In a week marked by mounting concern and heated political rhetoric, the European Commission has pledged to intensify its protection of Jewish citizens across the continent, following a dramatic surge in antisemitic incidents since the Hamas-led attack on Israel on October 7, 2023. The announcement comes in the wake of a forceful letter sent by more than 100 European rabbis to Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, warning of what they described as "visceral antisemitic hate" sweeping through Europe and calling for urgent, increased security measures.
The Commission's response, delivered by a spokesperson on September 19, 2025, was swift and unequivocal. "We see a troubling rise of antisemitism, a trend that is entirely unjustifiable," the spokesperson told Euronews, emphasizing, "We stand firmly against all forms of antisemitism. Jewish people must feel safe across Europe." The spokesperson further underlined that strengthening the security of Jewish people would be a "priority" for the Commission, stating, "We are ready to step up this support."
This commitment follows a spate of high-profile antisemitic incidents that have sent shockwaves through European Jewish communities and the broader public alike. Belgium, in particular, has witnessed what officials and community leaders are calling unprecedented acts of antisemitic violence. According to UNIA, Belgium's independent public institution dedicated to promoting equality and combating discrimination, 277 people reported antisemitic acts in 2024, resulting in 79 investigations—up sharply from 59 cases the previous year.
One particularly egregious episode unfolded in the German city of Flensburg earlier this week, where a shopkeeper posted a sign in his window bluntly declaring, "Jews are banned from here! Nothing personal. No antisemitism. Just can't stand you." The sign ignited outrage across Germany and beyond, prompting legal investigations and widespread condemnation. The episode served as a stark reminder of the persistence—and, some fear, the resurgence—of antisemitic sentiment in parts of Europe.
In Belgium, tensions came to a head on September 18 during a gathering of center-right politicians in Liège, convened to commemorate the late Jean Gol, a prominent Jewish political figure. What began as a solemn event quickly spiraled into chaos as some 400 demonstrators, many of them students, confronted attendees, hurling firecrackers and rotten apples and accusing them of being "complicit of genocide" in Gaza. The clashes left 12 police officers injured and underscored the volatility of the current climate.
The recent spike in antisemitic incidents has been closely linked to the ongoing war in Gaza, with European leaders warning against the "importation" of Middle Eastern conflicts onto European soil. As the Commission spokesperson put it, "We condemn those who are importing the war in Gaza to Europe." The message is clear: the European Union sees the protection of its Jewish citizens not only as a moral imperative but as a matter of urgent public safety and social cohesion.
Yet, the Commission's stance has not gone unchallenged. In an exclusive interview with Euronews, Israel's Minister of Diaspora Affairs and Combating Antisemitism, Amichai Chikli, delivered a blistering critique of the European Union's approach. Chikli accused the EU of hypocrisy, asserting, "The European Union is an institution that tolerates two types of Jews: those willing to undermine Israel, and dead Jews." He went on to lambast the EU for what he sees as a double standard—pouring "hundreds of millions into organisations accusing us of genocide and calling for boycotts of Israel, only to launch boycotts itself and label Israeli products based on those very reports."
Chikli's comments came just days after President von der Leyen, in her annual State of the Union address, announced that the EU would suspend "bilateral support" for Israel and partially suspend a trade deal in response to what she described as a "man-made famine" in Gaza and "a clear attempt" by Israel to "undermine the two-state solution." The suspension, she clarified, would not affect payments destined for the Yad Vashem World Holocaust Remembrance Centre and other civil society projects. But for Chikli, this was cold comfort. "Supporting Yad Vashem matters to Ursula von der Leyen. Living Jews mean nothing to her," he charged.
Chikli's criticism did not stop there. He painted a bleak picture for Jewish communities in some parts of Europe, particularly Belgium. "Europe stands at a crossroads: either wage an uncompromising war against radical Islam, or surrender. Belgium has already surrendered; it has no future, no hope, and I urge every Jew to leave that wretched country without delay," he declared. Chikli's remarks have sparked debate within and beyond Jewish communities, with some echoing his concerns and others warning against alarmism and the dangers of further polarization.
While Chikli was deeply pessimistic about Belgium, he expressed what he called "cautious optimism" about the prospects for Jews in Britain and France, suggesting that the "British and French peoples have not yet spoken their last word." He singled out Hungary and the Czech Republic as "bright spots" in Europe, crediting their "sane immigration policy" for creating a safer environment for Jewish citizens.
The European rabbis who sounded the alarm in their letter to von der Leyen are not alone in their fears. Their call for "increased security provisions" reflects a growing sense of vulnerability among Jewish communities across Europe. As one rabbi put it, the level of "deep anti-Semitic hatred" now being experienced is "unprecedented in recent memory." The letter, and the Commission's response, have galvanized discussion about how best to balance freedom of speech, public safety, and the fight against hate in a continent still grappling with the legacy of the Holocaust.
For its part, the European Commission has made clear that it "stands firmly against all forms of antisemitism" and is prepared to "step up" its support for Jewish communities. Whether these measures will be enough to stem the tide of hate—and to reassure Jewish citizens that they are truly safe—is a question that remains painfully open.
As Europe faces this crossroads, the choices made by its leaders and citizens in the coming months will shape not only the safety of Jewish communities, but the very character of European democracy itself.
