- BERLIN -- While anti-Semitism
has decreased in most of Europe over the past two years, Europeans harbour
increasingly hostile views towards Israel, according to a survey released
yesterday by the Anti-Defamation League, the US civil rights organisation.
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- The survey, coinciding with a fall in reported anti-Semitic
incidents in several countries last year, suggests governments are succeeding
in preventing violence in the Middle East spilling over into Europe through
the continent's large Muslim communities.
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- The poll's findings could also undermine the argument,
supported by some civil rights movements including the ADL itself and think-tanks
in Israel and the US, that anti-Zionism is anti-Semitism. The Organisation
for Security and Co-operation in Europe holds its second conference on
anti-Semitism in Berlin tomorrow.
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- Speaking in Berlin yesterday, Abraham Foxman, ADL director,
said the decline in anti-Semitic attitudes since a first survey in 2002
showed European governments, particularly France, were having some success
in defeating anti-Jewish sentiments.
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- "The good news is that regardless of the methodology
we use, there is a decrease in anti-Semitic attitudes in eight out of the
10 countries surveyed," Mr Foxman said. "The bad news is it seems
to be open season on Israel and the level of criticism is almost beyond
reason."
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- He denied any link between Israel's deteriorating image
in Europe and the country's policies, saying: "When more than half
of Europeans see Israel as a non-democratic country, then it has very little
to do with [Ariel] Sharon, [Israel's prime minister]."
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- Mr Foxman hoped "to start a discussion" at
the OSCE conference on how to treat anti-Zionism. The US is sending a delegation
to Berlin led by Ed Koch, former mayor of New York. Colin Powell, secretary
of state, is also attending.
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- The ADL poll showed the percentage of those harbouring
anti-Semitic prejudices had fallen in France, Germany, Belgium, Denmark,
Spain, Italy, Switzerland and Austria, but had risen in the Netherlands
and the UK.
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- Mr Foxman singled out France as a country where the fight
against anti-Semitism had been the most determined and successful: "A
few years ago, France had the most antisemitic incidents," he said.
"It is now leading the way to show how a country can reverse itself."
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- France, home to Europe's largest Muslim and Jewish communities,
was condemned after attacks on Jews and Jewish property in 2002 and 2003.
A year ago, Michael Melchior, Israeli deputy foreign minister, denounced
it as the most anti-Semitic country in the west.
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- After the firebombing of a Jewish school last November,
Paris adopted measures to combat prejudice and violence. These, Mr Foxman
said, had led to a 10 percentage-point fall in the number of those acknowledging
anti-Jewish views to 25 per cent.
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- The survey tested acceptance of stereotypes - that Jews
do not care about gentiles, are willing to use shady practices, are more
loyal to Israel than to their own countries and have too much influence
on business.
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- The most widespread and persistent prejudice regarded
Jews' "loyalty" to their countries. Most respondents in Germany,
Austria, and Italy said Jewish fellow citizens were "probably"
more loyal to Israel. Only in France and Denmark was the figure below 40
per cent.
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