Several European countries, including France, Germany, Spain, Italy, and the UK have begun providing additional police protection to Jewish communities following the outbreak of the Israeli-Hamas war as governments across the continent brace for an increase in antisemitic crimes.
Following the news of the successful Hamas incursions into multiple Israeli settlements near Gaza on Saturday, Palestinian sympathizers gathered in several European cities to celebrate the bloodshed.
In response, French Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin tasked police prefects across the country to boost security for Jewish communities and called for a meeting to assess the full extent of the situation.
Jews in France number around half a million, making it the largest Jewish community in Europe and the third largest in the world. At the same time, there are up to five million Muslims (and up to seven million Arabs) in France—plenty of people to have a sizable population sympathizing with Hamas.
French Prime Minister Élisabeth Borne also spoke out against the far-left La France Insoumise (‘France Unbound’) party, saying it harbors “a form of antisemitism,” after the party published a press release that called for “the end of [Israeli] colonization.”
The Berlin police also said they’ve “increased protective measures at Jewish and Israeli institutions” throughout the city. The German authorities are in “intensive contact” with the Central Council of Jews in Germany as well and promised to prevent violence, riots, or any kind of hate incidents on German streets.
Spain and Italy implemented similar measures, providing 24-hour armed police presence near synagogues and other Jewish cultural centers in their capitals to disincentivize “jihadist elements” that could be emboldened by the war in Israel.
London’s Metropolitan Police used much softer language when it announced it was putting some new “reassurance patrols” on the streets, and said it would make sure not to hinder anyone’s right to protest.
We are aware that the ongoing conflict may lead to protests over the coming days. We will ensure that an appropriate policing plan is in place in order to balance the right to protest against any disruption to Londoners.”
“Tragically, we know that violence in the Middle East can lead to a rise in hate crime in London,” Mayor Sadiq Khan said on Saturday evening in a suspiciously general statement. At the same time, the UK’s Home Office Minister, Robert Jenrick, condemned the pro-Palestinian demonstrations in a harsher tone. “These disgusting people are glorifying the terrorist activities of Hamas,” Jenrick said. “There is no place for this in the UK.”
Social media also helps fuel extremism, the Anti-Defamation League warned in a recently published analysis of certain Telegram channels. “Our data show extremists appear to be emboldened by the Hamas attack, and have increased their violent rhetoric, posting hate filled messages and calls for further aggression against Israel and its supporters,” the ADL wrote, noting an “alarming” 488% increase in antisemitic threats in just 18 hours.
