European Jews for Palestine (EJP) urges the European Commission to effectively fight anti-Jewish hatred.
On 12 June 2025, a delegation of European Jews for Palestine (EJP) met with Katharina von Schnurbein, the EU Commission’s Coordinator on combatting antisemitism and fostering Jewish Life, together with Marion Lalisse, the EU Commission’s Coordinator on combatting anti-Muslim hatred.
The delegation was composed of representatives from Tsedek! (France), Erev Rav (Netherlands), Another Jewish Voice (EAJS, Belgium) the Anti-Zionist Jewish Alliance in Belgium (AJAB). At the meeting that took place at the Commission’s headquarters in Brussels the delegates shared their living experiences with anti-Jewish hatred manifested today in Europe, which is also closely linked to the genocide Israel is committing in Gaza since October 2023.
The representatives of the various Jewish groups expressed their deep concern of the negative consequences in civil society of the EU policy which conflated legitimate political opposition to Israel and to Zionism with racism against Jews. In particular, the delegates highlighted that the working definition of antisemitism of the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA), currently used by the EU Commission, is highly problematic and controversial since it was crafted, and effectively used in practice, in order to shield Israel from criticism. It’s practical usage by authorities in Europe often silences free speech about Israel-Palestine and leads to a chilling effect, violating the principle of freedom of expression (article 11 of the EU Charter for fundamental right) and freedom of association. The delegates from Belgium and the Netherlands explained that due to these issues, different institutions and local authorities in their countries do not use the IHRA definition.
The EJP delegation urged the Commission’s coordinators to include anti-Jewish hatred in the upcoming EU strategy against racism.