Jewish, Muslim groups react to report of rising anti-Semitism in Europe

WASHINGTON (RNS) - A U.S. State Department report to Congress detailing a rising number of incidents of anti-Semitism in Europe is being applauded by U.S. Jewish groups as an important example of American leadership.

Muslim groups, however, are disappointed that the report correlated the problem with Europe's rising Muslim population.

The report, released Jan. 5, was mandated by the Global Anti-Semitism Review Act and will be published annually. It chronicles anti-Semitic incidents in eastern Europe, France and Germany, as well as places like Pakistan and Syria, where local media inflame anti-Semitic sentiment.

While the report provided little new information, Jewish groups welcomed it as a vehicle to draw attention to the issue of global anti-Semitism, and to praise those countries - including France, Belgium and Germany - that have implemented effective efforts to combat the problem.