ANTI-SEMITISM is rife across Europe, its leaders are not doing enough to tackle it and they are biased against Israel, Ariel Sharon, the Israeli Prime Minister, says today.

The ever-strengthening Muslim presence in Europe was a threat to the life of Jewish people, he said, adding: “The state of Israel cannot afford to deposit its destiny in the hands of the Europeans who are known for their unbalanced policy.”

Mr Sharon’s remarks, which will add to the tensions between Europe and Israel over the Middle East peace process, are delivered in an interview with the European political website EUpolitix.com.

Asked about polls showing that a majority of Europeans regard Israel as a threat to world safety, Mr Sharon says: “What we are facing in Europe is an anti-Semitism that has always existed and it really is not a new phenomenon. This anti-Semitism exists and what pushes it is a ‘collective anti-Semitism’ that incorporates Israel into this equation.

“Of course there are anti-Semites who use the events in Israel and the argument that Israel uses excessive force and through this they are trying to compromise Israel's right to self defence, thus there is a danger to Jews.

“An ever stronger Muslim presence in Europe is certainly endangering the life of Jewish people. This attempt of dismissing our legitimacy to self defence is testimony to anti-Semitism.”

Mr Sharon throws out the distinction between anti-Semitic beliefs and legitimate criticism of Israel’s policies in the Middle East. “Today there is no separation,” he says. “We are talking about collective anti-Semitism.

“The state of Israel is a Jewish state and the attitude towards Israel runs accordingly. These days to conduct an anti-Semite policy is not a popular thing, so the anti-Semites bundle their policies in with the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Anti-Semitism needs to be fought against.

“This is a very dangerous thing. However, certainly the right answers could be found in order to fight it. Our demand from the European countries is to fight anti-Semitism in every possible way and vigorously.

“Of course the sheer fact that there are a huge amount of Muslims, approximately 70 million in the EU, this issue has also turned into a political matter. I would say, in my opinion, EU governments are not doing enough to tackle anti-Semitism.”

He says that he has told Europeans that Europe could have played a stronger and central role if it had conducted a more balanced policy in the Middle East. He says that Italy, which currently holds the presidency of the EU, is an exception.

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