by Rajnish Singh
The Bondi Beach massacre of 15 Jewish people in Australia, 14 December, the synagogue knife attacks in Manchester, UK, in October, chants of “globalise the intifada” at anti–Gaza war protests, and increasing accusations of bias against Israel in media and culture, such as the BBC and Eurovision, are not isolated incidents. Taken together, they indicate a broader shift: antisemitism is no longer limited to the fringes of European and Western politics. It is increasingly emerging in the mainstream, with consequences that go far beyond Jewish communities.
Europe should treat this as a warning. Antisemitism has long been the canary in the coal mine. History shows that when hatred towards Jews becomes normalised, it rarely remains contained. Instead, it erodes democratic norms, weakens human rights protections, and ultimately threatens the safety of all minorities.
The BBC, once regarded as the gold standard of impartiality, now faces sustained accusations of systemic bias in its coverage of Israel and Gaza. Eurovision, intended as a celebration of unity through music, has been politicised through boycotts targeting Israel while other countries with questionable human rights records remain untouched. The irony is of course that Israel is the only country in the region protecting and even celebrating the LGBTQ+ community, which Eurovision openly supports.
The Bondi Beach massacre and the Manchester attacks are stark reminders that antisemitism is not confined to online rhetoric or political debate. It manifests in real-world violence. Treating it as a fringe problem, or dismissing it as mere “political criticism”, is dangerously complacent. European governments must recognise antisemitism as a national security concern. That requires stronger policing of hate crimes, improved intelligence monitoring of extremist networks, and coordinated EU-wide responses.
When demonstrators chant “globalise the intifada”, they are not simply expressing opposition to Israeli policy. Authorities must acknowledge that such slogans amount to calls for violence against Jews worldwide. Europe’s leaders must reclaim the narrative: freedom of speech does not extend to the incitement of hatred or violence.
A confident European vision must make clear that Jewish communities are integral to the continent’s identity, and protecting them is inseparable from safeguarding democracy itself.
Yet for years, European policymakers have minimised antisemitic attacks, treating them as isolated incidents involving fringe elements on the far left or far right. That assumption is no longer credible. Violent attacks in Manchester and Sydney, alongside the intimidation of Jewish students on university campuses across Europe and the United States, demonstrate that antisemitism is becoming embedded in mainstream political and cultural life. Treating it as marginal only accelerates its normalisation. Once antisemitism enters everyday discourse, the taboo against other forms of hate speech weakens, opening the door to broader intolerance.
Addressing this threat also requires Europe to overcome fragmented national responses. Some member states continue to frame antisemitism primarily as an issue of free speech or political expression. This inconsistency creates legal loopholes that extremists — whether right-wing, left-wing or Islamist — are quick to exploit. Fragmentation also undermines the EU’s credibility abroad. If member states cannot agree on how to confront antisemitism at home, their calls for tolerance and human rights internationally ring hollow.
Europe once vowed “never again” after the Second World War and the Holocaust. Yet antisemitism has returned to the headlines, to the streets and to the mainstream. Its resurgence is an early warning of deeper societal decay. Unless the UK and the EU confront it directly — through institutional accountability, robust security measures and a renewed commitment to liberal values — they risk not only endangering Jewish communities, but also eroding the foundations of democracy itself.
By: N. Peter Kramer
