Speaking at the Conference on Addressing Antisemitism in the OSCE Region, WJC Director of Diplomacy Leon Saltiel sounded the alarm on behalf of World Jewish Congress and its over 100 Jewish affiliated communities around the world on the rising levels of antisemitism and hatred, both online and offline, especially in the aftermath of the October 7th terrorist attack, and urged all governments to act immediately.
Speaking alongside Lord Eric Pickles, the United Kingdom’s Special Envoy for Post-Holocaust Issues, Deborah Lyons, Canada’s Special Envoy on antisemitism, and other experts, on a panel examining effective strategies to counter antisemitism, Saltiel emphasized the evolving nature of antisemitism and its profound threat to the security and stability of Jewish communities, particularly in the aftermath of the lethal October 7th terrorist attack perpetrated by Hamas.
“Hate enters our homes every minute, every second, unfiltered, unchecked,” stressed Saltiel, “and if Jews sound the alarm, the world should listen. Because Jews are the first who feel the impact of malaise in the society, but they are not the last. And right now, we are at a critical juncture with rising levels of dehumanization of Jews spread freely around the globe.”
The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) comprises 57 participating States that span the globe, encompassing three continents - North America, Europe and Asia. The conference, marking two decades since the historic 2004 Berlin Declaration—a landmark moment for the OSCE in combating antisemitism—reviewed advancements in countering this pervasive issue.
The conference, attended by Ian Borg, Minister for Foreign and European Affairs and Trade of Malta and OSCE Chair-in-Office, Aurore Bergé, Minister in charge of gender equality and the fight against discrimination of France, Helga Maria Schmid, OSCE Secretary General, and Special Envoys against Antisemitism and Ambassadors from all member states, focused on discussing effective strategies to address persisting challenges. Specifically, the discussions centered on tackling under-reporting of hate crimes and adapting approaches to confront online hate, including the spread of antisemitic conspiracy theories across digital platforms.
