- Germany’s AfD classified as extreme-right by domestic intelligence
- Switzerland to enact Hamas ban from May 15
- Decades later, new suspect lead emerges in Munich 1970 antisemitic arson attack. The male individual is believed to have been a right-wing extremist who was known to the German authorities.
- Mallorca commemorated the 334th anniversary of the auto-da-fé that marked the discrimination against Mallorcan Jews
- An Israeli family was forced to leave a restaurant in Naples after they were told that “Zionists are not welcome here.”
FYI
- After pressure from Trump admin, Croatia posts police at Chabad House
- During Sunday’s Palestine demonstration in Gothenburg, the leader of the United Front for Palestine praised the terrorist attacks against Israel: “Every single one of us here stands behind October 7th. All of us are October 7th.”
- Belgian Foreign Affairs Committee was due to discuss several proposals related to the situation, including the possible recognition of a Palestinian state. However, the meeting had to be suspended because the seats of the coalition parties remained empty.
- East Flanders prohibits the wearing of religious and political symbols in provincial education.
Far-right Trump ally George Simion has comfortably won the first round of Romania’s presidential election, setting up the 18 May run-off as a referendum on the country’s future: one aligned with Europe, or one leaning towards isolationism, writes Euractiv’s Catalina Mihai. The leader of the far-right AUR party, secured around 40% of the vote in the first round of Romania’s presidential election – well ahead of Bucharest Mayor Nicușor Dan, an independent candidate with about 20%, according to partial results with over 99% of votes counted. Simion, a nationalist and sovereigntist, capitalised on a wave of anti-establishment sentiment.
Israel calls on Qatar to ‘stop playing both sides’ in Gaza talks: Israel called on Qatar, a key mediator between Israel and Hamas, to “stop playing both sides with its double talk and decide if it’s on the side of civilization or if it’s on the side of Hamas”, the Israeli Prime Minister’s office said on Saturday.
Israeli military issues thousands of call-up notices, local media report: The Israeli military was issuing call-up notices to thousands of reservists on Saturday to support an expansion of its offensive in Gaza, Israeli media reported, after the prime minister announced that his upcoming visit to Azerbaijan was postponed.
Hamas releases video of man identified as Gaza hostage: Hamas on Saturday released a video purportedly of a hostage held in Gaza whom Israeli media identified as Maxim Herkin.