§ 9. Linda Perham (Ilford, North) (Lab)What efforts are being made by his Department and other EU Governments to combat the rise in anti-Semitism. [157419]
§ The Minister for Europe (Mr. Denis MacShane)The rise of anti-Semitism in Europe along with other forms of intolerance, notably Islamophobia and attacks on Roma, is a frightening political phenomenon, which the Government and other EU partners are determined to combat. Ministers will attend the conference organised by the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe on anti-Semitism next month in Berlin, the convening of which we have actively supported.
§ Linda PerhamI am pleased to hear about that conference. As my hon. Friend knows, I represent a London borough with a large Jewish community of 15,000 people. I frequently receive representations from people who have fears about the rise of anti-Semitism. What further action can the UK Government take to address my constituents' concerns and continue the fight against anti-Semitism and racism?
§ Mr. MacShaneThis is a deeply worrying problem, not just in this country but elsewhere in Europe. People of the Jewish faith are frightened to wear kippas and are worried about attacks on their synagogues. Proper and due criticism may be made of the action of any Government—I am thinking of the Israeli Government—of which we disapprove, but sometimes that glides off into anti-Israeli and, frankly, in some sectors, anti-Semitic and anti-Jewish remarks. The European Union as a whole is much seized of this, and it was recently discussed by the Israeli President and President Chirac, who is concerned about it. I was recently in Vienna where, thanks to the initiative of my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary, we are bestowing an honorary knighthood on Simon Wiesenthal. I assure my hon. Friend that all members of the Government and, I believe, all hon. Members, are worried about this, and it is something that everyone in Europe should take very seriously indeed.
§ Alistair Burt (North-East Bedfordshire) (Con)Romano Prodi meant well when he said in February:
Let us…keep things in perspective. Today's Europe is not the Europe of the 1930s and 1940s.However, is there not a sense in which he was wrong, because anti-Semitism, just like racism, is always with us? A sophisticated diplomat in the 1920s might have 751 said that the Europe of that period was not the Europe of the middle ages. Is not the lesson of history that the price of protecting peoples from waves of racism and anti-Semitism is eternal vigilance, not complacency, however well meant?
§ Mr. MacShaneI completely and utterly agree with the hon. Gentleman, but I would add that the same analysis might be made of some of the attacks that we read about, particularly in connection with the Muslim faith—Islamophobia—and on Romas. We should not forget that after the Jews, Romas were the largest group of people put to death in the death camps. All of us, including, perhaps, some gentlemen in the Gallery, should reflect that the kind of language we have seen in recent months about European citizens who are Romas has not been worthy of British tolerance and decency.
§ Mrs. Louise Ellman (Liverpool, Riverside) (Lab/Co-op)When my hon. Friend or his colleagues next meet the Muslim Council of Britain, will he urge it to take more seriously than it has until now the recent report from the Community Security Trust, which shows the rise in attacks on Jewish people and the link between that and events in the middle east? Will he also urge the Muslim Council of Britain to take a stand against the Islamic extremists who allow their hatred of the existence of Israel to slide into blatant anti-Semitism and foment hatred of Jews in this country?
§ Mr. MacShaneI have taken that stand. I have taken it, I hope, all my life. I will continue to take it, and I believe that every decent Member of the House would take exactly that position.
§ Dr. Jenny Tonge (Richmond Park) (LD)May I endorse much of what has been said already on this question? But does the Minister agree that criticising the Government of Ariel Sharon is not being anti-Semitic, any more than criticising George Bush is anti-American or criticising our own Prime Minister is anti-British? Does he also agree that Mr. Sharon uses accusations of anti-Semitism to silence his critics? Would not one way forward be to put pressure on Israel to change its policies towards the Palestinians by suspending the European Union-Israel trade agreement?
§ Mr. MacShaneThe question is about anti-Semitism, and I tried to indicate earlier that I believe that whatever legitimate criticisms one might have about a Government should not slide into some of the remarks that I read in various parts of various engaged political communities which I consider to be anti-Semitic. I might say to the hon. Lady that I find that any language that validates or justifies scrambling the brains of young boys and girls to go and blow up innocent women and children in buses is also unacceptable. This is an area in which we all have to mind our tongue, especially this Minister.