Jewish groups clash over EU antisemitism envoy’s role in Israel policy
Two leading Jewish organizations are urging the European Union to let its next antisemitism coordinator brief diplomats on foreign policy, arguing that EU external decisions directly affect Jewish communities. The Conference of European Rabbis (CER) and the European Jewish Congress (EJC) want the envoy to ensure the objective is reflected in all relevant EU policies, including external action. This comes as Katharina von Schnurbein, the current antisemitism tsar, prepares to leave her post after a decade.
Von Schnurbein, a 53-year-old German baroness, has been highly active in EU capitals and maintained close ties with the Israeli government. She travelled on missions to Israel, Serbia, Switzerland, and the US, working with a team of three from her office next to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen in Brussels. On 28 October, she will become Germany’s federal government commissioner for Jewish life and the fight against antisemitism.
Pinchas Goldschmidt, head of the CER, said diplomats should hear from the person who sees the consequences of EU decisions every day. The EJC, based in Brussels, echoed that view, stressing the coordinator’s role in external policy. The controversy over the envoy’s influence on Israel policy has marked von Schnurbein’s tenure, and her departure raises questions about the future scope of the position.
