A/HRC/6/6 page 12 that “Europe is based on Greek culture, Roman law and Christian values … Without religion, without the family, without people who protect those values in western Europe, we will be replaced by Muslims.” This rhetoric goes hand in hand with an anti-Semitic political platform. In the view of the Special Rapporteur, the building of the European Union, with its focus on the economic and political dimensions, has obfuscated and overlooked that it was necessary to revisit the construction of European identities, a root cause of most European conflicts in the last centuries. Therefore, it has also hindered the recognition and acceptance of the multicultural identity of the new Europe. Hopefully the non-inclusion of the Christian heritage of Europe in the stalled project of European Constitution is an indication that this kind of rhetoric is rejected by a majority of countries. 36. Islamophobia also stems from the attitude and behaviour of some Muslims. In particular, ruling elites in a number of Islamic countries invoke religious themes to justify the existence of laws that violate the freedom of conscience and expression, the respect of religious minorities and the rights of women. Furthermore, the widespread influence of foreign powers over the course of the past century in the Middle East has served to create a sense of victimization by local communities, contributing to a process of identity enclosure and fostering religious and cultural antagonisms. B. Anti-Semitism 37. Anti-Semitism is characterized by its long existence and capacity to adapt to new social and political contexts, as well as the acute levels it has reached throughout history. Jews have been demonized and persecuted for religious, racial, ideological and political reasons throughout history. The resilience and rise of anti-Semitism are linked to three key factors: its historical depth, the interpretation and impact of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and the rising of anti-religious secularism. 38. Present expressions of anti-Semitism predominantly stem from political rather than religious or racial motives, relating Judaism to Israel and its policies regarding Palestinians. This amalgamation between the categories of “Jewish” and “Israeli” misses a crucial distinction between Judaism as a distinctive cultural and religious tradition and Israel as a multicultural State that encompasses citizens that are Jewish, Muslim, Christian and practitioners of other religions. 39. In the Arab-Muslim world, anti-Semitism continues to be a matter of concern. On the ideological level, one notes with preoccupation the dissemination of anti-Semitic books which had circulated in Europe in the nineteenth century, such as The Protocols of the Elders of Zion, where the myth of Jewish conspiracy for world domination is represented. Furthermore, the impact of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is markedly present in Arab-Muslim circles, reinforced by the daily images of the tragedy of the continuous occupation and suffering of the Palestinian people, the absence of an effective integration policy of Israelis of Arab descent. 40. The Special Rapporteur is of the view that, on the basis of the various interpretations of this question, the following critical elements should be particularly scrutinized: anti-Semitism and anti-Zionism; anti-Semitism and criticism of the policies of the State of Israel. The Special Rapporteur notes the importance of recognizing the historical depth and current significance of