The Southwest Region’s September board meeting was devoted to the work of the International Affairs Committee and reports on anti-Semitism in Europe.  International Affairs Committee Chair Ian Scharfman outlined the work being done by ADL’s International Affairs Department based in New York, and by dedicated local lay leaders at home.  Ian referenced visits with local consular representatives, including those from the United Kingdom, Hungary, Mexico and France.  Ian then introduced two speakers, French Consul General Alexis Andres, and Professor Eric Hilgendorf of Germany who spoke about anti-Semitism in their countries.

Consul General Andres said anti-Semitism has risen 74% in his country, but the French government will not tolerate it.  He said the prime minister has mobilized his administration to fight the rise in anti-Jewish hate by enforcing strict laws, supporting school programs committed to fighting anti-Semitism, offering a national prize for innovative work in the fight, mounting a campaign against cyber hate and actively working to dissolve groups that promote bigotry.

Hilgendorf, a law professor at the University of Würzburg and Chair of the Department of Criminal Law, Criminal Justice, Legal Theory, Information and Computer Science Law, identified three groups that commit the majority of anti-Semitic incidents and crimes: right-wing groups, those with foreign ideologies, and those with religious ideologies.  He said 94% of anti-Semitic crimes emanate from right wing individuals or groups, as opposed to Muslim immigrants, who often are assumed to be the perpetrators. Professor Hilgendorf cautioned that the Alternative for Germany (AFD) party has become more radicalized and is in danger of turning into an extremist, right wing anti-Semitic group.   He suggested social media, hate crime laws, cyber hate regulation, and global approaches to anti-Semitism are needed to combat anti-Semitism in Germany.