Tens of thousands of people logged onto their computers at 4 p.m. Eastern Standard Time on Thursday to make clear that they will no longer stand by as Jews are assaulted, harassed, threatened, spit on and cursed at in public, while at the same time synagogues, Jewish shops and cemeteries are vandalized and desecrated.
“We have threats coming from every direction and taking many forms,” but what unites them is the fact that the Jewish people, individually or collectively or the Jewish state, are being targeted, said David Harris, CEO of the American Jewish Committee, during the online rally.
Mark Wilf, chair of the board of trustees of the Jewish Federations of North America, said “anti-Semitism is not a historical artifact, it is happening around us all day. [It] echoes the experience of my parents and grandparents during the Holocaust, and must be confronted head on. … The Jewish community in United States, Israel and around the world are making a statement today that we will not be intimidated, and we will rise to build a better world together.”
The virtual gathering was part of a larger “Day of Action Against Anti-Semitism,” where people were urged to share images on social media decrying anti-Semitism and to contact their elected officials—from their local mayor to their senator—and ask them to take a stand on the wave of Jew-hatred that has swept America and the world. The event was sponsored by the American Jewish Committee, the Anti-Defamation League, Hadassah, Jewish Federations of North America, the Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations of America and numerous other groups.
According to the Anti-Defamation League, since Hamas launched the first of 4,000 rockets at Israel on May 10, anti-Semitic attacks worldwide have been on the rise. During the week starting April 26, the ADL recorded 59 incidents of anti-Semitism across the United States; that number jumped to 113 for the week of May 17-23.
In Europe, the numbers are even worse. Great Britain, for instance, reported a 500 percent increase in incidents between May 8 and May 18, when the worst of the fighting in the Middle East was taking place.
In East London, which is densely populated by migrants from several nations, including Arabs and Pakistanis, Muslims are seen openly chanting “death to Israel” slogans or continuing massive propaganda on social media. Most of them were seen publishing posts stating “We are from East London. We will not accept a ceasefire. We will not accept a two-state solution. We will not accept the UN and the West coming in and trying to negotiate. We will not accept peace with Israel. The solution is simple. Muslim armies move”.
Commenting to the alarming rise of anti-Semitic notoriety throughout the world, internationally acclaimed multi-award-winning anti-militancy journalist and editor of Blitz, Salah Uddin Shoaib Choudhury said: “In my opinion, it is essential for every Jewish individual around the world, every Zionist and the friends of Israel to get united and raise voice against anti-Semitism. At the same time, pro-Israel media needs to get all-out cooperation from the Jewish organizations, individuals and policymakers. We should not silently witness the nasty threats of Palestinian Islamic State Hamas. Its time to counter and confront”.
