This motion has not been discussed in the Assembly and commits only those who have signed it.
The murderous attacks against Jews in different places in
Europe shocked the conscience of leaders and people in the continent.
Jews have been targeted just for being Jews, something unacceptable
in our day and age. The rise of antisemitism has been recognised
by the highest authorities at the United Nations, the European Union
and many national governments. Governments have pledged a renewed
fight against antisemitism, at the national, regional and international
levels.
Nevertheless, antisemitism and ignorance about the Holocaust
have been on the rise. These attitudes are coupled with emotions
of unsafety and hostility, faced by many Jews and their communities.
According to a December 2018 report of the European Union Agency
for Fundamental Rights (FRA), nearly 90% of European Jews feel that
antisemitism has increased in their home countries, and almost 30%
say they have been harassed at least once in the past year. A November
2018 CNN poll showed that one European in 20 has never heard of
the Holocaust. In 2018, antisemitic attacks increased in France
by 74% and violent attacks in Germany by 60% in just one year.
The Parliamentary Assembly should initiate a report and inquire
into the present situation regarding the fight with the scourge
of antisemitism in Europe. Such report would adopt the working definition
of antisemitism of the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance
(IHRA), a practical tool to standardise the identification of antisemitic
manifestations across the continent and help propose better tools
to combat the scourge. It also would encourage the Council of Europe
to develop programs on Holocaust memory, combating antisemitism and
promoting the Jewish heritage in Europe, through the regular budget
or voluntary contributions, and encourage member States to contribute
financially to that effect.
