A new report from the Community Security Trust (CST) nonprofit found that antisemitic incidents in Britain have increased by 250% during the latest Israel-Hamas conflict.
The Jewish News reported that, according to CST, there were only seven incidents from May 3-7, and since the conflict began there have been 25 incidents on May 8-12. Some of the incidents have included somebody shouting “Free Palestine” at a Jewish student walking home from school and Jewish students receiving social media messages like “f— Israel and f— all Jews.”
“This increase in antisemitism in response to events in Israel is depressingly familiar and completely inexcusable,” a CST spokesperson said in a statement. “British Jews have the right to go about our lives free from abuse or threats. We strongly urge anyone who experiences or witnesses any antisemitism to report it to CST and the Police.”
“This increase in antisemitism in response to events in Israel is depressingly familiar and completely inexcusable.”
Jewish groups also weighed in.
“The UK is reporting a truly alarming rise in #antisemitic incidents since the violence began in Israel,” Anti-Defamation League CEO Jonathan Greenblatt tweeted. “Nazi symbols on display and vile #antisemitic remarks directed at Jews because of the conflict. This isn’t ‘spirited debate’ or ‘disagreement’ – this is antisemitism, period.”
The UK is reporting a truly alarming rise in #antisemitic incidents since the violence began in Israel. Nazi symbols on display and vile #antisemitic remarks directed at Jews because of the conflict.
This isn't “spirited debate” or “disagreement” – this is antisemitism, period. https://t.co/gThppqtIm9
— Jonathan Greenblatt (@JGreenblattADL) May 13, 2021
The Simon Wiesenthal Center similarly tweeted, “War against the Jewish people by those who demonize the Jewish state and support #HamasTerrorists call for genocide of #Israel.”
War against the Jewish people by those who demonize the Jewish state and support #HamasTerrorists call for genocide of #Israel https://t.co/sxUQzpZkSs via @JewishNewsUK
— SimonWiesenthalCntr (@simonwiesenthal) May 13, 2021