Problems of Anti - Semitism

Mikhail Chlenov, Secretary General of the Eurasian Jewish Congress, vice-president of the Federal Jewish Ethnic Cultural Autonomy If we look at world media, especially at the Jewish press, which pays great attention to the problem of anti-Semitism, we will see anxiety about the growth of anti-Semitism in Europe. Indeed, for last 4-5 years, especially for last 2 years, the situation in different countries causes greeat worry amongst the Jewish communities of these countries. These are, first of all, France, Belgium, Scandinavia, Spain, Austria, Netherlands, that is, "old" EU members. Recently, we see a sharp increase of anti-Semitism in the so-called "new" EU members, former countries of socialistic camp. In Hungary, anti-Semitic party "Jobbik" joined the parliament, and World Jewish Congress addressed to Prime Minister of Hungary on this subject. We also see a certain growth of anti-Semitism in other countries, namely, in the U. S. and in Latin America. This can be explained by lots of reasons. Anti-Semitism is alive in Russia, but in its usual forms. Along with this, oddly enough, Russia, like other countries of the former USSR, is, compared to the Western countries, not mentioning the countries of Arab East, an island of quietness. In the West, Europe anti-Semitism is rising, but in Russia and in Ukraine we can see a slight decrease of intensiveness of the evil. 170 cases of violence and vandalism against Jews and their property were registered in France in 2012. There 69 violent attacks and 53 damage cases in the UK. In Russia there were 5 attacks and 38 cases of vandalism because of anti-Semitism over 2 years. This special phenomenon needs special treatment. Jews are less visible; their number decreased due to massive emigration in the 1990s from Russia. Xenophobic attitudes were shifted from Jews to migrants. Obviously, there are other circumstances of the decrease of anti-Semitism. Moreover, the authorities are trying to prevent anti-Semitism actions in the public political field. You remember, six years ago in the State Duma some people urged to adopt anti-Semitic documents, there were open statements by Makashov, Saveliev and others. Recently, this phenomenon disappeared. The power began to undertake measures against xenophobia, which gave some results. We know that the Russian society follows the power. Obviously, the decrease of anti-Semitism in Russia may be caused by more profound reasons of changes in the Russian and Western society. One of the important factors here is the improvement of Russian-Israeli relations. Mikhail Lidogoster, press-secretary of the chief rabbi of Russia Law-enforcement bodies address the Jewish Community for information and confirmation of some anti-Semitism statements by certain people for holding them criminally liable. However, at the mundane level the situation is absolutely different. If we look at social nets, we will see a huge number of groups devoted to the rejection of Holocaust and extremism propaganda. Right after my speech at the press-conference in RIA Novosti where I spoke about the position of Jewish communities on the 282nd article of the Criminal Code, the Internet was blasted by a wave of anti-Semitism. This was noted not only by me but also by Ilya Altman, who held an event in memory of 50,000 Bulgarian Jews. I proposed not to hold people who provide radical Nazi ideology criminally liable, but to replace criminal punishment by financial fees for not making heroes out of them; but even in this context it caused a wave of indignation, starting from unknown bloggers to well-known people. I do not know if I have right to make certain statements. I'll generally say that the Federation of Jewish Communities has sent a letter to a social network with a claim to its administration that at the level of technical support the operator stated on behalf of all the network that "*** is a wide notion , and if you do not like groups with anti-Semitic slogans, you can restrain from visiting them". So far we have not received any answer. If we do not get it, we'll have the right to publish these materials in the media etc. We follow the situation hoping that it will be resolved and the administration will undertake some measures.