On Thursday, a Jewish advisory body highlighted the rise in anti-Semitic incidents in 2021, driven due to an increase in violence in Israel and Gaza.
The Community Security Trust (CST), which advises Britain’s Jewish community of 280,000 on security matters, reported a 34% rise in anti-Semitic incidents in 2021. In its annual report, the organisation recorded 2,255 anti-Semitic incidents in 2021 compared to 1,684 incidents in 2020 and 1,813 in 2019.
A "staggering" increase in anti-Jewish abuse occurred in the UK last year, according to a charity set up to protect people from anti-Semitism.
— Channel 5 News (@5_News) February 10, 2022
The Community Security Trust says the rise has been fueled by online attacks.
*Warning: distressing content*@TobySadler | #5News pic.twitter.com/iuKlHiDDEN
Published on Thursday, the report stated: “Over a third of all antisemitic incidents in 2021 – 826 out of the 2,255 total – alluded or were related to Israel and the Middle East, evidenced anti-Zionist motivation alongside anti-Jewish language, targeting or motivation, or combined a mixture of these elements.”
In 502 incidents, the offenders used far-right or Nazi-related discourse, including incidents of Holocaust celebration with offenders celebrating the Nazi genocide of the Jews. In at least 62 incidents, the offenders directly compared Israel and Nazi Germany. In another 103 incidents, terms such as “Zionism” or “Zionist” were used. Another set of incidents called for the destruction of the State of Israel and included discourse on Islam and Muslims.
In addition, the organisation reported 182 incidents that involved schools, school students and teachers, compared to 54 incidents in 2020. 99 out of 182 incidents involved Jewish schoolchildren or staff at non-faith schools.
The CST’s Chief Executive Mark Gardner said, “These record levels of anti-Jewish racism, reported by our Jewish community to CST and police, show how difficult last year was for Jews across Britain.”
Having been recording anti-Semitic incidents since 1984 in the United Kingdom, this is the first time the organisation has reported over 2,000 incidents in a single year.
The report added that the anti-Semitic incidents shot up during increased tensions and conflict between Israel and Palestine. According to the report, 661 incidents were reported in May and 210 in June last year.
Furthermore, the CST also reported 176 violent attacks in 2021, a 76% increase compared to the previous year. Among these, three incidents were classified as “extreme violence” as they involved a threat to life or bodily harm. Out of the remaining 173 incidents, 82 incidents - damage and desecration of Jewish property, 1,844 incidents - abusive behaviour, 143 incidents - direct anti-Semitic threat and 10 incidents - mass-mailed antisemitic leaflets or email.
Reportedly, online incidents fell by 13%, from 638 to 552 in 2021.
In 2021, the CST received 752 reports of potential incidents but were not deemed to be anti-Semitic and thus were excluded from the total count. These incidents included suspicious activities or hostile reconnaissance at Jewish locations, anti-Israel activity without anti-Semitic language and criminal activity affecting Jewish people and buildings.
British Home Minister Priti Patel said, “These statistics are shocking and a stark reminder that the racism of anti-Semitism has not been eradicated.”
UK Home Secretary said in response to the report: “This statistic is shocking and reminds us that racism and anti-Semitism have not been erased…”
— Belaaz News (@TheBelaaz) February 10, 2022
Shadow Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said, “It is truly appalling that incidents of anti-Jewish hate have now reached record levels - and for this to be increasing shows just how far we have to go to remove the stain of anti-Semitism from our society.”
Moreover, the report also mentioned the conviction of several people for anti-Jewish-related crimes, including the sentencing of a man who had set up a neo-nazi group that encouraged the eradication of Jews. The statistics point out the different discourses employed in anti-Semitic offences by perpetrators, who use conflict involving Israel to justify their prejudice towards Jews.