'If Jews are forced to leave Europe, it will be bad for all Jews'

Diaspora Affairs and Education Minister Naftali Bennett made the remarks in a meeting with the EU coordinator on combating antisemitism.

By TAMARA ZIEVE
Updated: DECEMBER 13, 2016 11:32
A man wearing a kippa listens to speakers during an anti-Semitism demo at Berlin's Brandenburg Gate September 14, 2014 (photo credit: REUTERS)
A man wearing a kippa listens to speakers during an anti-Semitism demo at Berlin's Brandenburg Gate September 14, 2014
(photo credit: REUTERS)
"Antisemitism has not broken nor will it break the Jewish people," Diaspora Affairs and Education Minister Naftali Bennett (Bayit Yehudi) said Tuesday in a meeting at the Knesset with European Union coordinator on combating antisemitism Katharina von Schnurbein.
"We need to make sure that Jewish communities are not harmed, and the the Jews are strong and secure," Bennett added, expressing concern on the matter. He remarked that the personal safety of Jews living in Jewish communities in Europe is important both to Diaspora Jewry and to the future of the state of Israel.
"The Jews are citizens of European countries and they are one of the essential elements of the continent," he stated. "If they are forced to leave, it will be bad for all Jews, for Israel and for Europe."
New counter-anti-Semitism laws needed to keep Jews in Europe
Von Schurbein responded that the main objective of her role is to work for Jews living in Europe and to "allow them to live their lives within the borders of Europe, while maintaining their Jewish lifestyle."
Von Schnurbein is in Israel for the 10th EU-Israel Seminar on Combating Racism, Xenophobia and Antisemitism, taking place in Jerusalem on Tuesday and Wednesday.
Thirty representatives from Israel and the EU were set to gather to discuss their continuing work in combating antisemitism, exchanging experiences and practices, with a focus on online hate speech and education.