World sees 18% rise in violent anti-Semitic attacks in 2019

A new report shows that last year the world’s Jewish community experienced an 18% rise in violent anti-Semitic attacks against them.

The report reveals a shocking rise of hatred fuelled by conspiracy theories, racism and anti-Israel sentiment and should concern all.

The report was put together by the Kantor Center, Tel Aviv University and the European Jewish Congress.

The full report can be viewed here, but below is the summary.

Executive Summary

Coronavirus-inspired antisemitic expressions take the form of traditional Jew-hatred, originating mainly from extreme right activists, who also call to spread the virus among Jews, plus from Muslim circles.
2019 saw a rise of 18% in major violent antisemitic incidents compared to 2018 (456 cases in 2019 compared to 387 in 2018), seven Jews were killed, and a rise in most other manifestations of antisemitism in most countries. At least 53 synagogues (12%) and 28 community centers and schools (6 percent) were attacked. There was also an increase in life-endangering threats (47%) and in attacks on private properties (24 %).
The return of traditional, classic antisemitic stereotypes as well as the intensification of anti-Israeli and Islamist antisemitism, both contributed to the growing role of antisemitic discourse and its’ migration from the fringes of society into the mainstream public discourse.
Despite the adoption of the 2016 IHRA Working Definition of Antisemitism by more than 20 countries and by a host of institutions and organizations, it is still widely under-appreciated and has not been applied widely enough in order to recognize and define antisemitic incidents.
The analysis of trends and developments in antisemitic manifestation in 2019, presented here by the Kantor Center team, is based on data and perceptions received om the world at large, and from our own sources. The 2019 audits of Bnai Brith in Canada and The ADL in the U.S.A. are still being awaited. The full 2019 report, about 150 pages, will be published as soon as the present circumstances allow.
According to an FRA report, 41% of Jews aged 16-34 have considered emigrating from Europe because of antisemitism over the last 5 years. Antisemitism is the main push factor for emigration, a decision which may be enhanced by perceptions regarding government’ responses to antisemitism, which are overwhelmingly considered inadequate.
In Germany, the shooting at the Halle synagogue, on October 9, was a landmark antisemitic attack in Germany which embodies all the current problems. The police registered 1,839 antisemitic incidents nationwide, 5 cases per day, mostly perpetrated by neo-Nazis and extreme right-wing activists. Additionally, surveys have shown that knowledge about the Holocaust is diminishing in Germany.
In the US, a new phenomenon is emerging, one of increased violent antisemitic attacks, with shooting sprees and numerous casualties, inspired by right-wing ideologies as well as by certain groups within the Black Hebrew Israelites and the Nation of Islam.
Online antisemitism proves to be increasingly dangerous: The perpetrators of major antisemitic attacks in 2019 were active in disseminating antisemitic propaganda online, through international networks of likeminded activists. “What happens on the internet does not stay on the internet” and the networks that propagate hate speech, whatever ideology inspires them, can have a direct impact on the life of the groups they target.
A growing discrepancy between on-the-ground reality and governmental efforts.
Underreporting by Jews in some countries corroborated by unidentified perpetrators.
Problems facing monitoring agencies remained unresolved.
Surveys continue to raise awareness about surging antisemitism.

The UK’s section in the report concludes the following:

UK: The 1,805 recorded cases constitute an increase of 7% compared to 2018 and continue the trend of an ongoing increased in antisemitism over the past four years. Online incidents constitute 39% of the total cases, and increased in 82% compared to the previous year. Physical assaults increased by 27%. The Labour Party controversy was among the major triggers of antisemitic incidents, and antisemitic expressions many times involved conspiracy theories.

To view the full report, click here.

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