Germany, France, Italy condemn anti-Semitic protests

The foreign ministers of Germany, France and Italy condemned on Tuesday the rise in anti-Semitic protests and violence in their countries over the conflict in Gaza, saying they will do everything possible to combat it.

"Anti-Semitic rhetoric and hostility against Jews, attacks on people of Jewish belief and synagogues have no place in our societies," German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier, France's Laurent Fabius and Italy's Federica Mogherini said in a joint statement issued in Brussels.

The three said that while they respect demonstrators' freedom of speech and right to assemble, they will also do everything possible to fight "acts and statements that cross the line to anti-Semitism, racism and xenophobia".

Since the outbreak of violence between Israel and Gaza, participants at anti-Israel demonstrations across Germany have frequently used anti-Semitic slogans and also called for Jews to be gassed.

In France, pro-Palestinian youths have clashed repeatedly with police, and on Sunday set fire to cars, pillaged stores and attacked two synagogues in the Paris suburbs.

French President Francois Hollande met on Monday with Jewish and Muslim leaders in the Elysee Palace, where he told them that fighting anti-Semitism will be a "national cause".

Jewish groups have expressed shock about the growing anti-Semitism in Germany and other European countries with strong Muslim communities.

Berlin this week banned pro-Gaza protesters from chanting an anti-Semitic slogan.

Police spokeswoman Cosima Pauluhn added on Tuesday that police are investigating a sermon last week by a radical imam calling on worshippers at Berlin's Al-Nur mosque to murder Jews.

The mosque did not immediately return calls seeking comment.

(China Daily 07/23/2014 page11)