Antisemitism conference kicks off with Knesset session attended by European far-right leaders

A morning plenary session of Israel’s Knesset, ahead of the International Conference on Combating Antisemitism, has begun, attended by a wide range of delegates, including European far-right-wing politicians.

European lawmakers, including Fabrice Leggeri of France’s National Rally party, Jimmie Åkesson, leader of the Sweden Democrats and Sam van Rooy of Belgium’s Vlaams Belang party address the plenum about the dangers of antisemitism in Europe, particularly those stemming from radical Islamic elements.

Diaspora Affairs Minister Amichai Chikli, who opens the meeting, says that post-war Europe has become vulnerable to takeover from within by forces that do not share its values, primarily political Islam.

“A notable example of this is the elimination of Holocaust education in Western Europe,” Chikli says, citing recent data showing that the number of British schools commemorating International Holocaust Remembrance Day has dropped by nearly 60 percent in the past two years.

The session opened the two-day international gathering, entitled “Generation Truth,” which features speakers from nationalist parties in Spain, France, Belgium, Sweden and Brazil, along with thinkers and influencers associated with conservative causes.

It comes ten months after a government conference on combating antisemitism was panned by Jewish leaders due to its inclusion of far-right European politicians.  Many mainstream Jewish leaders will not take part in the event.