EU-wide rise in anti-Semitism described as 'understandable'

British film director Ken Loach says that a rise in anti-Semitism in Europe since the Gaza crisis is "not surprising and understandable".

He was responding to a report earlier this week by the Vienna-based agency for fundamental rights (FRA) which said cases of anti-Semitism had risen across Europe since last December.

The agency, which collected information from 19 EU members, said rises in anti-Semitism, ranging from vandalism to physical attacks, were a serious concern.

"There does seem to be a relationship between the rise of anti-Semitism in the EU and the situation in the Middle East," said Ioannis Dimitrakopoulos, one of the paper's authors.

But, speaking in Brussels on Wednesday, Loach said, "If there has been a rise I am not surprised. In fact, it is perfectly understandable because Israel feeds feelings of anti-Semitism."

Loach, famous for films like Kes, Cathy Come Home and Riff Raff, stressed that "no-one can condone violence".

But the director, who has spoken out against Israel in the past, branded the report as a "red herring" designed to "distract attention" from Israel's recent military actions.

Loach was speaking before the launch of the 'Russell tribunal on Palestine' which aims to highlight what he described "Israel's war crimes".

Italian GUE MEP Luisa Morgantini, who recently visited Gaza, was also speaking at the event.

She said the tribunal's aim was to collect evidence on recent developments in the region for presentation at a hearing later this year.

"It will not be legally binding but the aim is for it to operate in the same way as a court of law," she said. "The results will then be made public."

"If it is proved that Israel committed war crimes then it should be held accountable."

An Israeli speaker, Nurit Peled, who won parliament's Sakharov Prize in 2001, said, "As far as I am concerned Israel violated international law in its recent actions in Gaza."

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