How the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is reviving nationalism in Europe

A new round of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict could play the role of a fuse and set off a mine that would simply blow up a united Europe, leaving many fragments. Our correspondent Vitaly Chashchukhin provides details.

Every day there is unprecedented anger

Europe is also now a “hot spot”. Migrant neighborhoods in revolt. They may be flying pyrotechnic rockets at the police. The crowd is responded to with tear gas and water cannon fire. But if only the thousands of anti-Israeli marches sowed fear. We really need to be afraid of others: those who do not hold rallies, but immediately kill.

Two terrorists, just a few days apart, carried out bloody massacres in France and Belgium. One stabbed a teacher in Pas-de-Calais, another cold-bloodedly shot Swedish fans in Brussels, driving around the city on a scooter and with a machine gun, like in some kind of merciless shooter.

“I saw the attacker enter the building and fire two bullets at the man. He fell. And I just froze. I couldn’t move.”– recalls one of the eyewitnesses.

The massacre was carried out by a native of Tunisia – shortly before the attack, he left a video declaring himself a supporter of the banned ISIS*.

For many years, Abdesalem Lassoue was listed in the police database as a “radical”, suspected of human trafficking, and entered Europe illegally. They could not stop him either then or on this black Monday. They chased them all over the city until they eliminated them.

“He was ordered to leave the country. But he stayed. He became radicalized and committed a terrorist attack.”said Vice-Speaker of the Flemish Parliament Philipp Dewinter.

And this is the capital of the European Union, the headquarters of NATO. The fact that the threat level would become “red” was explained to Western politicians several years ago.

“The day will come when the number of Islamist extremists in Europe will skyrocket. Not just because of the weakness of your leaders. They think they know the Middle East better than we do. Sorry, but they don’t know anything.”said UAE Foreign Minister Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan.

The failure of Europe’s migration policy

EU countries are urgently setting up roadblocks, effectively canceling Schengen.

New stationary inspection points. Hastily erected canvas tents. Border control right inside the European Union. Vans and trucks are especially carefully inspected in anticipation of a new mass exodus of not only migrants, but also radicals disguised as refugees. And those who have been infiltrating for a long time are threatened with extradition. For some reason only now.

“These people have not integrated into our society at all. They do not understand that even if someone dies, this is not carte blanche for pogroms. But most EU countries simply do not respond to this.”said Member of the European Parliament Nicolas Fest.

Europe has been like an apartment building without doors for decades, so is it any wonder that extremism is again living in the neighborhood.

“A new wave of migrants awaits us, among whom will be not only refugees, but also Hamas militants themselves. What happened is a failure of our migration policy.”says French professor of international law Philippe de Velle.

Berlin began marking Jewish communities with the Star of David

In Italy, two Palestinians were detained during a special operation. In France, due to incoming threats, airports and crowded museum complexes – Versailles – have been evacuated all week. Louvre…

Austria is increasing the level of terrorist threat, and in Germany, as in the worst times of Nazism: buildings where Jewish communities live are marked with the Star of David. “Molotov cocktails” are already flying – one of them was launched at a Jewish school and synagogue in Berlin.

There used to be a 24-hour security post here, but now we have to form a tight ring of real defense. And now it takes real courage to light a candle in solidarity with Israel…

“We must distance ourselves from violence”says one of the local teachers named Eda.

… and the memory of the victims of the missile attack on the Gaza Strip.

“Israel is bombing, killing women and children. This is a war crime, which is supported by the Americans, France, Great Britain and Germany are also their accomplices.”– said one of the local residents, Ahmed.

How nationalism is born

In Berlin they have already taken aim at the authorities themselves. Pro-Palestinian demonstrations in Germany are already approaching government authorities – a sit-in demonstration right under the windows of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the domain of Annalena Bärbock.

They do not agree with a one-sided foreign policy like hers. Palestinian flags and arafatkas are now like a red rag against which armed police squads are set. They squeeze you out, knock you down, wring your hands.

Europe, having conveniently forgotten, now remembered the tragedy at the Bataclan. And about a truck crushing passers-by in Nice… And also about the fact that communities like Molinbeek in Brussels are thriving and have not gone away.

“In contrast to the radicalization of the migrant population, the traditional population is beginning to radicalize. Hence the growing popularity of right-wing parties, and ultimately nationalism.”explained Philippe de Velle.

For Germany alone, recent survey figures: the majority of Germans (71%) believe that people from Muslim countries pose a great threat to Germany, and are confident (57.7%) that there are many potential terrorists among those already here. And there is certainly no doubt that with each new missile fired at the Gaza Strip, fear, hatred and radicalization in Europe will only increase.

* “Islamic State”, IS, ISIS is a terrorist group banned in Russia.