Tackling anti-Semitism - Actions speak louder than words

5.15.11pm GMT Fri 20th Feb 2004

Romano Prodi chaired anti-semitism seminar

Following recent anti-Semitic attacks in Europe, Romano Prodi, President of the European Commission hosted a seminar in Brussels to discuss how Europe should tackle this issue.

Commenting after the seminar Baroness Sarah Ludford, London MEP and European justice spokeswoman for the Liberal Democrats said:

"The pledges from this seminar must not be just warm rhetoric. We need a speedy and fearless report from the EU Monitoring Centre on the extent and nature of anti-Semitism in Europe. And EU governments - who have disgracefully dragged their heels for 3 years - must legislate as proposed by the Commission to make acts of racial or religious hatred including anti-Semitism a criminal offence."

"Jewish people and Israelis are entitled to receive resolute backing from Europeans for basic security of their state and freedom from terrorism, though not to dismiss all European criticism of Israeli government policies as anti-Semitic."

"Europeans need to understand that pure anti-Semitism, demonisation of Jews and dedication to the destruction of Jews and the Jewish state do indeed sometimes mask themselves as criticism of government policies. We all have to be very careful and intellectually honest."

Related Links:

"A union of minorities" - Speech by Roman Prodi.

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