TURNING WORDS INTO ACTION TO ADDRESS ANTISEMITISM | Página 14

them to realize that despite the criticism and even rejection, they are doing the right thing. He
also underlined the necessity to share with youth the mistakes civil society organisation made
in their work, so that they do not have to repeat them. He also said it was not enough to tell
people to stop being anti-Semitic. He gave an example of a person from South Sudan who
quoted Goebbels on social media. Instead of condemnation, MJC approached this person and
found out that there was no Holocaust education in South Sudan and that was the reason for
the quote. The Secretary General also indicated the necessity for robust work on grass roots
level and investing in youth as the future generation.
Iman Abou-Atta (Deputy Director, Faith Matters) added that there were other important
aspects of coalition building such as dialogue, communication, clarity of purpose,
sustainability and working internationally. She said that it was important to decide on a topic
and start working on it with positive energy (rather than focusing on risks and other negative
factors). She also said that due to limited resources, competition was unavoidable. She also
noted that coalition building allows to learn about the other but also about ourselves and
agreed that investment in youth was of paramount importance. Finally, Iman Abou-Atta
informed participants of passing away of Jo Cox MP who was killed and asked the
participants for a minute of silence.
Following the Panel discussion, other participants took the floor. Karolina Mirga Danek
(President of ternYpe - International Roma Youth Network) noted that extremists were taking
over democratic structures. She also highlighted the need to work towards the adoption of a
definition of anti-Gypsyism and commended Ilja Sichrovsky for highlighting the role of
youth.
Jonathan Mack (Political Advisor, Central Council of German Sinti and Roma) further
highlighted the pressing need to address the issue of nationalism and underscored that other
forms of discrimination also needed attention. He underlined the need to support efforts on
combating anti-Gypsyism.
Kim Robin Stoller (Co-Director, International Institute for Education and Research on
Antisemitism) highlighted the challenges of coalition building on combatting anti-Semitism
in Morocco where, for example, a visit to Yad Vashem would put the participants at risk of
being assaulted upon return to Morocco.
Solomon Bali (President of B'nai B'rith Bulgaria) highlighted the peaceful coexistence and
co-operation between the Jewish and Muslim communities in Bulgaria which should serve as
an example.
Jehangir Sarosh (Secretary General, European Council of Religious Leaders -Religions for
Peace) pointed out the need to distinguish between anti-Semitism and criticism of Israeli
policy.

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