Tag Archive for Europe

| July 8, 2014
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Swedish man severely beaten with iron pipes for displaying Israeli flag by window

After thorough investigation, local Police suspect that the attack against the 38-year-old, in the Swedish city of Malmö, was a hate crime, reported The Local, Sweden’s English language website.

By and

 

A man was severely assaulted in the Swedish city of Malmö on Sunday night after hanging an Israeli flag out of his window, according to local media reports.

A screenshot of the flag hung in Malmo from The Local website.

Broken window & flag hung in Malmo – Screenshot from The Local website.

Police suspect that the attack against the 38-year-old was a hate crime, The Local website reported. “Our initial evaluation is that this is a hate crime,” policewoman Marie Keismar said.

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Category: Jewish News, The Diaspora | Tags: , , , ,
| July 1, 2014
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Holocaust memorial in Athens desecrated with anti-Semitic graffiti

The graffiti included threats that a synagogue in Athens would be destroyed.

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Anti-Semitic graffiti has been scrawled on the Holocaust memorial in Athens, including threats against the Jewish community.

Holocaust memorial in Athens, Greece.

Holocaust memorial in Athens, Greece. – Photo: Wikimedia Commons

Police have opened an investigation into Friday’s vandalism, according to Victor Eliezer, the secretary general of the Central Board of Jewish Communities in Greece.

The graffiti included a purported quote from the Talmud saying that Jews who convert should be put to death, and threats that the synagogue in Athens would be destroyed.

“Regretfully, 70 years after the end of World War II, which left millions of victims of bigotry, racism, Nazism and anti-Semitism behind, there are people beyond redemption aiming at terrorizing us by molesting the memory of our brothers, victims of the Holocaust,” said a statement from the Jewish community, issued Monday.

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Category: Jewish News, The Diaspora | Tags: , , ,
| June 27, 2014
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Spain & Italy warns citizens: Don’t invest in E. Jerusalem, Jewish settlements or Golan Heights

Italy and Spain join Germany, U.K. & France in advising against possible legal and financial risks for those investing in Israel.

 

The Spanish and Italian governments issued a warning to their citizens on Friday against doing business with Israeli settlements in the West Bank, in East Jerusalem, and in the Golan Heights. The foreign ministries of both countries announced that companies engaging in economic activity in the settlements would be making themselves vulnerable to a series of risks.

מעלה אדומים, משרד החוץ דורש לשנות את הכיתוב (צילום: באדיבות Lowshot)

Ma’ale Adumim in Judea and Samaria – Photo: Lowshot

According to the announcements made by Spain and Italy, the European Union and its member states do not recognize Israeli rule in the West Bank, East Jerusalem and the Golan Heights, which were conquered in 1967, and regard the settlements as illegal in international law.

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Category: Israel News | Tags: , , , ,
| May 31, 2014
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Jewish graves vandalized in Greece’s 2nd largest city


A dozen graves defaced in Thessaloniki, home to Greece’s largest Jewish community until it was nearly wiped out during the Holocaust.

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Greek authorities say vandals have attacked the Jewish cemetery of Thessaloniki, whose Jewish population was nearly wiped out during World War II.

Greek nationalists.

Greek nationalists shout slogans during a demonstration in Thessaloniki, Greece, Wednesday, May 28, 2014. – Photo: AP

Police said Friday marble ornaments were smashed off 12 graves, while vandals also tried to remove the tombs’ heavy marble covers.

Foreign Minister Evangelos Venizelos promised that police would do “whatever is humanly possible” to arrest the vandals.

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Category: Jewish News | Tags: , , ,
| May 26, 2014
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Observation: Israel replacing the EU by shifting eastward for economic growth

Europe’s economic & political stagnation, constant condemnation of Israeli policies and deep rooted legacy of anti-Semitism set it apart from East Asia.

By Moshe Arens

 

 

Slowly but surely Israel is pivoting toward the East. Years ago that would have been a most unexpected development. After all, most of Israel’s population originated from Europe, and most of its leadership had its roots in Europe. For many years Israel might have been considered, for better or for worse, an outpost of Europe in the Middle East. Whether Europe loved Israel or hated Israel, Europe remained Israel’s closest connection to Western civilization.

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Category: Israel News | Tags: , , ,
| April 8, 2014
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Palestinian Ambassador in Prague likely killed by book-bomb

 

In contradiction to initial Palestinian claims, evidence suggests plastic explosive laden book caused blast that killed PA envoy in January.

By Reuters

 

The Palestinian ambassador to Prague who died in a blast in January was most likely killed by a decades-old charge of Semtex plastic explosive concealed in a book, a newspaper reported on Tuesday citing a police investigator.

Jamal al-Jamal - Photo: Michal Krumphanzl/AP

Jamal al-Jamal – Photo: Michal Krumphanzl/AP

Police had decided Jamal al-Jamal was not assassinated, but had simply unwittingly opening a book booby-trapped years earlier, the source told daily newspaper Mlada Fronta Dnes.

“It was an unfortunate accident. The ambassador was a thorough man who wanted to put some old things in order, and among them there were two books with explosives,” the paper quoted the source as saying. Continue Reading »

Category: Mid-East News | Tags: , , , , ,
| March 31, 2014
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Czech Police: Palestinian Envoy Killed by Explosive He Was Holding

 

In contradiction of initial Embassy claims, Czech police now report Palestinian ambassador Jamal al-Jamal was not killed by booby-trapped safe.

By Associated Press, Int’l Business Times

 

The explosion that killed the ambassador at the Palestinian Embassy complex in Prague was not caused by a booby-trapped safe as previously believed, Czech investigators said Monday.

The flag-covered body of Jamal al-Jamal lies in a mosque during his funeral in the city of Ramallah – Photo: Reuters

Police said that their investigation has revealed that the blast that killed Ambassador Jamal al-Jamal on Jan. 1 did not occur inside the safe and no explosive device was part of the safe. Continue Reading »

Category: Mid-East News | Tags: , , , ,
| February 24, 2014
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Italy’s newly elected PM supports Israel, sees Iran as serious threat

Just sworn in, Matteo Renzi regards the Iranian regime as the Middle East’s ‘main problem’, suggesting the left should learn to understand Israel’s concerns and support them.

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Matteo Renzi is Italy’s youngest-ever premier, and he could also be one of the most pro-Israeli.

Newly appointed Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi delivers a speech at Florence's City Hall

Newly appointed Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi could prove to be a valuable friend for Israel in light of the present anti-Israeli mood in Europe. – Photo: AFP

The 39-year-old ambitious leader of the center-left, who was sworn in on Saturday as Italy’s fourth prime minister in four years, may bring Rome, already one of Israel’s key allies in Europe, even closer to the Jewish state.

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Category: The Diaspora | Tags: , , , , , ,
| January 16, 2014
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Now explosives discovered at Czech Palestine mission after explosion & cache found

CZECH investigators have reported that after the discovery of a large illegal weapons cache, they later discovered explosives at the Palestinian embassy complex in Prague where a possibly booby-trapped safe killed the ambassador on New Year’s day.

AAP

 

 

Police discovered 12 illegal weapons following the explosion at the embassy that killed Ambassador Jamal al-Jamal, but this is the first time that authorities said explosives were also found in the new complex that includes the embassy and the ambassador’s residence.

Explosion at home of Palestinian ambassador in Czech Republic

Firefighters search the area after the explosion, Prague January 1, 2014 – Photo: Reuters

It remains unclear what caused the safe to explode but the ambassador’s death is being investigated as a case of negligence.

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Category: Mid-East News | Tags: , , , ,
| January 2, 2014
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Czech Police found weapons cache at Palestinian mission in Prague

After the Palestinian ambassador was killed opening an old safe containing explosives, Czech Police confirmed weapons also found.

By Reuters and

 

 

Czech police found weapons at the Palestinian mission in Prague, a police spokeswoman said Thursday, a day after safe exploded there, killing ambassador Jamal al-Jamal.

Explosion at home of Palestinian ambassador in Czech Republic

Firefighters search the area after the explosion, Prague January 1, 2014 – Photo: Reuters

“Yes I can confirm that,” spokeswoman Andrea Zoulova told Reuters when asked about a report on the discovery of weapons. She gave no details about the type or quantity of weapons found.

On Wednesday, the Palestinian ambassador to the Czech Republic died in a blast that occurred when he opened an old safe that had been left untouched for more than 20 years, officials said. Continue Reading »

Category: Mid-East News | Tags: , , , ,
| December 2, 2013
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Israel’s Prime Minister to meet Pope Francis Monday

Prime Minister Netanyahu lights candles for 5th night of Hanukkah with Italian Prime Minister Enrico Letta at Rome synagogue.

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Prime Minister Benjamin visited the Great Synagogue of Rome on Sunday with his Italian counterpart, Premier Enrico Letta.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Italian Premier Enrico Letta

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Italian Premier Enrico Letta light a candle for Hanukkah at the Great Synagogue of Rome on Dec. 1, 2013.- Photo: AFP

During their visit, Letta said his country’s economic crisis is feeding “the forces of extremism, hatred and intolerance” in Italy.

He pledged, “We will resist always the forces of violence, first verbal then physical, intolerance, xenophobia and racism, and these temptations that are a detriment.” Continue Reading »

Category: Israel News | Tags: , , , ,
| December 1, 2013
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U.K. minister promises to end Shabbat discrimination against Orthodox Jews

Employment minister pledges to introduce new regulations to allow religious Jews who refuse to work on Shabbat eligible for welfare benefits.

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Britain’s employment minister said she would introduce new regulations to make Jews who refuse to work on Shabbat eligible for welfare benefits.

Ultra-Orthodox Jews in London.

Ultra-Orthodox Jews in Stamford Hill, North London, U.K., November 2013 – Photo: Tal Cohen

Employment Minister Esther McVey and Jobcentre National Director Neil Couling have told the Jewish employment charity JCom that rules would be “tweaked” to end the practice of denying job seekers’ allowance to observant Jews, The Jewish Chronicle of London reported Friday. Continue Reading »

Category: Jewish News | Tags: , , , ,
| October 21, 2013
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Irish journalist dons kippa to assess anti-Semitism in Sweden

 

“As an Irish person abroad I’ve never felt remotely threatened but wearing the kippa for a few hours was enough to instill feelings of fear,” writes Patrick Reilly.

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An Irish journalist donned a kippa for a day in the southern Swedish city of Malmo, in an effort to experience what it might be like for Jews there, who have been known to suffer from anti-Semitism, The Local reported last week.

Screenshot from The Local

Screenshot from The Local.

Patrick Reilly said his experiment was inspired by recent anti-Semitic incidents in Malmo, as well as concern expressed by Jews planning visits there. Continue Reading »

Category: Jewish News | Tags: , , ,
| September 12, 2013
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Spain’s Parliament vote on Holocaust Studies being obligatory

According to Wednesday’s report in Spain’s El Pais daily, the country’s ruling People’s Party submitted a proposed amendment to the education law for approval by Spain’s lower House.

By JTA

 

Spain’s parliament is set to vote on an amendment that would make Holocaust studies obligatory for Spanish students.

A session of the Spanish Parliament, Madrid, Spain, August 2013.

A session of the Spanish Parliament, Madrid, Spain, August 2013. – Photo: AP

Spain’s ruling People’s Party recently submitted the proposed amendment to the education law for approval by Spain’s lower house, according to a report Wednesday in the El Pais daily.

If passed, the proposed amendment would introduce the genocide of Jews by Nazi Germany into the curriculum “at various stages of basic education,” the Spanish news agency Europa Press reported Thursday. Continue Reading »

Category: Jewish News | Tags: , , ,
| July 28, 2013
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Dutch teens visit Nazi transit camp in effort to rid anti-Semitism from schools

After 63  years, organizers add the Holocaust’s Kamp Westerbork to the annual high-school cycling trip’s itinerary for first time in effort to instil empathy & understanding about the Holocaust.

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Some 150 teenagers from The Netherlands visited Westerbork, a transit camp for Holocaust victims, in an activity designed to combat recent expressions of anti-Semitism in the city’s schools.

Participants of the Fietsvierdaagse (Four day bicycle tour) ride their bicycles in Drenthe

Participants of the Fietsvierdaagse (Four day bicycle tour) ride their bicycles in near Kamp Westerbork on July 23, 2013. – Photo: AFP

The youths from the eastern Netherlands city of Arnhem arrived at Kamp Westerbork on bicycles on July 25 carrying white roses provided to them by the organizers of the activity, which was planned in cooperation with the Jewish community of Arnhem. Continue Reading »

Category: Jewish News | Tags: , , ,
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