Anti-Semitic Trends Throughout the World - 1999

Anti-Semitic Trends Throughout the World - 1999

In 1999, manifestations of anti-Semitic violence and propaganda continued and even increased throughout the world. Although the number of violent incidents did not increase significantly, some of them were very serious and more violent than in the previous year.

There was a prominent increase in incidents and attacks deriving from 'traditional' anti-Semitism from the radical right in contrast to a decline in incidents deriving from radical Islam.

Particularly violent and serious incidents occurred in Russia and the U.S. In both places it is clear that the violent expression of the attackers was due to a significant increase in anti-Semitic propaganda and the absence of a suitable response by the establishment to anti-Semitic propagandists - in Russia, due to the regime's weakness and in the U.S. , because of an extreme respect for free speech, especially propaganda transmitted over the Internet.

A wave of anti-Semitic statements by members of the Russian parliament and other persons in late 1998 led in 1999 to a series of attacks and other violent incidents against Jews and Jewish facilities in various cities. These incidents included the desecration of cemeteries in various cities, explosions near synagogues and Jewish facilities, the climax being the stabbing of the director of the Moscow Jewish Cultural Center and the planting of an explosive charge in the Habad synagogue in Moscow (both incidents occurred in July 1999).

In the U.S., among others, as a result of growing propaganda on the Internet, a number of unusually serious incidents took place.

1. In July 1999, six Jews in Chicago were shot and wounded while on their way to a synagogue.
2. In August 1999, three children and two nursery teachers were shot and wounded in a JCC (Jewish Cultural Center) kindergarten in Los Angeles by a man who wanted to kill Jews.
3. In July 1999, three synagogues in Sacramento were set on fire in one night.

These incidents and others signify a rise in the level of anti-Jewish activity deriving from racist organizations such as the World Church of the Creator and others.

In Canada, violent incidents occurred involving attacks against Jews on their way to the synagogue and the desecration of gravestones in cemeteries.

There were a number of violent incidents in Europe this year, including an attack on a school in Paris where Molotov cocktails were thrown into the schoolyard in January 1999. A bomb was planted in Italy in the Liberty Museum commemorating the struggle against Facism and Nazism, in November 1999. In that same week, a bomb was discovered in a cinema which was showing a film on Eichmann. Both incidents were related to a radical right-wing organization. In Greece, there was an explosion in the offices of the Israel-Greece Friendship Association in August 1999, apparently carried out by a radical left-wing organization.

After a period of relative quiet in anti-Semitic organizations in the Netherlands and Scandinavia, a series of violent incidents took place this year, especially in late 1999, against Jews and Jewish facilities, as well as bodies (not necessarily Jewish) which fight various racist manifestation in these countries.

In Britain there was no significant change in the level of anti-Jewish violence, relative to last year. Three attacks were perpetrated, however, during the year by an attacker from the radical right and Neo-Nazi arena. Due to previous threats against the Jewish community by an organization called 'White Wolves', Jews in Britain feared they might be the next target for attacks. The attack campaign ceased.

Especially worth mentioning is the rise in power of the radical right-wing party in Austria, led by Yorg Haidar, and its incorporation in early 2000 into the coalition which will rule the country. In Switzerland, the radical right-wing People's Party, led by Christoph Blocher (who praised a Holocaust denial book in the past) also achieved some success.

In Latin America, there was a drop in the number and level of violent anti-Jewish incidents. In contrast to previous years, these incidents were concentrated in Argentina where explosive charges were laid at the entrance of the homes of a number of Jews in Parana in August 1999, and additional violent racist and anti-Semitic related incidents were recorded.

In Mexico and Venezuela, there were a number of synagogues damaged and threats on the lives of Jews.

In Australia, there were less instances of hate mail and phone threats but a significant rise in violent incidents, which included physical attacks, property damage, derogatory remarks against Jews and harassment. There was a disturbing increase in the use of the Internet by anti-Semitic bodies and individuals.

Note - This short survey does not reflect all the anti-Semitic incidents, but highlights the main ones.

Comments

Following are trends evident in the incidents and anti-Semitic manifestations throughout the world:

1. There is a significant exacerbation in the level of physical violence, among others, as a result and continuation of the almost unlimited spread of anti-Jewish propaganda and the serious influence this has on various elements who have translated it into action.
2. In Russia, virulent anti-Semitic propaganda was also translated into actual harm to Jews and their facilities. The absence of the establishment's response to harsh statements denouncing Jews only exacerbated the problem and encouraged various elements to act.
3. In Europe, the rise in power of parties holding racist and xenophobic views and whose leaders expressed Neo-Nazi stands in the past. In Austria Yorg Heidar succeeded in gaining strength to enter the government and similarly, Blocher's party in Switzerland.
4. Anti-Semitism in 1999 returned to its traditional character, such as that which comes from the radical right and the Neo-Nazis. In contrast to previous years, during which additional bodies, such as Islamic organizations and others, participated in anti-Semitic activity, in 1999 the focus was from the radical right.
5. The Internet has become the prime means for disseminating anti-Semitic propaganda and gives groups/marginal elements/individuals a feeling of belonging to a large organization. The legal systems in various countries have not yet managed to close the loopholes in the law to facilitate effect struggle against this phenomenon.

At the same time, events which had the potential to erupt into anti-Semitic incidents did not lead to them. The arrest of the leader of the Kurdish Workers' Party (PKK), Abdallah Ocalan, and the connection between his arrest and Israel which assisted the Turks in his abduction, led to a fear of attack against Jews for this 'collaboration'. The incident in the Israeli consulate in Berlin in which four demonstrators were killed did not result in anti-Jewish responses. The renewed upswing of the political process in the Middle East, which in the past had constituted an inciting and fomenting factor, did not accelerate the activity of its opponents outside Israel.

During the past year, the picture has evolved of anti-Semitism of a Nazi and radical right-wing nature, manifest in venomous propaganda, but also in a series of unusually violent incidents against Jews and in other cases, against minorities and foreigners. The very fact that one cannot point to a special manifestation or incident during the year which led to a particular outburst, indicates the deep-rootedness of the problem and its existence among various populations which do not require a catalyst to precipitate their ideas into action.