Antisemitic incidents skyrocket in US, Europe, in wake of Gaza war

The Anti-Defamation League has recorded a leap of almost 400% in the US since October 7.

By Batya Jerenberg, World Israel News

Antisemitic incidents have skyrocketed in both the United States and Europe in wake of the war in Gaza precipitated by a Hamas invasion of Israel October 7, when terrorists murdered 1,400 men, women, children and babies and took 220 hostages.

The Center on Extremism of the Anti-Defamation League (ADL), which records antisemitic acts worldwide, reported Wednesday that there has been an almost 400% leap in such hate crimes in the U.S., and a whopping 1,350% jump in London alone in the UK compared to the same time period last year, with 218 incidents.

Overall in Great Britain, the Community Security Trust that helps protect British Jewry has so far recorded 320 incidents, which is a country-wide rise of 581%.

Germany has seen a 240% increase, and Austria 300%. In France, 588 antisemitic incidents have been reported to police, resulting in 336 arrests, the report added.

Venomous anti-Israel demonstrations have also taken place in the Arab world, Spain, Italy, the Netherlands, Switzerland and Australia.

In the U.S. the hate-filled actions include 109 of some 400 anti-Israel rallies across the United States that have taken place in the last two weeks, because strong support for the Hamas war crimes or violence towards Jews were expressed in those protests.

Some of those rallies have taken place on college campuses, where Jewish students are more fearful than ever for their safety, especially in institutions whose administrations have not strongly condemned the support for the Palestinian terrorists.

Another 203 incidents were recorded of physical assaults, harassment and vandalism. Violent messages against Jews and Israel on the popular Telegram messaging app surged almost 1,000%.

An ADL “heat map” shows that a preponderance of the hate acts has occurred in the northeastern U.S., where most American Jews live, with California taking second place.

“When conflict erupts in Israel, antisemitic incidents soon follow in the US and globally,” said ADL head Jonathan Greenblatt. “From white supremacists in California displaying antisemitic banners on highway overpasses to radical anti-Zionists harassing Jewish people because of their real or perceived support for the Jewish state, we are witnessing a disturbing rise in antisemitic activity here while the war rages overseas.”

“It is incumbent on all leaders, from political leaders to CEOs to university presidents, to forcefully and unequivocally condemn antisemitism and terrorism,” he said. “This isn’t hard. Words matter, and while the war in Gaza escalates, we encourage all those in positions of power to use their platforms to condemn hate and terrorism, wherever it occurs.”