Call the Belgrade Terrorist Attack What It Is—Antisemitism

Statement released on June 30 2024.

We strongly condemn the antisemitic terrorist attack on the Embassy of Israel in Belgrade, in which a member of the Gendarmerie securing the building was injured.

This attack is an overt, extreme manifestation of antisemitism. It serves as a stark reminder that antisemitism poses a grave threat not only to the Jewish community, but to society as a whole, our democratic order, and our shared civic values.

We welcome the unequivocal condemnation of this attack by officials of the Republic of Serbia, as well as the swift and decisive response of the relevant state authorities.

At the same time, we urge that the antisemitic nature of this crime be explicitly recognized and emphasized. The clear antisemitic motives behind this act are evidenced by the perpetrator’s trajectory: the terrorist first targeted and surveilled the premises of the Jewish Community of Belgrade, followed by the Belgrade Synagogue, before ultimately executing the attack at the Israeli Embassy. This progression demonstrates that the overarching target was the Jewish community as a whole, rather than specific geopolitical entities or nationals.

Explicitly naming and recognizing antisemitism in this context is a vital prerequisite for deepening public awareness. Confronting this specific threat by its proper name is essential for equipping professionals with the knowledge and understanding needed to counter the dangers that antisemitism poses to fundamental democratic freedoms and the entirety of our society.

For Terraforming and  Center for Combating Antisemitism and Intolerance (CBA)

Miško Stanišić, Director

Media Inquiries

For media inquiries, please contact Nemanja Stevanović at nemanja.stevanovic@terraforming.org