Europe's Refusal to See Truth Fuels Anti-Israel Sentiment

Publicist Neta Brick expresses concern over Europe's reaction to riots, noting a mix of anxiety, schadenfreude, and hope that the continent will finally recognize the dangers of radical Islam and Iran. Brick observes that while some European sources admit Iranian agents and local Islamists, possibly with far-left allies, are behind the unrest, the presence of Palestinian flags in European cities speaks volumes. However, she argues that Europe is not awakening to this reality and is instead increasingly blaming Jews and Mossad for the disturbances. These conspiracy theories, though currently circulating among the far-right, are rapidly gaining traction, with one report identifying nearly 1,500 posts linking French unrest to Israel or Jews, framing it as a "civil war orchestrated by Jewish elites." Other narratives, amplified by outlets like The People's Voice, allege Iranian hackers released intelligence files suggesting Macron, in league with Israel, intended to "burn France to the ground" to destroy Western culture. These theories often connect Macron to the Rothschild family, a trope with a long history in French antisemitism.

Brick contends that these accusations follow a familiar pattern, recalling past incidents where Mossad agents were blamed for riots in France in 2005, and terror attacks in 2015 were attributed to Mossad retaliation or efforts to increase Jewish aliyah. Similar accusations have been leveled against Israel regarding anti-migrant riots in the UK and migrant incursions into Spain. The common thread, Brick states, is attributing motives to Israel such as inciting hatred against Muslims or seeking revenge for Western sympathy towards Palestinians. While European governments have not officially endorsed these claims, the sheer volume of antisemitic posts, reaching millions of views, is significantly increasing anti-Israel sentiment. This heightened public animosity could pressure European governments into imposing stricter anti-Israel sanctions.

The article further suggests that geopolitical events are exacerbating traditional antisemitism and anti-Zionism. European officials are increasingly linking rising prices and inflation to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, a consequence of the US war against Iran, with Macron citing this as a factor in the riots. Brick dismisses this as a misrepresentation, pointing out that oil imports through Hormuz are minimal for countries like France and that taxes are a larger component of fuel costs. She posits that Europe is more concerned about the implications of Trump's deal with Putin and the US pivot on Ukraine, which creates security challenges and increased costs for European nations. The strengthening of Trump's ties with the Kremlin, which intelligence suggests may have contributed to the riots, also worries European leaders. Consequently, they are using any pretext to blame the White House for the current crisis, finding it safer to criticize Israel, a perceived ally in the Iran conflict, than Trump himself. European media are already reporting on how an "Israeli-American war against Iran" has worsened the economic crisis and increased the cost of living, a narrative that easily escalates to blaming Israel for unrest in France.

Brick concludes that while official Europe has not yet fully embraced these extreme accusations, it is poised to do so if the situation deteriorates. The article predicts that Israel's international standing will worsen, leading to increased restrictions and sanctions, making Israelis unwelcome in Europe. An alliance with Trump is seen as increasingly toxic, yet abandoning it would leave Israel in a more difficult position. Should the Democrats win the US elections, Europe would likely realign with Washington, potentially leaving Jerusalem isolated. Regardless of the outcome, Brick anticipates difficult times ahead for Israel, with no expectation that Europe's current problems will lead it to abandon its anti-Israel agenda.