Elie Wiesel Institute: Online Antisemitism Has Intensified
Jerusalem, 30 July, 2024 (TPS) -- Bucharest, Agerpres — Online antisemitism instances have intensified amid Hamas’ terrorist attack on Israel and the conflict in the Middle East, according to a report by the Elie Wiesel National Institute for the Study of the Holocaust in Romania. The report also showed that political leaders promoted, online and in Parliament, antisemitic, denialist or hateful messages, without suffering consequences.
According to a press release from the institute released on Tuesday, “The Hamas attack and the conflict in the Middle East generated a significant increase in anti-Semitic actions in the United States and European countries, including Romania.”
Also, the introduction of the subject matter History of the Jews and the Holocaust in high school was another key event that influenced the dynamics of denialist, conspiracy and antisemitic messages.
The report noted, on the other hand, “a positive trend” on the part of public officials regarding the removal from the public space of names referring to war criminals.
“At the governmental level, passing the second stage of the national strategy for preventing and combatting anti-Semitism, xenophobia, radicalization and hate speech, for 2024-2027, demonstrates the commitment of the central administration to consolidate public policies in the field. However, the gap between the goals projected at the central level and the ability of local communities to internalize and implement these policies remains visible,” the report said.
There were also acts of vandalism, with Nazi symbols and slogans being inscribed on the walls of synagogues in Timisoara, Sighetu Marmatiei and in various public places in Bucharest and Iasi.
Also, public organizations hosted events “with an agenda for the rehabilitation of interwar extremism and local administrations that continue to support the cult of war criminals and the legionary memory by preserving public places named after war criminals or denialists.”
The report also pointed to auctions organized by Artmark of objects belonging to Marshal Antonescu, publications of Corneliu Zelea Codreanu, Ion Mota, A.C. Cuza, photographs of legionary leaders, advertising materials from the interwar period, promoting the Iron Guard fascist movement, and online commerce platforms and antique shops selling controversial books including by Adolph Hitler and Iron Guard leaders.
