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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider No letup in Israel's pushback vs antisemitism—envoy

No letup in Israel's pushback vs antisemitism—envoy

Published Feb 3, 2025 06:50 am

Israeli Ambassador to the Philippines Ilan Fluss said that aside from remembering the Holocaust and what it means, equally important is fighting back against the rising antisemitism in today’s world.

Fluss_Holocaust2.jpgIsraeli Ambassador to the Philippines Ilan Fluss delivers his message at the International Holocaust Remembrance Day ceremony held at the National Museum of Natural History in Manila on Jan. 31, 2025. (Photo from the Embassy of Israel in Manila)

In a statement posted on Israel in the Philippines Facebook page on Monday, Feb. 3, the envoy underscored the need to address antisemitism, or the hatred of or hostility towards Jews, through education.

“Holocaust remembrance is not just about looking back: it is a commitment to confronting hatred, denial, and distortion. The fight against antisemitism continues today, and we must be unwavering in our resolve to fight it, including through education,” Fluss said during the ceremony of last week’s International Holocaust Remembrance Day.

“Antisemitism, the hatred that fueled the Holocaust, continues to rise globally, including in the Philippines and is alarming. We cannot simply watch as this hateful ideology spreads,” he added.

According to the latest ADL Global 100 survey, the Philippines has seen a dramatic rise in its antisemitic levels from three percent in 2014 to 42 percent in 2024.

In his speech, the ambassador noted that antisemitism rose since the Oct. 7, 2023 attacks on Israel by Palestinian militant group Hamas.

For the annual commemoration of the International Holocaust Remembrance Day this year, the Israeli Embassy in Manila partnered with the Department of Education (DepEd), which the ambassador thanked for the ongoing commitment to Holocaust remembrance in its facilities.

“Today’s commemoration is not just about remembering the past, it’s about reaffirming our commitment to an education that will help our youth reject hate, embrace diversity, and work to create a future where unity triumphs over division,” DepEd Undersecretary Gina Ong said at the event.

Gabriel Quezon-Avanceña, the great-grandson of former president Manuel Quezon, who opened the doors of the Philippines to approximately 1,300 Jewish refugees fleeing the Nazi regime, also attended the event as his family’s representative.

The event, held at the National Museum of Natural History in Manila on Jan. 31, featured a photo exhibit and highlighted the lighting of six candles representing the six million Jews who perished during the Holocaust.

The candles were lit by Fluss, Ong, Quezon-Avanceña, German Ambassador Andreas Michael Pfaffernoschke, President of the Jewish Community in the Philippines Salito Malca, and DepEd student Rhian May Gonzales.

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