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Israel's aggression in Gaza is prompting anti-Jewish violence in Europe and discrimination in New Zealand |
CAIRO (AlAlrabiya. net, Agencies)
From arson bombs to screening clients, Israel's war on Gaza continues to
stoke tension across the world, creating divisions in Europe and lately New
Zealand, and prompting religious leaders to denounce discrimination
instigated by Middle East events.
Besides triggering waves of vigorous protests, the mounting Israeli
aggression in Gaza is prompting violent attacks against Jews in
Europe, and anti-Israeli discrimination in News Zealand, where local sources
say frequent backlashes are on the rise.
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| France In France, a Jewish man was stabbed four times in a Paris suburb on Friday
in an anti-Jewish attack which officials say was most likely instigated by the
Israeli offensive in Gaza.
A 24-year-old man was beaten up by two robbers who wanted to steal his
car but ended up stabbing him after discovering that he was Jewish. The
man suffered minor wounds from the attack.
"After noticing he was wearing a Jewish religious symbol, the aggressors
made anti-Semitic threats and stabbed him four times with a knife," Interior
Minister Michele Alliot-Marie said in a statement.
Home to Europe's biggest Muslim and Jewish populations, France has
recorded scores of anti-Jewish incidents since Israel launched its Gaza
offensive late last month. |
| Preceding this latest spate of attacks was the fire-bombing of three
synagogues in the past two weeks and instances of anti-Israeli graffiti
showing "Israel Nazi" and swastikas drawn on the walls of a kosher
restaurant and synagogues.
Despite calls by Muslim, Jewish and Roman Catholic leaders denouncing
violence and appeals for calm between religious communities, the path of
cooperation remained rocky as interfaith-friction between Muslim and
Jewish members of the Jewish-Muslim Friendship Society highlighted deep
divides.
On Friday Muslim members resigned from the society after accusing their
Jewish counterparts of remaining silent in the face of Israeli "war crimes" in
Gaza, according to co-president Djelloul Seddiki.
"All of the Muslim members left on Thursday," he told AFP.
"We aren't talking to each other anymore," confirmed rabbi Michel Serfaty. |
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| United Kingdom " I know that concerns are particularly acute for some communities in Britain " Jacqui Smith, British Home Secretary Warding off violent repercussion from Israeli's aggression is also a concern in the UK, where senior government ministers met Thursday with Muslim leaders for the second time this week amid fears of a backlash against Jews in Britain over Gaza.
In the meeting Home Secretary Jacqui Smith said the situation in Gaza
was "tragic" and she had been personally moved by the suffering of
Palestinians. .
"I know that concerns are particularly acute for some communities in
Britain, which is why the Government has been maintaining a regular
dialogue with both members of the British Muslim community and
representatives from the Jewish community," she said. |
| " The level of anger is so great over Gaza, nothing I have ever seen before, much higher than over Afghanistan " Usama Hasan, London imam and activist The Metropolitan Police says it has recorded an increase in anti-Jewish
actions in London where one synagogue suffered a suspected arson attack
while most other incidents have involved offensive graffiti and verbal abuse,
such as offensive phone calls or shouts in the street.
"The level of anger is so great over Gaza - nothing I have ever seen before,
much higher than over Afghanistan, " Usama Hasan a London imam was
quoted as saying.
In the same vein, a group of prominent British Muslims condemned Friday a
surge in anti-Jewish attacks, urging Muslims in a letter signed by 20 Islamic
figures to help prevent assaults on Jews.
"The ongoing killing of Palestinian civilians in Gaza by Israeli forces angered
us all. However, this does not, and cannot, justify attacks on our fellow
citizens of Jewish faith and background here in Britain," the letter said.
The letter was sent to some 1,200 mosques and Islamic centers around
the country. |
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| New Zealand Mustafa Tekinkaya refused to serve Israeli customers in a show of protest against the Gaza war Meanwhile, Israel's aggression also reached to Invercargill in New Zealand,
where a Turkish cafe owner protested Israel's war by banning Israeli
customers while the bombardment of Gaza continues, the New Zealand
Herald reported Friday.
Mustafa Tekinkaya ejected two women from his café after discovering they
were Israeli. He said he is mounting a protest on behalf of the besieged
Palestinians.
“I have my side and they can take their side which means killing the
innocent people,” he was quoted as saying.
A Muslim-owned kebab shop a few doors down from Mustafa's Turkish cafe
refused to serve Israelis as well.
Other Israeli tourists said they went to a Kaikoura pub and were greeted
with the sign 'no Israelis allowed,’ according to the local news paper. |
| " I can understand where they are coming from " Javed Khan, head of New Zealand Muslim Federation The Federation of Muslim Associations of New Zealand which has
condemned "atrocities" being carried out in Gaza by Israel, also spoke
against the owner's protest against customers of Israeli origin.
Javed Khan, head of the federation said he can't support the Invercargill
business owners while they breach the human rights act, although he is
sympathetic.
"I can understand where they are coming from," said Javed Khan.
"But if their action constitutes a breach of the Human Rights Act ... then
we shouldn't breach the law of the country."
Khan added that the ban is most likely a show of anger rather than a racist
attack. |
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