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.
Türkiye has rejected a news report alleging that its intelligence service arranged secret talks between Syrian officials and Hezbollah, callin...
A supertanker which was cruising through the Strait of Hormuz was targetted by an unknown projectile off t...
The defence ministers of Azerbaijan, Türkiye and Georgia met in Shusha for their 13th trilateral meeting, with talks focused on regional secur...
Yemen's air force carried out 20 strikes on Houthi targets earlier on Friday, Brigadier General Majid Abdullah Al-Nuzaili, Spokesman for the Yemeni Armed Forces, said. Meanwhile, the Iran-backed Houthis denied targeting a power plant supplying energy to a mosque in Medina, Saudi Arabia.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel may participate in the investigation into a serious incident aboard a flydubai flight bound for Tel Aviv, while investigators examine the motive of the co-pilot involved.
Swiss glaciers lost more than 5 per cent of their ice in 2026, making it one of their worst years on record as a dry winter and repeated heatwaves accelerated melting across the Alps.
Passengers from a flydubai flight that was diverted to Saudi Arabia after an alleged attempt to crash the aircraft have arrived safely in Israel.
Russia has warned NATO that it would be prepared to use nuclear weapons if the Western alliance attempted to isolate Kaliningrad, a Russian exclave on the Baltic Sea, according to a diplomatic document seen by Reuters.
Around 400 schools across France remained closed on Friday as protests over teacher shortages and deteriorating buildings escalated into violence, leaving dozens injured and leading to 2,000 arrests.
Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Thursday that Moscow wanted to end the war in Ukraine through negotiations as soon as possible, while insisting that any settlement must meet conditions acceptable to Russia and include security guarantees.
The family of Renee Good, a U.S. citizen fatally shot by an immigration agent in Minneapolis in January, has sued the Trump administration, accusing federal officials of excessive force and unconstitutional conduct.
Ukraine is working to resolve a diplomatic dispute with South Korea after Kyiv publicly disclosed the transfer of two North Korean prisoners of war to Seoul, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said on Thursday, 1 October.
As U.S. troops complete their withdrawal from Iraq, Washington's military footprint may be shrinking. Its financial influence, however, remains deeply embedded in the country's economy.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment