Jewish Agency Claims Significant Increase in Anti-semitism

Jewish protesters in Austin carry a banner against Zionism (EPA)
Jewish protesters in Austin carry a banner against Zionism (EPA)
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Jewish Agency Claims Significant Increase in Anti-semitism

Jewish protesters in Austin carry a banner against Zionism (EPA)
Jewish protesters in Austin carry a banner against Zionism (EPA)

The number of attacks against Jews has doubled in various countries of the world, especially in the US, France, Britain, Germany, and other European countries since Oct. 07 and the ongoing war on the Gaza Strip, according to a report by the Jewish Agency.
The report said the attacks were “anti-semitic,” but it did not address the attacks on Arabs and Muslims in Western countries, who are Semites and are subject to attacks from local extremist right-wing forces.
The attacks against Muslims and Arabs have doubled since Oct. 7 and the Israeli war against Gaza.
The report also did not distinguish between the protests against the Jews and that against war, the massive destruction, and mass killing in the Strip, in an intentional move to portray the Jews as victims and present the attack on Gaza as a defense.
The report, issued on the eve of International Holocaust Remembrance Day, reported that 2023 witnessed a 10% rise in attacks on Jews, but these attacks jumped to record proportions with the outbreak of war; it increased by 337% in the US, 410% in France, 512% in Britain, and 320% in Germany.
Globally, the number of attacks increased by 235%.
For example, the report monitored the following events in the United States in 2023: a 1,200% increase in the number of posts on social media calling for violence against Jews and Israelis and a 540% rise in the number of warnings about planting an explosive device in Jewish headquarters.
Polls showed that 54% of Jewish university students in the US said they do not feel safe since the war in Gaza.
It stated that the practices carried out by several young men who participated in the Hamas attack on Jewish towns had devastating effects, leading to a wave of anger worldwide.
But when Israel responded with war on Gaza and terrifying pictures of civilian victims in the Gaza Strip began to spread, demonstrations of solidarity with the Palestinians broke out.
As a result, Jews, Arabs, and Muslims were subjected to attacks by extremists.
The Israeli government began to consider public protests against military practices as anti-Semitic.
Israel ignored the protests against its war on the enclave. Many Jews denounced the attacks on Palestinians, raising the slogan “Not in our name,” refusing to wage such a war against civilians in the name of the Jews.



Syria's New Rulers Name Foreign Minister

Asaad Hassan al-Shibani. (SANA)
Asaad Hassan al-Shibani. (SANA)
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Syria's New Rulers Name Foreign Minister

Asaad Hassan al-Shibani. (SANA)
Asaad Hassan al-Shibani. (SANA)

Syria's new rulers have appointed a foreign minister, the official Syrian news agency (SANA) said on Saturday, as they seek to build international relations two weeks after Bashar al-Assad was ousted.

The ruling General Command named Asaad Hassan al-Shibani as foreign minister, SANA said. A source in the new administration told Reuters that this step “comes in response to the aspirations of the Syrian people to establish international relations that bring peace and stability.”

The opposition Syria TV said Shibani, formerly known as Zeid al-Attar, was in charge of foreign affairs when the Al-Nusra Front transformed into the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) group.

Syrian media said that until 2024, he has been residing in Türkiye. Along with HTS leader Ahmed al-Sharaa, he helped form the al-Nusra Front.

Shibani assumed several pseudonyms, including Nassim, Abu Aisha, Abu Ammar al-Shami and Hussam al-Shafei.

Born in 1987, he hails from the Hasakeh countryside. He was studying translation before his family moved to Damascus where he earned a degree in English Literature from Damascus University. He earned a master's degree in political science and foreign relations in Türkiye in 2022.

Syria's de facto ruler Sharaa has actively engaged with foreign delegations since assuming power, including hosting the UN's Syria envoy and senior US diplomats.

Sharaa has signaled a willingness to engage diplomatically with international envoys, saying his primary focus is on reconstruction and achieving economic development. He has said he is not interested in engaging in any new conflicts.

The United States, other Western powers and many Syrians were glad to see groups led by the HTS topple Assad.