State-backed Islamophobia: Israel labels Muslim presence in Europe ‘true face of colonisation’

Israel’s role as one of the major contributors to the rise in global Islamophobia was further highlighted this week when the self-proclaimed Jewish state, founded through ethnic cleansing and settler colonialism, described the presence of Muslims in Europe as the “true face of colonization.” The incendiary statement came in a tweet from the Israeli government’s Arabic-language Twitter account. Referencing the increase in mosques across Europe, from fewer than 100 in 1980 to more than 20,000 today, the post framed this demographic and religious presence as a looming threat.  Israel’s tweet went on to describe mosques as breeding grounds for violence and hate, and Muslims as an ungrateful and hostile population, accusing them of forming a “fifth column” within European societies. […]