European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen delivered a strong message against antisemitism on Wednesday during a Hanukkah celebration in Brussels.
She lit a menorah at the event, showing solidarity with the Jewish community and emphasising that “there can be no place for antisemitism in Europe.”
Von der Leyen described the resurgence of antisemitism across Europe as an “old evil,” citing examples such as swastikas painted on Jewish homes, vandalised synagogues, and Jewish children being locked in schools for safety reasons.
“Today, many Jews cannot openly light a menorah, wear a kippah, or display the Star of David. Many must pass armed guards to attend synagogue and worry about sending their children to school. The darkness around us has indeed grown,” she said.
Referencing Hanukkah’s message, von der Leyen added: “One of the teachings of Hanukkah is that you can either curse the dark or light a candle. We are choosing to light a candle.” She also highlighted the importance of tackling intolerance in Europe, noting that the fight against antisemitism remains a priority.
The European Commission’s “No Place for Hate in Europe” action plan, adopted last week, urges all Europeans to stand against hatred and promote tolerance and respect. Von der Leyen said the Commission will protect places of worship, particularly synagogues, and tackle online hate speech.
Speaking Following the Bondi Beach Massacre
Von der Leyen’s remarks come just three days after 15 people were killed during a Hanukkah event at Bondi Beach in Australia. Australian police have charged 24-year-old Naveed Akram with 59 offences, including 15 counts of murder. His father, 50-year-old Sajid Akram, was killed in a shootout with police at the scene.
Reports indicate that the father and son opened fire on attendees at the opening of an eight-day Hanukkah festival. They allegedly pledged allegiance to the so-called Islamic State (IS) group, and police discovered at least two improvised explosive devices in their vehicle.
According to the Anti-Defamation League, violent antisemitic incidents have risen in seven countries with the largest Jewish communities outside Israel – Germany, France, the UK, the U.S., Canada, Australia, and Argentina. In many cases, attacks more than doubled in 2023 compared with the previous year.
Von der Leyen’s speech underscores the European Commission’s commitment to combating antisemitism and radicalisation, while sending a message of international solidarity following the tragic events at Bondi Beach.
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Global oil prices continue to rise, currently surpassing $119 a barrel this Monday, an almost four year high following fresh U.S.-Israeli strikes targeting oil depots. Stock markets shares slumped on fears the conflict with Iran could disrupt shipments through the Strait of Hormuz.
Iranian civilian and military officials have pledged their obedience to the new leader, Ayatollah Seyed Mojtaba Khamenei, with President Masoud Pezeshkian saying his leadership “will herald a new era of dignity and authority for the Iranian nation.”.
Kazakhstan has evacuated more than 7,300 citizens from the Middle East since regional tensions escalated, using both air and land routes to bring nationals home while closely monitoring political developments and potential economic effects linked to rising oil prices.
Entry and exit across the state border between Azerbaijan and Iran for all types of cargo vehicles, including those in transit, will resume on 9 March, according to a statement by the Cabinet of Ministers of Azerbaijan.
Trump says the United States "don’t need people that join wars after we’ve already won," targeting his criticism at UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer. Israel continues to fire missles at strategic sites in Iran and Gulf regions report more strikes from Iran.
Global oil prices continue to rise, currently surpassing $119 a barrel this Monday, an almost four year high following fresh U.S.-Israeli strikes targeting oil depots. Stock markets shares slumped on fears the conflict with Iran could disrupt shipments through the Strait of Hormuz.
U.S. President Donald Trump threatened further attacks on Iran on Saturday (7 March), while the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia continued to shoot down missiles in their airspace. Meanwhile, Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian said Tehran would stop attacking its neighbours.
Russian attacks on Ukraine’s second largest city in the early hours of Saturday (7 March) killed 10 people, including two children. Kharkiv mayor, Ihor Terekov, said 10 residents died after a Russian ballistic missile hit a five storey apartment block in the city.
Mojtaba Khamenei, son of the late Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, is a hardline cleric with strong backing from the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. His rise signals continuity in Tehran's anti-Western policies.
Norwegian police are searching for a suspect after an explosion at the U.S. embassy in Oslo on 8 March caused minor damage but no injuries, in what authorities say may have been a deliberate attack linked to the Middle East crisis.
An explosion damaged a synagogue in the Belgian city of Liège early on Monday (9 March) in what authorities said was an antisemitic attack that caused damage but no injuries.
The Group of Seven (G7) finance ministers will meet on Monday to discuss a global rise in oil prices and a joint release of oil from emergency reserves coordinated by the International Energy Agency, the Financial Times reports.
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief. Here are the top news stories for the 9th of March, covering the latest developments you need to know.
Global oil prices continue to rise, currently surpassing $119 a barrel this Monday, an almost four year high following fresh U.S.-Israeli strikes targeting oil depots. Stock markets shares slumped on fears the conflict with Iran could disrupt shipments through the Strait of Hormuz.
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