The most barbaric European anti-Semitic attack in recent history rocks France, a hotbed for anti-Israel activity where hating Jews is increasingly fashionable.

In a particularly disturbing anti-Semitic attack on Monday, a 19-year-old French Jewish woman was raped and her 21-year-old partner was bound and gagged by three hooded attackers. The terrorists told their victims that they attacked them “because [they] are Jewish.”

This latest attack comes after an announcement last month from the Security Agency for French Jewry (SPCJ) reporting a 45%  rise in anti-Semitic attacks since 2011, mostly perpetrated by Muslims.

While anti-Semitism is on the rise internationally, with a major increase in anti-Semitic acts in the US, the most pronounced and horrific examples are coming out of Europe. The most extreme example of this trend is France, where demonstrations have turned violent, stores have been vandalized and now people are actually being attacked in their own homes, simply because they are Jews.

‘Chic’ to Hate Israel and Attack Jews

Some experts say that the amount of Jew-hatred in the world has not changed, because anti-Semitism has always existed, but that the attitude toward it has shifted. At the end of the holocaust, it was socially unacceptable to speak about or act on anti-Semitic beliefs. That has been changing as it has become acceptable for people to expose their anti-Semitic views to the world, and even to act upon them

While many Jews who live outside of Israel feel that one can be a good Jew without being a Zionist or identifying with Israel in any way, the rest of the world makes an inseparable connection between Jews and Israel.

The mainstream media frequently crafts a narrative vilifying Israel and presenting Islamic extremist terrorists as the underdog – a persecuted minority oppressed by the all-powerful Israel. In many places, especially Europe, it is actually chic to hate Israel. This increases the Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions (BDS) movement’s momentum.

The truth is that there are many countries in the world, from Asia to Europe to South America, with grotesque human rights violations. Media bias, however, has created a disproportionate focus on Israel, warping world opinion. Jews all over the world have thus become targets for hatred simply because they are Jews.

With anti-Semitic acts on the rise, there is an even greater need to support Israel and stand with her in times of need.

Tell us in the comments below: What actions do YOU think European nations need to take to reign in anti-Semitic factions within society? What can YOU do to roll back the trend of anti-Semitism across the globe?

Author: Penina Taylor, United with Israel