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Combat Antisemitism Movement (CAM) Executive Director of European Affairs Shannon Seban traveled to Brussels on Monday to participate in the 16th EU-Israel High-Level Seminar on Combating Antisemitism and Fostering Jewish Life.
The forum — organized by the European Commission and State of Israel — convened European and Israeli policymakers, civil servants, experts, and organization representatives to discuss best practices and measures to fight antisemitism.
Topics included — the threat matrix facing European Jewry; Holocaust remembrance and Jewish education initiatives; and the opportunities and challenges presented by the rise of AI, among other issues.
“Anti-Zionism has become one of the main vehicles for contemporary antisemitism,” Seban said. “Europe must respond with courage and leadership. Every country should appoint a dedicated coordinator on antisemitism, and no Jewish community should have to rely on military protection to live safely in Europe. The time has come for political leaders across the continent to mobilize and make the fight against antisemitism a shared European priority.”
Highlighting recent CAM research exposing the amplification of antisemitic content by social media giants, including Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube, Seban stated, “We must stop pretending that online platforms are neutral actors. Algorithms can amplify hatred, conspiracy theories and antisemitic content at an unprecedented scale.”
Seban also directly urged European Commissioner for Internal Affairs and Migration Magnus Brunner to more strictly enforce the Digital Services Act (DSA).
“The Digital Services Act provides Europe with powerful tools, but its credibility depends on robust enforcement,” Seban noted. “Platforms must be held accountable when their systems contribute to the spread of hate, and European regulators must be prepared to use the full range of sanctions available.”
In his keynote remarks, Commissioner Brunner said, “Antisemitism is a threat to Jews but also to our democracy. It erodes the foundation of society — equality, human dignity, and the rule of law. We stand unwaveringly committed for fostering a flourishing Jewish life in Europe. The EU Strategy is at the heart of our efforts to addressing antisemitism at all levels of government and society, online and offline.”
Israeli Minister of Foreign Affairs Gideon Sa’ar addressed the forum by video.
A European Commission statement said, “The European Commission and the State of Israel reaffirm their full support for European Jewish communities in these troubled times.”
“Today we discussed addressing and countering antisemitism across all relevant policy areas,” it added. “The Commission is implementing its EU Strategy with rigor and works closely with all EU Member States, among which 24 have adopted national strategies to counter antisemitism. The Commission has significantly increased funding, supporting initiatives of Jewish communities and organizations as well as other civil society organizations and Member State authorities.”
“The two sides reaffirmed that the IHRA working definition on antisemitism is the leading most effective tool to combat antisemitism, given its rights-based and victim-centered approach,” the statement said.
Read more:
16th EU-Israel High Level Seminar on Combating Antisemitism and Fostering Jewish Life
Fake AI ‘Rabbis’ Push Antisemitic Conspiracies to Millions Online
