by Lahav Harkov
EJC demands apology from De Gucht, a former Belgian Foreign Minister; says remarks are part of “a dangerous trend of anti-Semitism in Europe.”
The European Jewish Congress has demanded a retraction on Friday from a the European Union official who made anti-Semitic comments on Belgian radio.
Karel De Gucht, European Commissioner for Trade, was asked about the chances for peace in the Middle East on Belgian Flemis public radio VRT on Thursday, and answered with a tirade about the power of the “Jewish Lobby” in the US. He also insinuated that Jews are irrational when it comes to Israel and the Middle East.
EJC President Dr. Moshe Kantor responded: “This is part of a dangerous trend of incitement against Jews and Israel in Europe that needs to be stamped out immediately.”
“Once again we hear outrageous anti-Semitism from a senior European official,” Kantor said. “The libel of Jewish power is apparently acceptable at the highest levels of the European Union. This should worry everyone who seeks a more tolerant Europe.”
Kantor added that the EU commissioner’s remarks are part of a new wave of anti-Semitism in Europe. “It has somehow become acceptable to attack Jews through Israel, even at the highest levels. The old anti-Semitic libels are remade to fit 21st century hostility to the Jewish state.”
De Gucht is one of the most senior officials in the European Union, and was formerly Belgian Foreign Minister.
The EJC has called for an immediate retraction and apology from De Gucht.
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