The World Zionist Organization’s European Conference on Countering Antisemitism was held in December 13-14 2019, in Paris, France with over 130 Jewish leaders from 16 different countries.
Among the guest speakers were Aliza Bin-Noun, Israel’s Ambassador to France, who stated, “in the four years that I have been here, I have seen how Antisemitism and anti-Zionism are only growing. Last year, there was a 74% increase in Antisemitic incidents.” She added, “I saw how the boundaries have been broken over time, things that would have once been taboo, and how people have felt comfortable to express themselves in these ways.”
Also speaking were Boaz Bismuth, Editor-in-Chief of Israel Hayom, and Joel Mergui, Head of the Consistoire.
Yaakov Hagoel, Chairman of the WZO stated, “this gathering demonstrates that through unity, we can prevail.” Hagoel closed the conference along with Bismuth, who echoed the former’s sentiment, saying, “the world respects those who respect themselves. Jewish pride and Zionist identity are the tools we need to fight Antisemitism.”
Alexandre del Valle spoke and shared his analysis of Islamic extremism, and his criticism of Erdogan’s neo-Ottoman, Islamist, and post-Kemalist Turkey and general Antisemitism. Other speakers included Timothée Larribau, founder of Nations for Israel and Michel Gurfinkiel, a French journalist and public intellectual who spoke on Antisemitism in the media.
