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Around 170 decisionmakers from ten countries in Europe, North America, and the Middle East gathered last week in Vienna, Austria, for the second-annual “Actions Matter: The Antisemitism Summit,” hosted by the European Leadership Network (ELNET) and Combat Antisemitism Movement (CAM).
Through a series of lectures, panels, and workshops, the conference explored the ongoing repercussions of the October 7th massacre, as well as antisemitism in education, culture, sports, and digital spaces. The purpose of the forum was to develop concrete recommendations for policymakers and society.
The discussions emphasized the urgency of international cooperation to ensure that Jewish communities can live free from hatred, violence, and discrimination.
The distinguished speakers lineup included: David Roet, Ambassador of Israel to Austria; Dr. Felix Klein, the German Federal Commissioner for Jewish Life and the Fight Against Antisemitism; Yael Arad, President of the Israeli Olympic Committee; Michal Cotler-Wunsh, Israel’s Special Envoy for Combating Antisemitism; and Dr. Ariel Muzicant, President of the European Jewish Congress.
Key recommendations of the conference:
Antisemitism in Universities
Universities play a crucial role in combating antisemitism and shaping future societal attitudes. Comprehensive documentation and analysis of antisemitic incidents are needed to better understand threats. At the same time, students must be empowered to take a stronger role in creating safe and open spaces. Existing laws should be strengthened and consistently enforced to effectively protect students.
Arts and Culture as Tools Against Antisemitism
The cultural sphere plays a decisive role in shaping societal narratives. Cultural institutions should adopt and integrate the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) definition of antisemitism into their projects. Additionally, awareness should be raised through targeted campaigns, and artists as well as institutions should be actively engaged in the fight against antisemitism.
Sports as a Bridge-Builder
Sports have the potential to unite people and send a powerful message of inclusion. Systems should be established to collect data on antisemitic incidents in sports. Furthermore, it is vital to train key actors in sports and strengthen grassroots initiatives to effectively counter discrimination.
Antisemitism in Social Media and Gaming
Social media and gaming platforms often facilitate the global spread of hate while offering anonymity for antisemitic content. To counter this trend, platform operators must assume clear responsibilities. Strict reporting requirements and heavy penalties for violations should ensure that antisemitic content is effectively addressed. Revenues from fines should be allocated to NGOs actively working against antisemitism. Additionally, artificial intelligence and human moderators should be employed, and targeted educational campaigns should address challenges in digital spaces.
Antisemitism Threatens Us All
Although antisemitic incidents primarily affect Jewish communities, the underlying hatred poses a threat to democratic values, trust in institutions, and social cohesion. The summit highlighted the importance of translating strategies into concrete actions to tackle this global issue.
“If we do not act now, we risk not only the security of one group but also the soul of our democracies,” said Israeli Ambassador to Austria David Roet.
The outlined recommendations provide a roadmap for political actors and organizations to engage in this vital effort.
This year’s summit built on the successes of the inaugural ELNET summit held in Berlin, Germany, in March 2023 under the patronage of former President of the Federal Republic of Germany Christian Wulff, as well as the 2023 European Mayors Summit Against Antisemitism organized by CAM last November in Dortmund, Germany.
“Antisemitism is a global challenge without national borders,” said Carsten Ovens, CEO of ELNET DACH in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. “Since October 7th, we have seen a resurgence of antisemitism related to Israel in the streets of Europe.”
“The Vienna conference provided a central platform for deepening dialogue, developing new approaches, and formulating concrete actions and steps against Jew-hatred,” he said. “Only through joint action can we protect Jewish communities and defend democratic values.”
CAM Director of European Affairs Oriana Marie Krüger noted, “Combining ELNET’s crucial work with European lawmakers and CAM’s international mayoral network elevates our initiatives to the next level, bolstering the collective effort against antisemitism.”
