Antisemitism is becoming socially acceptable again, truth is being displaced by ideology, and the continent is facing a dangerous tipping point. We are on the brink of a new Kristallnacht. Five developments show how deep Europe's decay truly is.

By Ken van Ierlant
Antisemitism is back, and basically has never really gone away. The rise of antisemitism in Europe is not a fringe phenomenon, but a broad development. We are now seeing the same signals in Europe again as in the 1930s. Jews are being threatened, attacked, and intimidated. And many governments are looking the other way.

The consequences are visible in daily life. In cities like Paris, Brussels, and Berlin, Jewish citizens avoid wearing religious symbols. They no longer feel safe displaying their identity openly. The return of patterns that once plunged Europe into a deep crisis is a symptom of a society losing its moral boundaries.

Migration exacerbates tensions
In addition to old prejudices from European history, a new factor plays a key role in this process: mass migration. Due to the enormous influx of Muslim migrants, there is a group in Europe that brings with it and reinforces classic antisemitic ideas.

Do not get me wrong, not every migrant is antisemitic, but the effect on society is significant. The scale of the migration waves has shifted the balance. Whereas antisemitism used to come mainly from far-right and conspiracy circles, it is now also supported by a broader group of migrants.

This leads to visible tensions in the public sphere. Demonstrations where hatred of Israel is mixed with open antisemitism are taking place in almost all European capitals. Not surprisingly, another confirmation that politics has structurally underestimated the impact of migration.

Woke turns Jews into perpetrators
Another important factor in this perspective is that the rise of woke thinking has also reinforced antisemitism. In that ideology, Jews are no longer seen as a persecuted minority, but as part of the oppressive elite. In this worldview, Jews have suddenly become the oppressors and Palestinians the victims.

This reversal is a dangerous distortion of reality. It leads to a situation in which progressive movements align with Islamist groups, despite their opposing values. It creates a situation where left-progressive movements march side by side with Islamists who abhor everything the Left once stood for.

A perverse twist where antisemitism is no longer spread solely from extremist quarters, but is also legitimised by cultural and political elites. This ‘new normal’ is therefore much harder to combat.

European leaders lack backbone
One of the deepest causes in Europe's political culture, especially among the ruling elite. An elite without a backbone. They are afraid to make tough choices and afraid to state the truth. That applies to migration, security, and antisemitism.

The European politicians live under the illusion that freedom and security are self-evident. In Europe, people still think, driven by decadence, that freedom comes automatically. That is a dangerous illusion that the rest of the world exploits.

This attitude has far-reaching consequences. Extreme language is tolerated, and hateful slogans resound in the streets with impunity. Shouted slogans that effectively call for destruction are becoming mainstream, indicating a weakened moral resilience in Europe. Where leaders should be taking responsibility, turning a blind eye, and symbolism prevails.

The threat of a new Kristallnacht
Europe is heading for a historic repeat.  We are on the brink of a new Kristallnacht. The parallels with the 1930s are unmistakable. Hatred is being displayed openly again, Jews feel threatened, and the authorities are barely intervening. All the signs are there: the hatred, the intimidation, the authorities turning a blind eye.

Europe, as a safe place for Jews, is disappearing. Jews will always find ways to survive, whether that is in Israel or elsewhere. But I see Europe as a safe place for Jews to disappear.

Antisemitism is the thermometer of society; according to that thermometer, Europe is in a deep crisis. If nothing changes, Europe will perish. Jews will then migrate en masse to Israel, bringing the diaspora in Europe to a definitive end.