In Israel, Prosecutor General Discusses Legal Actions against Manifestations of Anti-Semitism, Hate Crimes

Jerusalem, 29 March, 2023 (TPS) -- 29.03.2023 (BTA)
Bulgaria’s Prosecutor General Ivan Geshev visited Israel’s Foreign Ministry for a meeting with Talya Lador-Fresher, Head of the Bureau for European Affairs, Shuli Davidovich, Head of the Foreign Ministry’s Bureau for World Jewish Affairs and World Religions, and Eyal Naor, Director of the Southern Europe Department. The diplomats said Israel appreciates the efforts of the Bulgarian prosecution service and the Prosecutor General to prevent an anti-Semitic event – Lukov March – which is seen as a platform uniting people from Europe who espouse neo-Nazi ideas, the Prosecution Office said on Wednesday.

Geshev is paying a working visit to Israel with a delegation which includes Tsvetomir Yosifov, Head of the International Department of the Supreme Cassation Prosecution Office, and National Investigation Service Deputy Director Yasen Todorov. The visit is taking place at the invitation of the Federation of Zionists in Bulgaria, a member of the World Zionist Federation.

The discussion at Israel’s Foreign Ministry focused on the challenges facing the democratic world in the context of increasing manifestations of hate speech. Geshev talked about gaps in Bulgarian legislation concerning the characteristics of hate crimes and the lack of effective methods for reporting manifestations of anti-Semitism on social media and the Internet in general.

Talya Fresher stressed that the world’s Jewish community is concerned about the rise of anti-Semitism in some European countries, particularly its new forms resulting from advances in technology and the digitization of public life. Geshev stressed that the democratic community should mount a joint effort to counter the cyber terrorism threat.

The Bulgarian delegation briefed the Israeli diplomats on the initiative of the Association of Prosecutors and the Chamber of Investigators in Bulgaria to build a monument in central Sofia commemorating the lawyers who helped save Bulgarian Jews from the Holocaust.

Gusti Yehoshua-Braverman, head of the World Zionist Organization’s Department for Diaspora Activities, also praised the prosecution service for preventing Lukov March. Israel views the prevention of that anti-Semitic event as a significant example of upholding democratic values.

Geshev said he is adamant that the prosecution service will keep up its efforts to prevent anti-Semitism and anti-democratic sentiments in society.

The Bulgarian delegation met with Robert Singer, Chairman of the Center for Jewish Impact, and representatives of the legal community. They discussed the legal aspects of the treatment of hate crimes and possible cooperation between the Bulgarian prosecution service and the Israeli NGO sector in countering acts of anti-Semitism and hate speech. This will contribute to the promotion of Bulgaria as an EU Member State which has successfully curbed manifestations of anti-democratic ideologies and will be a clear sign of the traditionally good relations between Bulgaria and Israel.

Geshev and Singer met earlier in March in Sofia.

The delegation also met with representatives of the Bulgarian community in Israel and visited the clinic where Prof. Joseph Alcalay works. The former president of the International Society for Dermatologic Surgery was granted Bulgarian citizenship in 2011.