The European Conference on Antisemitism took place there at the same time. When Constitutional Minister Karoline Edtstadler (ÖVP) and the President of the Jewish Community, Oskar Deutsch, arrived, the man poured several liters of fake blood towards the participants at the entrance to the event. The police took action against it.
- also read: “Last Generation” started major protests in Vienna
Edtstadler’s office spoke of an “attack” with red paint. People there were horrified that “such actions are taking place at an event that focuses on better networking against anti-Semitism.” Such things will not be accepted. “Last week Jewish shops were smeared, today attacks on participants in an anti-Semitism conference – hatred of Jews in Austria shows its ugly face in broad daylight,” it said.
Former member of the “Last Generation”
The activist was a former member of the “Last Generation” protest movement. The protest was directed against the “normalization of genocide” and for a “ceasefire” in the Gaza Strip, activist David Sonnenbaum told the APA. “This is not about anti-Semitism. This is about suppressing any criticism of the actions of the state of Israel,” said Sonnenbaum, who is himself a member of the Jewish community in Austria.
This year’s anti-Semitism conference was marked by an increase in anti-Semitic incidents in Austria and Europe. As Edtstadler later explained in a speech, the number of anti-Semitic incidents in Austria increased by 60 percent in 2023. In several EU member states it has even quadrupled. “The number of anti-Semitic incidents is a barometer for the situation in society as a whole,” said Edtstadler. It is Austria’s task to protect Jews. “Attacks on Jews are attacks on our society,” said the European and Constitutional Minister.
“From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free”
Slogans chanted at pro-Palestine protests such as “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free” are not legitimate criticism of Israel, but a “call for genocide,” said Israeli President Yitzhak (Isaac) Herzog, speaking via video message from Israel was connected. Herzog saw no difference between “anti-Semitism and anti-Zionism” and spoke of the “oldest disease in human history”. The head of state praised Israel’s Federal President Alexander van der Bellen and the Austrian federal government for their fight against anti-Semitism.
Nehammer affected
The host, ÖAW President Heinz Faßmann, identified a “currently still relaxed situation” at local universities compared to the ongoing serious pro-Palestine protests at universities in the USA. But there is no guarantee that it will stay that way. IKG President Deutsch spoke of “terrible times” for Jews in Austria. “Jews are again afraid of showing their religion,” he said and warned against the FPÖ’s participation in government after the National Council elections in the fall. Here he locates a déjà vu of the events in Germany during the 1930s.
Meanwhile, Chancellor Karl Nehammer (ÖVP) was affected by the color attack on Edtstadler and the other conference participants on the sidelines of the Europe Day ceremony. “Anti-Semitism is the poison of every democracy,” emphasized the Chancellor. Everything must be done to combat anti-Semitism in society. Violence is prosecuted by the police.
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Source: Nachrichten
