Rabbi Pinchas Goldschmidt Warns Iranian Regime is Targeting Europe

The security landscape for Jewish communities across Europe has reached a critical tipping point. Rabbi Pinchas Goldschmidt, the president of the Conference of European Rabbis and former chief rabbi of Moscow, has issued a stark warning: the Iranian regime is actively targeting Europe by organizing attacks against Jewish institutions through its diplomatic channels.

Speaking on the ILTV Podcast, Goldschmidt detailed a sophisticated effort by Tehran to export instability and violence to European soil, arguing that the threat now extends beyond Jewish communities to broader society.

The Role of Iranian Embassies in Organizing Attacks

A central part of Goldschmidt’s warning involves the misuse of diplomatic missions. He asserts that Iranian embassies in Europe are not merely diplomatic hubs but are actively employing criminal agents. According to the rabbi, these embassies provide payment or persuasion to these agents to carry out attacks on Jewish sites.

Goldschmidt states that there is specific information confirming that these attacks were organized by Iranian authorities. He is calling on European nations to take the drastic step of shutting down Iranian embassies to prevent further violence and mitigate the risk of radical Islamist violence affecting the general public.

The Reality of Security for Jewish Institutions

The rabbi, who currently resides in Germany, describes a climate of fear and high-intensity security that has become the norm for Jewish life in Europe. The current security environment is characterized by:

• Strict Access Control: Individuals cannot enter a synagogue or a Jewish community center without first being identified.
• Armed Presence: Police officers and soldiers are stationed outside nearly every Jewish school, and preschool.

Goldschmidt highlighted the emotional toll of this reality, noting, “It’s hard to bring your child to kindergarten in the morning with soldiers in front of the kindergarten, knowing that there are people out there who want to hurt your child.”

The Surge of Antisemitism in Europe

The rise in antisemitic hate crimes is not an isolated phenomenon but is linked to broader geopolitical tensions. Goldschmidt told Sky News that the attacks of October 7, 2023, and the subsequent Israeli military response, triggered a sharp increase in antisemitic acts across Europe, specifically mentioning France and the UK.

He warned that anger against Jews has grown to dangerous levels, regardless of an individual’s political views, religion, or stance on the war in Gaza. This creates a perilous environment for Jews worldwide who have no connection to the Israeli government.

The “Web” of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei

Goldschmidt identifies Ayatollah Ali Khamenei as the center of a web designed to undermine, damage, and ultimately destroy both the Jewish people and Israel. He holds the Iranian regime responsible for stoking antisemitism globally to achieve its strategic goals.

The Path Toward Stability

For Goldschmidt, the solution to this security crisis lies in the political transformation of Iran. He argues that European countries must do “much more” to support Iranian protesters in their efforts to overthrow the Tehran regime.

He believes that the fall of the Iranian regime would not only make the Middle East a quieter and more stable region but would also significantly improve security within Europe by removing the source of these organized threats.

Conclusion

The warnings from Rabbi Pinchas Goldschmidt underscore a deepening security crisis where diplomatic immunity is allegedly being used to facilitate criminal violence. As radical Islamist violence expands, the call to shut down Iranian diplomatic channels represents a demand for a fundamental shift in how Europe handles its relationship with the Tehran regime to protect its citizens and Jewish communities.