The United Nations General Assembly is set to hold its first-ever meeting to discuss rising global anti-Semitism Thursday.
37 countries including Israel, The United States of America, Canada, Australia, and all members of the EU sent a letter to Mr. Sam Kutesa, President of the General Assembly to call for a special session to address the global outbreak of anti-Semitism.
The meeting was already planned prior to the recent deadly Islamist terror attacks in France, one of which saw four Jews murdered by an ISIS terrorist at a kosher supermarket in Paris.
That attack was only the latest in a steadily-growing list of murderous terrorist assaults against Jews in Europe - particularly in France, home to the continent's largest Jewish and Muslim populations.
It also brought to the fore growing fears in Europe over an alarming rise in anti-Semitism in general.
Last summer saw record levels of anti-Semitism recorded in most western European countries, as anti-Israel protests over Operation Protective Edge quickly became used as platforms for anti-Semites. Incidents recorded over the summer ranged from physical assaults and arson, to incitement, vandalism, and verbal and online abuse.
Although anti-Semitism levels have ebbed somewhat since then, incidents continue to be recorded in Europe and elsewhere.
Noted public French philosopher and author, Mr. Bernard Henri Lévy, will deliver a keynote address at the one-day informal meeting, which is jointly hosted by the American, Canadian and the EU Missions to the UN
Representatives from several countries will also address the GA.
Noted public French philosopher and author, Mr. Bernard Henri Lévy, will deliver a keynote address at the one-day informal meeting, which is jointly hosted by the American, Canadian and the EU Missions to the UN
"It says a lot that so many countries have partnered with Israel to raise this issue of anti-Semitism to the top of the UN’s agenda," Israel’s Ambassador to the United Nations, Ron Prosor, stated. "We have a great deal of work to do to move this issue from the headlines to the history books."
The event is expected to be livestreamed later today (Thursday).
