וושינגטון (רויטרס) - עליה במספר המוסלמים במערב אירופה העצימה את הרגש האנטי-יהודי הישן נושן באיזור ומעשים כמו חילול בתי-כנסת צפויים להתגבר, כך אמרה מחלקת המדינה.

מאז שנת 2000 באירופה, ונדליזם כמו גראפיטי, שריפות בתי-ספר יהודיים וחילול של בתי-חיים ובתי-כנסת והתקפות נגד יהודים "עלו במידה ניכרת", כך כתבה מחלקת המדינה כתבה בדו"ח לקונגרס.

Muslim Link to Anti-Semitism Rise in Europe, U.S. Says
Thu Jan 6, 2005 01:38 PM E

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A rise in the number of Muslims in Western Europe has intensified longstanding anti-Jewish sentiment in the region and acts such as desecrating synagogues are likely to increase, the State Department said.

Since 2000 in Europe, vandalism such as graffiti, fire bombings of Jewish schools and the desecration of cemeteries and synagogues has surged and attacks against Jews "increased markedly," the department said in a report, which was mandated by Congress.

"This was a one-time report that calls attention to a new phenomenon. While there is not an explosion of anti-Semitism, it's a concern that there is a rise of acts by Muslim minorities in Europe," said a State Department official, who asked not to be named.

"Unfortunately, the old-fashioned anti-Semitism of skinheads and the like has not gone away and people are also using Israeli and U.S. policies as an excuse to promote their anti-Semitism," he added.

Other causes contributing to the rise in anti-Semitism include Israel's policy toward Palestinians and the invasion of Iraq, led by the Jewish state's benefactor, the United States.

Most European governments regard anti-Semitism as a serious problem and have taken measures, such as introducing legislation and bolstering law enforcement, to combat the trend, the report said.

But the Bush administration, which has been criticized particularly among Arabs for favoring Israel in its conflict with the Palestinians, predicted new, disaffected Muslim immigrants to Europe will direct their anger against Jews.

"In Western Europe, traditional far-right groups still account for a significant proportion of the attacks against Jews and Jewish properties (but) disadvantaged and disaffected Muslim youths increasingly were responsible for most of the other incidents," the report said.

"The trend appears likely to persist as the number of Muslims in Europe continues to grow while their level of education and economic prospects remain limited," it added.

In the Middle East, the State Department noted that Jewish populations have been dwindling, except in Israel, resulting in only a few incidents against Jews in most countries.

The report singled out Syria for sometimes condoning the media's "export of a virulent domestic anti-Semitism."

© Reuters 2005. All Rights Reserved.

http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle....storyID=7257981

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