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Last update - 20:23 18/02/2009
EU Jewish leader: Anti-Semitism spurred by economy, not Gaza war
By The Associated Press
Tags: Israel news, Jewish world, EU 

The leader of the European Jewish Congress said Wednesday the main blame for growing anti-Semitism across the continent was the economic crisis, not the Gaza war.

Congress President Moshe Kantor said that what he believes to be anti-Semitism levels unseen since World War II had nothing to do with Middle East issues.

"All these problems started before Gaza and continued afterwards," he said in an interview with The Associated Press.
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Some 1,300 Palestinians were killed during the three-week Israeli offensive in Gaza, according to Gaza health officials. Israel launched the attacks to halt years of rocket fire on southern Israeli communities.

"Economical things trigger humanitarian tragedies," he said. "Jews were made scapegoats for economic difficulties Germany faced in the 1930s," he said. "And this is the lesson."

Kantor met with the European Union Justice Commissioner Jacques Barrot and the EU Parliament President Hans-Gert Pottering on Wednesday to discuss anti-Semitic attacks and statements across Europe.

A recent survey for the U.S. based Anti-Defamation League conducted in Austria, France, Germany, Hungary, Poland, Spain and Britain found that 31 percent of respondents blame Jews in the financial industry at least a little for the global financial meltdown.

"Europe is a continent of tolerance, but that tolerance is threatened," Kantor said.

Attacks against Jews and synagogues have been reported in France, Britain and Sweden.

Kantor also referred to a call by a union in Italy for the boycott of Jewish-owned shops in Rome.

"There is a shortage of historical memory," he said. "The situation in Europe is dangerous again, not only for Jews, for all Europeans."

Related articles:
  • Poll: 31% of Europeans blame Jews for global financial crisis
  • ADL head decries 'pandemic of anti-Semitism' following Gaza offensive
  • Hungary far-rightist: I rejoiced at news of IDF deaths in Gaza
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      1.   Mr. Kantor, this is utter nonsense! 21:08  |  Yaakov Sullivan 18/02/09
      2.   ADL Science 21:29  |  Kenny Sedat 18/02/09
      3.   Wishful thinking 21:37  |  Arnie 18/02/09
      4.   Yaakov Sullivan 21:42  |  Muskens 18/02/09
      5.   Arniespot on 01:29  |  Murat 19/02/09
      6.   Hogwash 20:42  |  curt 19/02/09
      7.   To those who criticizes Kantor 22:43  |  Leandro 19/02/09
      8.   Blaming Jews for the crimes of Israel 01:49  |  Lexo 20/02/09
      9.   Keep telling yourself that 14:22  |  jan 21/02/09
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