Rising Tide of Antisemitism: Synagogues in Switzerland and Poland Targeted by Anti-Israel Protesters Amid Surge in Hate Incidents

By: Fern Sidman

As Europe grapples with a dangerous rise in anti-Semitic incidents, two deeply disturbing events unfolded this past weekend in Switzerland and Poland, where anti-Israel protesters directly targeted synagogues, rattling Jewish communities already on high alert. According to a report on Monday in The Algemeiner, these alarming developments follow the recent anti-Semitic shooting outside a synagogue in Washington, D.C., compounding fears of a coordinated global uptick in violent rhetoric and actions against Jews.

In Bern, Switzerland’s de facto capital, tensions erupted into chaos on Saturday when a pro-Hamas protest turned violent and sought to approach the city’s historic synagogue. The protest, unauthorized by local authorities, nonetheless attracted nearly 2,000 demonstrators, many of whom chanted anti-Semitic slogans and engaged in confrontational behavior. The Algemeiner reported that the crowd repeatedly shouted “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free,” a phrase banned in various European contexts due to its widely acknowledged implication of erasing the Jewish state from existence.

As the demonstration escalated, Swiss police launched a significant operation to block protesters from reaching the synagogue. Officers deployed tear gas, rubber bullets, and water cannons in a desperate attempt to maintain public order and protect Jewish worshippers. Protesters, however, responded with hostility, launching fireworks and projectiles at law enforcement. According to the report in The Algemeiner, five officers sustained injuries during the melee.

Michel Ronen, co-chair of the Jewish Community of Bern (JGB), expressed grave concern following the incident. In remarks quoted by The Algemeiner, Ronen emphasized the gravity of the threat posed by the proximity of the protesters to the synagogue. “The fact that this radicalized group of protesters was able to get so close to the synagogue is a clear warning about the security risks facing Bern’s Jewish population,” he stated. “We urge the city of Bern to treat this serious threat with the utmost urgency.”

Jonathan Kreutner, secretary general of the Swiss Federation of Jewish Communities (SIG), also condemned the protest, saying the demonstrators’ ability to approach the synagogue unchecked was unacceptable. As reported by The Algemeiner, Kreutner stressed the need for “forward-thinking security measures” and called for “heightened vigilance” across the city.

Local Jewish leaders described the atmosphere as “one of palpable fear,” with many community members now questioning whether their places of worship can remain safe in the face of increasingly aggressive anti-Israel demonstrations that frequently devolve into open anti-Semitism.

Meanwhile, in Poland, a Jewish ceremony held at the historic synagogue in the city of Bielsko-Biała was interrupted on Friday by a group of anti-Israel activists. According to the report in The Algemeiner, the assailants burst into the building mid-event, waving Palestinian flags, shouting anti-Semitic slurs, and disrupting the event, which included Holocaust survivors among its attendees.

Event organizers described the incident as deeply traumatic, noting that Holocaust survivors were “shouted over, insulted, and subjected to hatred” as they participated in what was meant to be a solemn gathering of remembrance and unity. The Algemeiner report cited local media accounts that attribute the attack to political incitement by members of Poland’s far-left Razem party. Organizers called it “the most blatant act of anti-Semitism the city has witnessed in decades.”

The targeted disruption of the synagogue event by anti-Israel radicals was condemned across the spectrum of Polish Jewish leadership. “It was not a protest,” said one community elder quoted by The Algemeiner. “It was an assault—an assault on our memory, our dignity, and our right to mourn and pray in peace.”

This weekend’s incidents form part of a broader pattern of escalating antisemitic behavior throughout Europe, as documented by The Algemeiner and other Jewish watchdog organizations. The common denominator in these increasingly aggressive protests is their thinly veiled targeting of Jews and Jewish institutions under the guise of political criticism of Israel.

What is particularly alarming, The Algemeiner report noted, is the consistent use of anti-Semitic slogans and the focus on Jewish spaces—synagogues, schools, and cultural centers—as symbols to be besieged rather than protected. “This is no longer about Israel or Gaza,” one security analyst told The Algemeiner. “It’s about Jewish communities across Europe being scapegoated, harassed, and intimidated by organized mobs that blur the line between protest and persecution.”

The fear is not hypothetical. The incidents in Bern and Bielsko-Biała came just days after an anti-Semitic shooting outside a synagogue in Washington, D.C., where a gunman opened fire on two Israeli embassy workers, prompting condemnation from international Jewish groups and public officials.

The Jewish communities in both Switzerland and Poland are now demanding more from their governments. As reported by The Algemeiner, Jewish leaders are urging local and national officials to implement stronger security protocols, designate targeted attacks on synagogues as hate crimes, and ensure that political rhetoric does not fan the flames of anti-Semitism.

“These were not isolated events,” stated Michel Ronen, again speaking to The Algemeiner. “They are part of a systemic pattern of aggression that is growing in both volume and violence. Without serious intervention, we risk returning to an era of fear for Jews in Europe.”

Kreutner echoed those concerns, warning that unless decisive measures are taken, more synagogues and Jewish institutions will become targets. The Algemeiner report highlighted that SIG is now working with Swiss federal authorities to assess vulnerabilities and explore long-term security solutions, including increased police presence, rapid response coordination, and enhanced surveillance.

The dual incidents in Bern and Bielsko-Biała underscore a flashpoint moment for Jewish communities in Europe. With anti-Semitic rhetoric seeping into mainstream political discourse and street demonstrations increasingly crossing over into violent hostility, the old continent finds itself at a dangerous crossroads.

As The Algemeiner emphasized in its coverage, the international community must recognize the real and present danger facing Jews—not just in the Middle East, but in European capitals and towns where history’s darkest echoes are once again finding voice in public squares.

Whether European governments will act before tragedy strikes again remains to be seen. But for now, Jewish communities are bracing for what many fear could be a long, dangerous season of hate.