Decisive action is needed to prevent further waves of violence and aggression on top of the rising tide of antisemitism in Europe, said Daniel Holtgen, the Council of Europe's Special Representative on antisemitic, anti-Muslim, and other forms of religious intolerance and hate crimes.

“Only six months into the job, I was shocked by an outbreak of hatred against Jews expressed both online and on the streets of London and other European cities. Synagogues have been vandalised and Israeli flags burnt. The incidents present a heightened threat to Jewish life in Europe and Jewish citizens continue to fear for their security,” Holtgen wrote in an op-ed, adding that at the international level the governments should increase cooperation to tackle new waves of antisemitism “which transcend national borders.”

Two key areas of action, he suggested, include combatting illegal hate speech on the internet and preventing antisemitism through education about the Holocaust and its remembrance.

“Freedom of expression is one of the most important fundamental rights, protected by Article 10 of the European Convention on Human Rights. But this right is not unlimited, especially as regards Holocaust denial, racism and incitement to violence. Death threats, such as those posted on a massive scale against Jews in recent weeks, are particularly dangerous as they spread exponentially and can ultimately lead to violence and killing, such as the attack on the Synagogue in Halle, Germany, in 2019. Antisemitic hate speech on the Internet must be punished in the same way as physical crimes and internet platforms should remove illegal antisemitic and racist content both speedily and systematically,” said the CoE's official.

Holtgen stressed that the level and nature of antisemitic acts and expressions vary “considerably” among European countries but that there is a broad consensus that the fight against antisemitism needs to span all parts of society, including media, sports, youth work and education.

“Teaching about antisemitism and the Holocaust is an integral part of human rights education. The Council of Europe is therefore also working on a recommendation to governments which aims to promote teaching and learning about the history of the Holocaust and to pass on remembrance of Nazi crimes and their victims. Taking into account that there are fewer and fewer Holocaust survivors to bear direct witness, we propose an inter-disciplinary approach to remembrance, including historical documents, places of remembrance, media, music, art and literature,” said Holtgen.

He added that each initiative matters at a time when antisemitism is on the rise and should be implemented without delay.

“We should do all we can prevent a repeat of the horrific expressions of antisemitism that we have seen in the last two weeks. Protecting Jews and Jewish life is part of our common European values,” he said.