Middle East Mourning and words of warning at a memorial event in Bern synagogue
On Sunday evening, over 200 people paid tribute to the victims of the Hamas attack a year ago in Bern's synagogue. The terror of October 7 has left a deep mark on Israeli society, but also on the Jewish community worldwide, it was said.
06.10.2024, 18:04
06.10.2024, 20:33
SDA
For people in Israel, life has been turned upside down since the terrorist attack, said Ralph Friedländer, President of the Swiss Federation of Jewish Communities (SIG). But life has also changed fundamentally for Jews in Switzerland.
Anti-Semitism has risen massively. "Even our children have to justify themselves at school and university for a war that they have nothing to do with." This is unacceptable.
Jews are facing an unprecedented wave of anti-Semitism. It is obvious that the portrayal of Israel in many local media has contributed to this situation.
The numerous demonstrations of sympathy for the perpetrators and the lack of willingness to condemn the terrorist attacks were also bad, said Friedländer. This makes dialog extremely difficult.
"No justification for anti-Semitism"
Anti-Semitism increases worldwide when the Middle East goes up in flames, said State Secretary Alexandre Fasel, representing the Federal Council. What is happening on a geopolitical level is one thing, anti-Semitic acts are another.
There is no justification for the acts of violence, aggression, threats and insults to which Swiss Jews are also exposed. "The fact that our Jewish fellow citizens have to feel unsafe in 2024 is simply unacceptable."
Switzerland will continue its efforts for a peaceful future in the Middle East, Fasel assured. A political process towards a two-state solution is needed. This offers the only basis for sustainable peace.
"Struggle for mere existence"
October 7 was a year ago, "but since then we have been reliving this nightmare every day", said Israeli Ambassador Ifat Reshef. Israeli society is still recovering and healing, and at the same time it has to fight for its future and for the very existence of its country.
Reshef sharply criticized all those who had chosen to "appease the extremists and ignore Israel's right to self-defence". Israel is determined to do everything necessary to restore the lost sense of security, he said.
"Where is she?"
The relative of a young woman who had been abducted reported on the agony to which her family was subjected every day. "Where is she? What condition is she in? Is she still alive?" Her cousin's daughter was last seen alive last November. "But what about now?"
The world often cares more about the kidnappers than the hostages, the woman criticized. For her, there was no other way than to keep hope alive.
The event took place under strict security precautions. It remained calm around the synagogue, as a correspondent from the Keystone-SDA news agency reported.
