For decades, Europe prided itself on being the cradle of liberal democracy, human rights, and secular governance. Yet today, parts of that same Europe are struggling to defend their liberal values in the face of a growing, assertive, and often radical Islamist presence. This is not simply a question of immigration or multiculturalism. It is about whether European societies can uphold the principles that have defined their modern identity in the face of ideologies that fundamentally reject those principles.

A Demographic and Ideological Shift

Europe’s Muslim population has grown from 19.5 million in 2010 to approximately 25.8 million in 2025, accounting for roughly 7.5% of the EU’s total population, according to Pew Research Center projections. In countries like France (9.1%), Sweden (8.4%), Belgium (7.6%), and Germany (7%), Muslims make up a significant and rapidly growing demographic.

In many cities, this growth has coincided with the emergence of “parallel societies.” For example:

  • Brussels’ Molenbeek district, dubbed “Europe’s jihadi capital,” was home to several perpetrators of the 2015 Paris terror attacks and the 2016 Brussels bombings. Belgian security services have described the area as a “no-go zone” for integration, with radical Islamist networks embedded in mosques and social institutions.
  • In Sweden, neighbourhoods like Rinkeby and Rosengård have seen a surge in Islamist influence and gang activity. Swedish police reports from 2023 identified over 60 “vulnerable areas” where state institutions struggle to maintain authority.
  • In France, more than 150 “zones urbaines sensibles” have been flagged for Islamist radicalization risks, according to the French Interior Ministry.

European governments initially treated radicalization as a law-enforcement issue rather than an ideological one. But second- and third-generation youths — alienated both from their ancestral roots and European societies — have become prime targets for Islamist preachers who reject secularism and promote sharia-based social norms.

The Retreat of Liberal Europe

Liberal Europe’s response has often been hesitant and fragmented. Driven by guilt over colonial history, fear of alienating minorities, and the threat of being labeled “Islamophobic,” many governments have under-enforced secularism.

  • France, after the 2020 beheading of schoolteacher Samuel Paty for showing Charlie Hebdo cartoons, reaffirmed its commitment to laïcité (secularism). Yet Islamist intimidation continues: in 2024, French authorities shut down 7 mosques and 19 associations linked to radical networks.
  • Germany’s domestic intelligence agency (BfV) reported in 2023 that over 1,450 Islamist mosques and associations were under surveillance. Despite this, several extremist groups continue to operate openly under the guise of religious charities.
  • Sweden, long seen as Europe’s moral compass, is now grappling with record violence. In 2022 alone, there were 388 shootings and 62 deaths, many tied to radicalized gang networks with Islamist ideologies. Several politicians have publicly admitted that integration policies have “failed.”

Public institutions, including schools and universities, often avoid confronting Islamist pressure. In the UK, for example, the Birmingham “Trojan Horse” scandal revealed systematic attempts by Islamist activists to take control of public schools and impose religious norms, including gender segregation and curriculum changes.

Global Implications: A New Geopolitical Bloc

Europe’s internal struggles have far-reaching global consequences:

Emboldening Islamist Movements: Radical groups in the Middle East and North Africa increasingly view Europe not as a “crusader” enemy but as a soft target for ideological expansion. European Islamist networks often maintain ties with movements like the Muslim Brotherhood, Hizb ut-Tahrir, and Salafi preachers broadcasting via social media platforms.

Shifting Alliances: The rise of populist-nationalist governments has aligned parts of Europe with conservative governments in the U.S., Israel, and Eastern Europe, creating a new bloc centered on cultural identity and civilizational defense rather than liberal universalism. Leaders like Hungary’s Viktor Orbán and Italy’s Giorgia Meloni openly frame Islamism as an existential civilizational threat.

Freedom of Speech Under Siege: From the Charlie Hebdo massacre (2015) to the Samuel Paty murder (2020) and repeated death threats against artists, Europe’s inability to protect free expression against Islamist intimidation has chilled public discourse. In 2024, Denmark and Sweden curtailed public Quran-burnings after diplomatic pressure and domestic security threats — a major symbolic retreat from free-speech absolutism.

The demographic and political rise of Muslim communities in Europe has begun to reshape European foreign policy priorities, particularly regarding Israel and the Israeli–Palestinian conflict. This shift is driven by a mix of electoral calculations, street-level political pressure, and ideological alignments that differ from Europe’s traditional pro-Israel stance during the Cold War.

Electoral Pressure and Domestic Politics

In countries like France, Belgium, Germany, and the Netherlands, Muslim communities represent between 7–10% of the population — often concentrated in major urban centers like Paris, Brussels, Berlin, and Rotterdam. These communities have become increasingly organized politically, and their electoral weight has made mainstream parties sensitive to positions on Israel-Palestine:

  • In France, both Emmanuel Macron and Marine Le Pen have tempered overt pro-Israel statements to avoid alienating large Muslim constituencies in Marseille and Seine-Saint-Denis. Macron’s government has walked a fine line between condemning Hamas and criticizing Israeli policies in Gaza, particularly during the 2024–2025 conflict.
  • In Belgium, the Green and Socialist parties — heavily dependent on urban Muslim voters — have adopted harshly critical stances on Israel, leading to several diplomatic clashes with Jerusalem. In 2024, Brussels recalled its ambassador after Israel condemned statements by Belgian ministers accusing it of “systematic apartheid.”
  • In Germany, where Holocaust memory once anchored unshakable support for Israel, growing Muslim communities and a younger generation with weaker historical ties have shifted the public debate. Berlin has faced intense pro-Palestinian protests, leading to a more cautious diplomatic tone.2. Street Politics and Security Concerns.
  • Large-scale pro-Palestinian and pro-Hamas demonstrations have become a regular feature of European capitals. In October 2023 and again in May 2025, hundreds of thousands marched in London, Paris, Berlin, and Amsterdam. European governments, concerned about domestic unrest, often moderate their foreign policy to reduce internal tensions:
  • The UK Labour Party, after regaining power in 2024, delayed upgrading its ties with Israel, citing “domestic cohesion considerations.” Sweden, which recognized “Palestine” in 2014, has taken an increasingly activist role at the EU level, pushing for sanctions against Israeli settlements in 2025 — a move widely seen as appealing to Muslim voters in Malmö and Stockholm.
  • Institutional Shifts at the EU Level. The European Parliament has witnessed a surge in MPs from Green, Socialist, and far-left parties aligned with Muslim constituencies. This bloc has been instrumental in pushing for EU resolutions condemning Israeli operations in Gaza and calling for embargoes on arms sales to Israel. While the European Commission remains divided, the cumulative pressure from domestic politics and transnational alliances is tilting the EU toward a more confrontational stance on Israel.
    The Emergence of Parallel Diplomacy

    Islamist movements in Europe often act as de facto foreign policy actors, organizing campaigns to influence municipal and national decisions. In cities like Barcelona, Oslo, and Brussels, local councils have passed resolutions calling for boycotts or suspension of ties with Israel. These measures, though not binding, signal a deep cultural and political shift that European governments cannot ignore.

Islam’s Rise and Its Impact on European Policies Toward Israel

  • In France, both Emmanuel Macron and Marine Le Pen have tempered overt pro-Israel statements to avoid alienating large Muslim constituencies in cities like Marseille and Seine-Saint-Denis. Macron’s government has walked a fine line between condemning Hamas and criticizing Israeli policies in Gaza, particularly during the 2024–2025 conflict.
  • In Belgium, the Green and Socialist parties — heavily dependent on urban Muslim voters — have adopted harshly critical stances on Israel, leading to several diplomatic clashes with Jerusalem. In 2024, Brussels recalled its ambassador after Israel condemned statements by Belgian ministers accusing it of “systematic apartheid.”
  • In Germany, where Holocaust memory once anchored unshakable support for Israel, growing Muslim communities (and a younger generation with weaker historical ties) have shifted the public debate. Berlin has faced intense pro-Palestinian protests, leading to a more cautious diplomatic tone.

So where is Europe Headed?

Europe must decided on how the rise of Islam in Europe is influencing European domestic and foreign policy. Muslim communities now hold significant electoral power, especially in urban centers, prompting politicians to moderate or recalibrate pro-Israel positions for example. Mass pro-Palestinian protests, institutional shifts in the European Parliament, and local government resolutions are all pushing the EU toward a more critical stance on Israel, especially on Gaza and settlement policy.

Europe faces a historic choice: reassert its liberal democratic values or allow those values to erode under the twin pressures of Islamist radicalism and populist reaction. The outcome will shape not only Europe’s identity but global political trends for decades.

Ethan Kushner is an American Israeli-based businessman, who serves as Chair of American Democrats in Israel (ADI). A non-profit organization based in Israel, ADI provides a voice for American liberal voters in Israel by advocating for policies that advance the liberal political agenda, and by mobilizing US-Israeli voters to vote for politicians running as Democrats who among their issues support the State of Israel.