Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told a conference of Jewish journalists that ‘’the first challenge is the rising tide of anti-Semitism, especially in Europe.’’
‘’It's an amalgamation of three forces: hard Left, hard Right and the Islamist anti-Semitism that has perforated many parts of Europe. We've seen the bloody consequences of this hatred in Toulouse and in Brussels and elsewhere. And we have to fight it,’’ he said at the gathering in Jerusalem organized by the foreign ministry and the government press office.
‘’We cannot accept it. I think that we have to speak out against it forcefully. The only way you defeat a lie is with truth, with facts, with courage. And I think that the truth has to be told about the Jewish people and the Jewish state first by the Jews. Nobody will defend us if we do not defend ourselves. That's the first thing that I ask you to do, but it's also the first thing I expect you to do. You should demand it of yourself. Don't bow your head. Stand up proud as Jews. Speak the truth. Assail the anti-Semites.’’
During the event, Israeli President Peres also addressed the kidnappers of the three Israeli boys and said, "They are criminals who have no respect for the law and no respect for human life. The kidnapping was a terrible event and we continue to do everything we can to bring them back."
More than 100 correspondents, editors, bureau chiefs and publishers of many of the top Jewish media outlets in the gathered in Jerusalem for the first Jewish Media Summit (JMS) beginning Sunday.
The summit is intended as a gathering of peers from around the world, as well as an in-depth encounter with Israeli leadership and society, with a particular emphasis on expanding dialogue with Israeli media.