Brussels, May 18th, 2024 – With twenty-one days to go until the EU elections on 6-9 June, European Coalition for Israel is meeting in Brussels this weekend to issue a united prayer call.
A statement which was issued on Friday night reads as follows: “Never before in the history of the European Union has our continent been in a deeper crisis as the Russians aggression in Ukraine continues with no end in sight and the international rule of law-based system is close to crumbling. Meanwhile the polarization within the European Union itself continues, resulting on Wednesday in an assassination attempt on the Slovakian Prime Minister Robert Fico, who is still fighting for his life.
Throughout history, times of crisis and uncertainties have been especially troublesome for the Jewish people, and our time is no exception. While the Islamic Republic of Iran continues to provide the Russian army with drones for its war in Ukraine it is also the puppet master behind the Hamas terrorist organization and is actively fuelling antisemitism on the college campuses in Europe and the US.
This tsunami of Jew hatred was again highly visible as the Eurovision song contest took place in Malmö, Sweden last weekend amidst violent demonstrations against Israel on the street requiring unprecedented police protection for the Israeli contestant, 20-year-old Eden Golan. This ugly Jew hatred was not limited to the street protests but could be seen throughout the competition as fellow artists openly bullied and ridiculed the Israeli artist and the audience booed loudly during her performance without any disciplinary measures from the organizers.
As we look back at the Eurovision in Malmö 2024 it may well turn out to become a similar watershed moment as the UN Conference against Racism in Durban in 2001. Whereas the Durban conference 23 years ago saw the birth of the BDS movement and other expressions of new antisemitism, in Malmö antisemitism simply went mainstream as it reached an estimate audience of 160 million viewers.
In times like these people of faith have a special responsibility to pray and vote. The Bible commands us to “seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you” as well as to “pray for all those in authority.” This includes the EU elections. As people of faith we are also a people of hope, and Europe is not without hope. As the cultural elite openly bullied Israel in front of a world audience last Saturday the people of Europe sent a very different message in that twelve European countries gave Israel a full 12 points. Come June 6-9, let’s pray that the people of Europe will rise up and use their votes again!
