Gaza incursion sparks EU anti-Semitism fears

French President Nicolas Sarkozy released a statement declaring that France would "not tolerate international tension mutating into violence between communities," while Interior Minister Michele Alliot-Marie was quoted by AFP as saying: "My concern is that the situation should not degenerate in our country, that the violence will not be imported." 

Shadow UK Home Secretary  and Liberal Democrat MP Chris Huhne said: "I am deeply concerned by the evidence in the Community Security Trust's report that the invasion of Gaza is being used as a pretext for threats against the Jewish community in Britain." 

"It has already had to invest substantially in extra security even for public institutions such as state-maintained Jewish faith schools, on the advice of local police forces," Huhne continued. 

Palestinian envoy to the EU Leila Shalid told France's RMC-Info radio that the Toulouse incident reflected growing anger among France's five-million strong Muslim population over the Gaza conflict. "Look at the awful incident […] in Toulouse with this car rammed into a place of worship, which is unacceptable, but a result of images from Gaza." 

Dominique Sopo, who heads French anti-racist group SOS Racisme, said the Toulouse attack was most likely related to the Gaza conflict. "Those who want to import the Middle East conflict over here aren’t helping the Israelis or the Palestinians, unless they can explain why hitting a Jew here improves the situation in Gaza, or how Arab-bashing helps protect Israel," he stated. 

The Union of Jewish Students in France condemned last week's spike in anti-Semitic incidents. "We cannot allow the Middle East conflict to shatter our lives together," read a statement. 

Britain's Community Security Trust, which fights anti-Semitism in the UK, warned that attacks on Jews are likely to rise in the wake of the invasion. "Volatile anti-Israel demonstrations […] in many British towns and cities increase the potential for incidents to occur," the group said in a statement. 

Community leaders in Antwerp condemned recent violence between Jews and Muslims in the Belgian city. "The Jews and Muslims of Antwerp do not share the same views on what is happening in the Middle East, but that is no reason to bring the conflict here. We are all Antwerpers: Flemish, Belgian and neighbours," read a joint statement. 

Commenting on the publication of a report on racism in Europe last month, Mohammed Aziz, president of the European Network Against Racism (ENAR), described racism as "a pervasive, persistent phenomenon across the EU which impacts negatively on all aspects of the lives of ethnic and religious minorities". 

Last November, a major Jewish leader told MEPs that dialogue was not enough to bridge the cultural gaps between EU citizens and called for the establishment of "covenantal relationships" to develop closer social bonds between the peoples of Europe. 

"Dialogue may not be enough" as words "can't always keep us together if other forces drive us apart," Sir Jonathan Sacks, chief rabbi of the United Hebrew Congregations of the British Commonwealth continued, addressing Parliament as part of the European Year of Intercultural Dialogue 2008.