Israeli scientists expose unprecedented spike in antisemitic incidents Warn of lack of legal action worldwide

Israeli researchers from Tel Aviv University (TAU) have presented alarming data, revealing that the global surge in antisemitism following the events of October 7, 2023, has become one of the most significant in recent decades.

The report on the current state of anti-Jewish sentiment worldwide was published on the official website of the academic institution, per Caliber.Az.

According to the report, following the Hamas terrorist attacks and the onset of the Gaza war, the world has faced an unprecedented wave of antisemitic incidents. The peak occurred in the final months of 2023, with up to 29 attacks on Jews reported weekly in Germany alone, and 563 incidents registered in France in October — more than the entire year of 2022.

"Antisemitism always rises when Israel appears vulnerable," noted Professor Uriya Shavit, the lead editor of the report.

He explained that while the number of incidents decreased gradually in 2024, the situation still remains far from returning to "normal" pre-crisis levels.

A particular concern among experts is the transformation of antisemitic rhetoric. Traditional forms of hatred have merged with radical anti-Israeli propaganda, creating a dangerous mix.

The authors of the study argue that the legal systems of many countries have shown a striking inefficiency in combating antisemitism.

According to the data, less than 10% of registered incidents result in legal action.

The report reveals alarming increases in antisemitism globally, particularly in countries like Australia, Italy, and Canada. In Australia, the number of antisemitic incidents surged from 1,200 in 2023 to a record 1,713 in 2024. Despite a decline in the last quarter of 2024 (478 incidents), the figure still exceeded the same period in 2023, which saw 827 incidents. Italy also witnessed a significant rise, with 877 incidents in 2024 compared to 454 in 2023.

The United States saw a moderate uptick, with incidents rising from 325 in 2023 to 344 in 2024 in New York. However, incidents dropped from 159 in late 2023 to 68 in late 2024. Other U.S. cities like Chicago, Denver, and Austin also recorded increases.

Canada documented a record 6,219 antisemitic incidents in 2024, up from 5,791 in 2023. Despite this, incidents decreased in late 2024 compared to the immediate aftermath of the October 7 attacks.

Countries like Argentina, Switzerland, Brazil, and Spain also saw increases in antisemitic incidents. In contrast, some countries with large Jewish populations, such as France, the UK, and Germany, recorded fewer incidents in 2024 compared to 2023. France reported 1,570 incidents, a slight decrease from 1,676 in 2023, although physical assaults on Jews increased. Similarly, the UK saw a drop from 4,103 incidents in 2023 to 3,528 in 2024, and Germany recorded 5,177 incidents, down from 5,671.

The researchers emphasised that despite some improvements, the world is still far from overcoming one of the oldest forms of hatred. They stated that meaningful change requires systemic efforts at all levels, ranging from education to law enforcement practices.

By Tamilla Hasanova