Online hate speech in focus as EU and Israel discuss antisemitism

June 26, 2017
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The 11th EU-Israel High level Seminar on Combating Racism, Xenophobia and Antisemitism has brought together representatives from the Israeli Foreign Ministry, the Ministry of Diaspora Affairs, the European Commission, EU Member States and civil society organisations to deepen cooperation and exchange best-practices in tackling hate and intolerance in Europe and Israel.

The seminar, which took place in Jerusalem on 25 June, focused on three main topics:

  • Means of preventing cyber hate and online antisemitism
  • Tools to advance monitoring of antisemitism in Europe and elsewhere
  • Education for Tolerance

Yuval Rotem, Director General of the Israeli Foreign Ministry, told the seminar the IT industry needed to take on greater responsibility in the proactive effort to detect hate speech online. “Without such a proactive approach, we will find ourselves trailing far behind the volumes of hate speech on social media platforms.”

In her opening statement, European Commissioner for Justice, Consumers and Gender Equality Věra Jourová said: “Racism and Antisemitism have no space in Europe. We stand firm to protect the Jewish communities, together with our Member States, international organisations and partners, particularly Israel. Our ultimate aim must be normality of Jewish life in Europe.”

Both sides noted with satisfaction the passage of the first ever European Parliament resolution on antisemitism adopted on 1 June 2017. The resolution calls for enforcing legislation against hate speech and hate crime, improving data collection, appointing national contact points for antisemitism, and using tools such as the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) Working Definition on Antisemitism for better training of law enforcement and government.

 

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Press release

‘How the EU and Israel can work together for justice and a safer world’ – op-ed from Commissioner Jourová

EU Delegation to Israel

Countries covered:

  • Israel
Thematics
Human Rights