Prepared by Dr. Susanna Kokkonen
In December 2024 we look back at a year characterized by open anti-Semitism and hatred surging through the western world. It is regrettable that as we are ending this year Hamas is keeping Israeli hostages in Gaza and the world has forgotten them. The Middle East is in turmoil whereas the focus of the world has been on Israel and its perceived human rights violations. The Holocaust Remembrance Association would like to draw your attention to some key moments of the last months of this year.
Historical background
Thousands of years have prepared the ground for the events of today. In the Antiquity in Greece, anti-Jewish writings existed. Also, in the Antiquity Rome expelled Jews several times. In the Middle Ages Jews were marked, isolated, burnt at stake and denied the possibility to practice professions freely. During the Enlightenment, Jews were accused of the changes in society that some groups did not like. Various anti-Jewish stereotypes come from that age. During WWI, Jews fought in their national armies, nevertheless they were accused of backstabbing which became a common accusation in interwar Germany.
WWII was really a war against the Jews of Europe. Evidence of this is the fate of Hungarian Jews. Hundreds of thousands of them were taken to Auschwitz-Birkenau in the spring and early summer of 1944. This was also a time when the Allies landed in Normandy. It was obvious that Germany had lost the war. Precious resources were still spent on deporting the Jews of Hungary.
Today’s situation
By the end of 2024 anti-Semitic incidents and attacks have become so common that it is impossible to keep track of them. Throughout 2024 the Holocaust Remembrance Association has issued monthly statements about these. It is reasonable to say that October 7, 2023, was a watershed moment. We are not speaking about historical events but our own time and this is an international drama, peoples, organizations, and political authorities are following closely.
The United Nations
Institutions under the authority of the United Nations have shown themselves capable of partnering with terrorist organizations. UNRWA, which is supposed to be a humanitarian relief organization has nevertheless not investigated properly accusations against its workers of having been part of the attack against Israel on October 7th, 2023. The former Commissioner for UNRWA met with terrorist leaders and was ready to agree to their demands in terms of UNRWA’s mission. ICC (the International Court of Justice) now has its prosecutor Karim Khan under investigation for his own wrongdoings. There is suspicion that he chose to focus on PM Benyamin Netanyahu to divert attention from his own potentially criminal acts.
Around the world
In Melbourne, Australia several masked men set fire to Adass Israel Synagogue early on a Friday morning. The police called the arson a terrorist incident. Prime Minister Netanyahu connected the incident with the anti-Israel attitudes of the Australian Labor government. Government members strongly protested this.
In Montreal, Canada terrible acts of vandalism took place by students. There was demonstration organized by a group, Divest for Palestine, outside NATO during its meeting. Cars were torched, windows of various business establishments were broken, smoke bombs were thrown, and an effigy of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was burned. In this situation which is causing a lot of fear in the Jewish community, both Montreal’s Mayor and Police insisted that these riots were not anti-Jewish. International media has now drawn attention to the situation of the Jewish community in Montreal.
In the Vatican meanwhile Pope Francis inaugurated a nativity scene. This year Baby Jesus is dressed in the Palestinian “keffiyeh” scarf that Arafat always wore. Attending the event with the Pope was a member of the Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO) Executive Committee. This combined with the Pope’s recent statements on the situation is worrying. In his statements Pope Francis has called for an investigation about Israel’s actions in Gaza and whether there is a genocide taking place.
USA Universities
At Michigan University, the car of a Jewish official was vandalized with a Hamas symbol. Windows of his home were also broken. This all was preceded by vandalism in his office at the university. In this instance the university administration did not hesitate to call the attack anti-Semitic.
At Columbia University a Special Task Force was formed to discuss campus anti-Semitism. The atmosphere in the campus has become increasingly difficult to Jewish students following the former campus protests which even included a takeover of a building by the anti-Israel protesters. Meanwhile students in different universities share the same fear of showing their Jewishness or Israeli identity at campus.
As this year is coming to its close Holocaust Remembrance Association continues its vital work to educate the younger generations about historic truths. We all need to see how modern-day anti-Semitism continues evil traditions evident in history. It is the task of everyone living today to address these shockingly familiar developments.
It is time to say Never Again!
The Holocaust Remembrance Association exists to remember, reconcile, and take a stand against antisemitism in all its forms.
