AS Vice President of EJC (and WJC) In Europe representING 1,5 Mio. Jews living in 43 countries in europe, I am responsible For security and crisis management.

WE ARE VERY HAPPY TO COOPERATE WITH THE OSCE and oDihr IN THIS CONFERENCE, AS WE SEE THIS TOPIC AS ONE OF THE MAIN CHALLENGES FACING EUROPEAN JEWRY.  

Let me start with the question:

Do Jews have a future in Europe?

The background of this debate is:

Antisemitism has risen dramatically from the extreme right, the left but also from the radical Moslem communities.

Antiisraeli activities such as BDS often turn anti jewish.

Attacks and incidents on Jews in europe have doubled in number.

Jewish parents ask themselves: Why are we the only minority in Europe who has to protect our school children with armed guards, bomb proof walls and barbed wire?

Jewish worshippers ask themselves: Why is it that synagogues have to be protected against terror attacks?

Jewish community leaders are struggling day after day to raise money to cover security expenses. is it not the duty of the states to permit normal secure jewish life?

Jews have started to leave Europe! France, hungary and Sweden are examples of this trend. Jewish communities are in danger of disappearing and Jews are wondering if Europe will be a place for them to live in peace and security.

while There are several countries where there is perfect cooperation between security forces and Jewish communities (for example Austria, Czech Republic, United Kingdom) There are countries where there is no cooperation at all (i.e. scandinavia).

My role here, AND THE ROLE THE EUROPEAN JEWISH CONGRESS TOOK ON ITSELF, is to create awareness with the European Nations and representatives of governments, in order TO IMPROVE information and communication between Jewish communities and local authorities and make clear that without security Jewish communities cannot survive!

 After Toulouse, Burgas and Malmö it is late but not too late to reverse this trend and give a clear message to the world that 68 years after the Shoah Jews should not be targets and it is the sole responsibility of European governments that they should not become victims again.

For this purpose there must be a European consensus to ensure the security of the Jewish communities and its members

·         by increasing the protection by police and security forces

·         by financially supporting the security measures of the Jewish communities

·         by promoting the proposed legislation against incitement in europe.

·         by outlawing any kind of terror organization such as Hisbollah.

There can be no compromise against terror. The weakness of the European governments to come quickly to a common decision on hisbollah is endangering Jewish life in Europe. we call on the representatives of all governments present to agree to the suggested measures.

Thank you for your attention.

Die OSZE und ODIHR als Vertreter von 57 Ländern haben am 13. und 14. Juni 2013 in Berlin eine konferenz zum thema sicherheit der jüdischen Gemeinden in europa einberufen. An der konferenz nahmen auch hohe vertreter der US regierung, der deutsche Innenminister sowie die vertreter von etwa 20 jüdischen Gemeinden Europas teil.

Ziel der Konferenz war es, nicht den massiv gestiegenen antisemitismus zu besprechen, sondern sofortige Massnahmen zu beschliessen, um die folgen des antisemitismus in europa zu bekämpfen. ziel muss es sein, ein normales jüdisches leben in sicherheit und frieden führen zu können. die konkret geforderten massnahmen sind:

1. finanzielle Unterstützung der jüdischen Gemeinden in Zusammenhang mit notwendigen Sicherheitsmassnahmen und einrichtungen.

2. kooperation der polizeibehörden mit allen jüdischen gemeinden zum thema sicherheit (vor allem dort, wo diese kooperation derzeit nicht existiert).

3. einheitliches europäsiches gesetz gegen verhetzung.

4. Verurteilung von terrororganisationen wie hisbollah durch alle europäischen Länder.