Sharon blasts EU’s “anti-Semitism”
European governments are dragging their feet in the fight against anti-Semitism because of the substantial “Muslim presence in Europe”, according to Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon.
In an interview with Eupolitix.com, released yesterday, Mr Sharon said the “ever strengthening Muslim presence in Europe,” estimated at 17 million in the 15-nation bloc, was “certainly” endangering the lives of Jewish people.
Mr Sharon said: “What we are facing in Europe is an anti-Semitism that has always existed and it really is not a new phenomenon.
“This anti-Semitism exists and what pushes it is a collective anti-Semitism that incorporates Israel into this equation.
“I would say, in my opinion, EU governments are not doing enough to tackle anti-Semitism. However, there are some countries that incorporate this subject in their educational curriculum, and that is exactly what needs to be done.
“There is a need to teach, there is a need to explain, there is a need to remind what anti-Semitism caused in the past, and one must know that the damage caused by anti-Semitism ultimately does not affect only the Jews, but also affects those countries where anti-Semitism is rife. They must fight this anti-Semitism. You cannot separate here; Israel is treated as a Jewish state.”
He rejected claims that the Jewish state was too quick to label critics of Israel’s policy towards Palestinians as anti-Semitic.
The interview comes after a new poll found that Israel was perceived as more of a threat to world peace than “axis of evil” members Iran and North Korea.
