
The cars of two Arab students in Safed, Israel, were set alight on March 16, 2011. Heated arguments broke out between Jews and Arabs following a college event meant to promote dialogue between the two groups. In addition, slogans such as "Arabs get out" and "Death to Arabs" were spray painted on the walls of the event's sponsor, Safed Academic College.
Sources: Mako, 16-Mar-2011; Haaretz, 16-Mar-2011; Haaretz, 11-Mar-2011
March
Holocaust Invented by Global Zionism, Says Tunisian
During an interview aired on March 2, 2011 on Iran’s al-Alam TV, Tunisian “Mujahid” Husayn Triki, former Arab League representative in Argentina, claimed that the Holocaust was invented by global Zionism, citing the controversy over the number of victims as solid proof. In addition, he alleged that Israel had prior knowledge of the 9/11 events and betrayed the US by not warning it about them.
Sources: Memri, 14-Mar-2011; CICAD, 21-Mar-2011
March
Neo-Nazis March in Lithuania
An annual march of neo-Nazis was held in the center of Vilnius on March 11, 2011, to mark Lithuania's Independence Day. The march, which was authorized, was attended by about 1,000 people, who shouted "Lithuania for the Lithuanians" and "Lithuania is better without Russians." Although the public display of swastikas is illegal in Lithuania, flags carried by some participants and SS insignia and badges worn by many bore the swastika emblem. Following speeches at the Museum of Genocide Victims, some of the participants gave the Nazi salute. In an open letter signed by many antifascist NGOs and personalities to leading members of government, the DEMOS Institute of Critical Thought harshly condemned the march.
Sources: DefendingHistory.com, 11-Mar-2011; DEMOS, 14-Mar-2011; regnum.ru, 11-Mar-2011; jewish.ru, 15-Mar-2011.; delfi.lt, 11-Mar-2011
March
Anti-Roma March in Hungary
On March 6, 2011, some 2,500 members of the Civil Guard Association for a Better Future marched in black military uniforms to the Roma neighborhood in the Hungarian town of Gyöngyöspata. The march was seen as an attempt to put psychological pressure on the residents to incite against the Roma. Members of the group, which is said to be directly related to the extreme right Jobbik party and the racist organization Magyar Garda, claim that they are trying to stop "Gypsy crime."
Sources: Cingeneyiz, 18-Mar-2011; Vimeo, 17-Mar-2011
Feb.
Tunisian Synagogue Burned during Anti-government Riots
During the anti-government riots and demonstrations in Tunisia in late January-February 2011, the great synagogue in Qabas, southern Tunisia, was set alight on February 2, and the Torah scrolls burned. Jewish community leader Trabelsi Perez denounced the incident. However, the president of the Jewish community in Tunisia, Roger Bismuth, told the Jerusalem Post that the fire was probably an act of vandalism and not of antisemitism or "an attack on the Jewish community."
Sources: al-Mustaqbal, 02-Feb-2011; al-Quds al-`Arabi, 02-Feb-2011; Ilaf, 01-Feb-2011
Feb.
European Parliament Holds Memorial Day for Roma Victims of the Nazis
For the first time the European Parliament held a ceremony, on February 2, 2011, to commemorate the genocide of hundreds of thousands of Roma (between 220,000 and 500,000) exterminated by the Nazis during World War II. Stating that "one-third of the people held at Auschwitz were Roma, but most Europeans do not know this," parliamentary speaker Jerzy Buzek said that the time had come for European states to officially recognize the Roma genocide. Green Euro MP Catherine Greze who, along with Hungarian, Romanian and German colleagues, had pushed for the remembrance day, described the tragedy common to Roma and Jews perpetrated by the Nazis in an article in Le Monde. She also deplored the current sufferings of ten million Roma across Europe and condemned ongoing racism against Roma, as well as France's aggressive policy toward its Roma population.
Sources: eubusiness.com, 2-Feb-2011; lemonde.fr, 2-Feb-2011
Feb.
Israeli Police Issue Warrant for Arrest of Kiryat Arba Rabbi
A warrant was issued by the Israeli police on February 7, 2011, for the arrest of Dov Lior, chief rabbi of the Kiryat Arba settlement, for his support for the book Torat Hamelekh, which explores the possibilities of killing non-Jews in religious law. Lior refused to cooperate with the police. Rabbis and political figures on the Israeli right, such as former MK (Shas) rabbi Yaakov Yosef and MK (from Habayit Hayehudi) Michael Ben-Ari expressed outrage, claiming the warrant exposed hypocrisy since, they alleged, leftists who urge attacks on Israeli soldiers are not investigated.
Sources: Haaretz, 07-Feb-2011; Maariv, 07-Feb-2011; Ynet, 07-Feb-2011
Feb.
British University’s Invitation to Controversial German Banker Cancelled
A row broke out in London over an invitation to Thilo Sarrazin, former board member of the German Central Bank and a former Social Democratic Party politician, to speak at the London School of Economics (LSE) on February 14, 2011. Sarrazin had caused a scandal when he claimed that Arab and Turkish immigrants were bad for Germany, and that all Jews shared a special gene. British anti-fascist groups protested the invitation. Sarrazin was invited to the LSE by its German Society to speak on the future of Germany during a discussion on the “Integration Debate: Decline of the West?” LSE officials defended the invitation on the grounds of freedom of speech. In the end, Sarrazin’s lecture was cancelled because LSE could not provide sufficient protection for the event.
Sources: Independent, 14-Feb-2011; Jerusalem Post, 15-Feb-2011; Euro-Islam, 14-Feb-2011; Pravda.ru; 15-Feb-2011
Feb.
Hungarian to Stand Trial for Nazi War Crimes
On February 14, 2011, Sandor Kepiro (97) was charged in Budapest for ordering the shooting of more than 1,200 Jews, Serbs and Roma in Novi Sad (Serbia) in 1942. Efraim Zuroff, head of the Simon Wiesenthal Center Israel office, who helped collect documentation against Kepiro, said that "this will be the first trial of an accused Hungarian Nazi war criminal" since 1989. Kepiro claims he is innocent.
Sources: jta.org, 14-Feb-2011; foxnews.com, 14-Feb-2011; World Jewish Congress, 15-Feb-2011; Vos Iz Neias, 14-Feb-2011. Sofia Echo, 24-Feb-2011
Feb.
Anti-racist Demonstration in Jerusalem
On February 26, 2011, some 1,500 demonstrators gathered in Zion Square, central Jerusalem, to protest what they described as a "wave of racism" that was permeating Israeli society. Waving placards with slogans such as "Fight racism – protect Zionism," they directed their protests at the government, and especially at foreign minister Avigdor Lieberman, leader of the extreme right-wing Israel Beiteinu party. Among the speakers was Meretz MK Nitzan Horowitz. Counter-demonstrators tried to disrupt the rally.
Sources: Ynet, 26-Feb-2011; Walla, 27-Feb-2011; Jerusalem Post, 02-March-2011
Feb.
Antisemitic Assault in Switzerland
An assistant rabbi was beaten by three adolescents when he was leaving the Lausanne synagogue in the late evening of February 23, 2011. The assailants shouted antisemitic insults during the attack. The victim escaped from serious injury after passersby intervened. Two attackers were apprehended by the police.
Sources: Tribune de Geneve, 28-Feb-2011; Blick, 28-Feb-2011; tagesschau sf; 01-March-2011
Feb.
Steep Decrease in Antisemitic Attitudes in Poland
A poll carried out in Poland by sociology professor Anatoly Solek shows a steep decrease in antisemitic attitudes in Poland. While in 2003, 43 percent of Poles thought Jews wielded too much power in the world, in 2011 the figure had fallen to 22 percent. The poll shows that Poles are increasingly attributing power to politicians, the finance sector and the Catholic Church. Solek sees the trend as demonstrating that Poles are becoming more comfortable with the capitalist system and a sign of increased Holocaust awareness.
Sources: Haaretz, 08-Feb-2011
Feb.
Dior’s Chief Designer Suspended after Antisemitic and Racist Rants
Following antisemitic and racist remarks made to a couple in a bar in Paris' Marais district, charges were pressed, on February 24, 2011, against Christian Dior's chief designer John Galliano for "public insults based on… origin, religious affiliation, race or ethnicity." Four days later, the British tabloid The Sun, posted a video from October 2010 showing Galliano, announcing to his fellow diners at the same bar: "I love Hitler… People like you would be dead today. Your mothers, your forefathers would be f**ing gassed and dead.” His attorney Stephane Zerbib has denied the accusations. Dior president Sidney Toledano announced Galliano's suspension stating: "The House of Dior declares with the greatest firmness its policy of zero-tolerance regarding any antisemitic or racist statement or attitude." Following his arrest, Galliano apologized “unreservedly” for his behavior.
Sources: haaretz.com, 26-Feb-2011 and 1-Mar-2011; thesun.co.uk, 28-Feb-2011; dailymail.co.uk, 1-Mar-2011; guardian.uk.com, 2-Mar-2011
Jan.
France Decides Not to Mark Anniversary of Ferdinand Celine
On January 21, 2011, French culture minister Frederic Mitterrand announced his decision not to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the death of Louis-Ferdinand Celine, one of France’s most famous 20th century writers and a well-known antisemite. Welcoming Mitterrand’s announcement, Richard Prasquier, president of the French Jewish umbrella group CRIF, called it courageous, while FFDJF (Sons and Daughters of the Deported Jews of France) president Serge Klarsfeld said, "Celine’s talent must not allow us to forget the man who called for the killing of Jews during the occupation." In his writings Celine stated: "We will finish off the Jews or we will die because of the Jews," claiming that "the Jews and only the Jews are pushing us to arms." However, a number of French academics called on him not to mix "Celine the literary genius" with "Celine the antisemitic bastard."
Sources: haaretz.com, 21-Jan-2011; lemonde.fr, 21-Jan-2011
Jan.
Turkish Film about Gaza Flotilla Classified for Showing in Germany
Reversing an earlier decision, Germany's film rating agency FSK (Freiwillige Selbstkontrolle der Filmwirtschaft) gave the Turkish movie Valley of the Wolves: Palestine an “age 18” rating on January 27, 2011. Earlier the FSK had decided not to classify the film at all due to its allegedly antisemitic and anti-Israel content. In Germany, SPIO, the head organization of the movie industry, is committed to releasing only productions passed by the FSK. The movie, which deals with the flotilla incident of May 30, 2010, and a fictional revenge operation by a Turkish commando team, was criticized by leading German parties the CDU, SPD, FDP and the Green Party, for what they considered antisemitic, anti-Israel and anti-American overtones. The original intended release date of the movie, January 27, 2011, International Holocaust Remembrance Day, also caused controversy.
Sources: Hurriyet, 27-Jan-2011; Die Welt, 29-Jan-2011; Der Spiegel, 25-Jan-2011; Maerkische Allgemeine, 29-Jan-2011
Jan.
Assessment Shows Rise of Hamas' Genocidal Intent against Jews
An assessment of Hamas leaders’ attitudes toward Israel and the peace process in the Middle East was published by the Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs on January 3, 2011. The report, by senior researcher Jonathan D. Halevi, finds no evidence of a new pragmatism by the Hamas leadership but rather indications of an increase of expressions of genocidal intent against Jews. To support his claim, Halevi cites several genocidal themes in statements of senior Hamas leaders.
Sources: Jerusalem Issue Brief, 03-Jan-2011
Jan.
“Genocide Day” in the UK Marks Israel’s War in Gaza
The UK Holocaust Educational Trust (HET) criticized the decision of the Islamic Human Rights Commission (IHRC) to hold a "Genocide Day" on January 16, 2011, marking the anniversary of what they called Israel’s "genocidal acts in Gaza" during Operation Cast Lead. IHRC promotional material for the event compared Operation Cast Lead with the Holocaust. The organization invited Neturei Karta member Ahron Cohen to speak at the event. Cohen has previously questioned the number of victims of the Holocaust and also attended Iranian President Ahmadinejad’s Holocaust denial conference in Tehran in 2006. Karen Pollock, chief executive of HET, said the event was "nothing more than an attempt to pervert the message of Holocaust Memorial Day and to gravely insult both victims and survivors of the Holocaust."
Sources: Islamic Human Rights Commission, 30-Dec-2010; Jewish Chronicle, 13-Jan-2011; Independent, 29-April-2009; http://www.youtube.com/user/IHRCtv#p/a/u/0/wCVwbynlmTE
Jan.
Five Jewish Institutions Attacked in Montreal
Five Jewish institutions - four synagogues and a school - in Montreal, Canada, were vandalized during the night of January 16-17, 2011. The perpetrators smashed windows and daubed the buildings with Nazi symbols. Rabbi Reuven Poupko, chairman of the Jewish Community Security Coordination Committee, called the crimes "an organized and systematic attack on Jewish institutional life."
Sources: Montreal Gazette, 17-Jan-2011; Sympatico, 17-Jan-2011; CBC, 23-Mar-2010
Jan.
Neo-Nazi Blacklist of Italian Jews Condemned by Italy’s Leaders
On January 12, 2011, Italian leaders expressed solidarity with the Jewish community after the neo-Nazi Internet website Stormfront published a blacklist of "influential" Italian Jews. The list included journalists, businesspeople, politicians, artists and others. Conveying his "shame and anger," Rome mayor Gianni Alemanno branded those who posted the list "ignorant and racist cowards." Nicola Zingaretti, president of the Province of Rome, also strongly condemned the Stormfront list. Italian lawmaker Enrico Gasbarra called for urgent action by the European Union to implement legislation that would end the use of the internet "as a tool of violence and persecution."
Sources: jta.org, 12-Jan-2011; repubblica.it, 12-Jan-2011; fiammanirenstein.com, 17-Jan-2011; cronaca.liquida.it, 12-Jan-2011
Jan.
German Jewish Community Leader Receives Death Threat
The Jewish community leader of the German city of Pinneberg, Wolfgang Seibert, was threatened with death on the Islamist website islamic-hacker-union.net in January 2011. Seibert had called on the local authorities to close As-Sunnah Mosque in Pinneberg which, he claimed, had become a meeting place for radical Islamists in recent years. The now closed website showed a picture of Seibert crossed out with red paint and a text reading, "Dirty Jew. Be careful so Allah doesn’t punish you in this life with death. Allah´s punishment can reach you anywhere!" The administrator of the German website was Islamic convert Harry M., also known as Isa al Khattab. Seibert filed a criminal complaint and is now protected by the police.
Sources: pinneberger-tageblatt.de, 19-Jan-2011.; bild.de, 21-Jan-2010; taz.de, 22-Jan-2011; ojihad.wordpress.com, 22-Jan-2011; Welt Online, 22-Jan-2011