How has the Jewish community in Switzerland experienced the past few weeks?
Jonathan Kreutner: Many Jews have family and friends in Israel and are shocked to their core by the Hamas attack. The ferocity of this attack was unprecedented. Many subsequently received signs of compassion and solidarity from those around them. For example, from friends and neighbors. We at the Swiss Association of Jewish Community SIG have also received about fifty solidarity emails. For example, someone wrote in an email how shocked he was by the Hamas attack and that he hoped that Jews could continue to feel safe and at home in Switzerland. Large parts of the Swiss feel for us. We see and appreciate that.
That sounds fun. But I assume there are other voices too.
Yes there are. Our anti-Semitism hotline has registered 41 incidents since October 7. For comparison: we counted 57 anti-Semitic incidents last year. They usually occur where many Jewish people live, that is, in the cities of Basel, Bern and Zurich.
What counts as an “anti-Semitic incident”?
Usually they are insults or extremely hateful letters. For example, we ourselves received a letter that said: “We will hunt you down and kill everyone. Until none of you are alive anymore.” But we also receive countless emails in which people glorify Hitler or the Holocaust. This is just terrifying.
Has there been physical violence against Jews in recent weeks?
Yes, there are four assaults among the 41 anti-Semitic incidents. Such things are otherwise rare in Switzerland. Maybe one attack a year. We have never experienced such a strong increase.
How great do you currently estimate the danger to the Jewish community in Switzerland?
The Federal Intelligence Service and the Federal Police Office Fedpol assess the security risk to Jewish institutions in Switzerland as increased. Although most Jews in Switzerland today do not have anti-Semitic experiences in daily life, this obviously causes tensions. Incidents abroad and threats against Jewish institutions worldwide further weaken the Jewish community’s sense of security.
How is the Jewish community currently trying to protect itself?
Local security authorities responded. In very good and close cooperation with the communities, we have checked, adapted and tightened the security measures around Jewish institutions accordingly. We have been living with increased security conditions for years. It’s sad that more is needed now.
In collaboration with the Foundation against Racism and Anti-Semitism (GRA), the SIG publishes an annual anti-Semitism report. It lists and analyzes anti-Semitic incidents in Switzerland. On the one hand, the SIG registers these cases through its own online monitoring. On the other hand, the organization operates its own reporting center that Jews can contact via email, website or telephone if they experience anti-Semitism.
What was the situation before Hamas attacked Israel?
Anti-Semitism exists and has existed before in Switzerland. However, compared to other countries, we were fortunate that physical attacks were very rare here. However, Jews still heard anti-Semitic insults or statements in everyday life. Such statements have worried us in recent years, especially on the Internet. Because they have risen. Anti-Semitic conspiracy theories in particular have seen a resurgence.
The anti-Semitism that their community is now experiencing does not come out of nowhere.
No, anti-Semitism in Switzerland comes from all backgrounds: from left-wing and right-wing extremists, but also from Islamic sides. And it ferments on a breeding ground that reaches into the middle of society. ‘Everyday anti-Semitism’ in Switzerland does not normally lead directly to physical violence. He expresses himself in insults or letters. The potential for violence, in turn, arises in places where people become radicalized and drift toward extremism. These may be individual perpetrators or members of an extremist group. This has been demonstrated by the experience of numerous terrorist attacks in Europe and the rest of the world over the past decade.
Israel responded harshly to Hamas’ attack. So far, many civilians have also been killed on the Palestinian side. What do you say about Israel’s military actions?
You have to be careful here and ask yourself: what happened and why did it happen? Israel has been attacked. Hamas has brutally murdered countless civilians. More than two hundred people kidnapped. Israel is now defending itself and trying to neutralize the perpetrator, Hamas. It is tragic and incredibly sad that civilian casualties are increasing in Gaza. Israel is obliged to protect the civilian population as much as possible and to comply with international humanitarian law.
Demonstrations recently took place in Switzerland in solidarity with the Palestinian civilian population. What do you think?
There is freedom of expression and freedom of demonstration in Switzerland. Everyone can demonstrate for the cause that he/she finds important. But freedom of expression ends when anti-Semitic slogans are chanted and calls for violence are heard during demonstrations. We are concerned and also shocked to see that the slogan ‘From the river to the sea’ has appeared at almost all relevant demonstrations. This is not an innocent slogan. On the contrary. It basically says that the State of Israel must be wiped out and the Jews living there expelled – driven into the sea. This is pure Hamas propaganda and certainly does not represent peace.
In your opinion, can there be a clear distinction between anti-Semitism and criticism of Israel in this context?
Of course, criticism of Israeli policy is not automatically anti-Semitic. This becomes the case when anti-Semitic stereotypes are applied to Israel or Israelis, or when Israel is judged by higher standards than other countries. In practice, however, it is often not easy to draw a clear dividing line where criticism ends and anti-Semitism begins. Most importantly, many such statements are now hidden behind codes to obscure the intention and ideology behind them.
Do you have an example? What do such codes look like?
In a Telegram group I recently saw someone write: “Israelis are masters at lying to the world. And it has been that way for thousands of years.” Here “Jews” was simply replaced by “Israelis.” It is very clear that what is meant here is not the Israeli state, which has only existed for 75 years, but the anti-Semitic stereotype of a global Jewish conspiracy. It is similar, but less clear, when someone says that “Israel is responsible for all the misfortunes in the world.”
Jews will therefore probably feel increasingly unsafe in Switzerland. What do you want from the Swiss civilian population in times like these?
First and foremost, it is important for all of us in this country that the emotions of the conflict do not spill over here. Everyone has been asked here. As a free and democratic society, we must defend ourselves against hatred, agitation and extremism. Wherever he comes from.
Soource :Watson
I am Amelia James, a passionate journalist with a deep-rooted interest in current affairs. I have more than five years of experience in the media industry, working both as an author and editor for 24 Instant News. My main focus lies in international news, particularly regional conflicts and political issues around the world.
