British Jews suffer 'worst antisemitism' in 40 years amid hundreds of assaults
Antisemitic incidents are at an all time high with more than 4,000 recorded in the UK in 2023, bombshell new figures have revealed.
The majority took place following the Hamas attacks of October 7, according to data recorded by Jewish charity the Community Security Trust with its chief executive describing the "explosion in hatred" against the Jewish community as "an absolute disgrace". The charity noted a "worrying proportion of children perpetrating antisemitism", with almost a fifth involving perpetrators thought to be under 18.
The charity, which monitors antisemitism and provides security for the Jewish community in Britain, said there were a total of 4,103 antisemitic incidents in the UK in 2023, up from the previous annual record of 2,261 incidents which had been reported two years previously. The stated: "This record total is due to the sheer volume of antisemitism perpetrated across the UK following Hamas' attack on Israel on 7 October 2023. Of the 4,103 instances of anti-Jewish hate reported, 2,699 (66%) occurred on or after 7 October.
"This figure alone exceeds any previous annual antisemitic incident total recorded by CST, and marks a rise of 589% from the 392 instances of antisemitism reported to CST over the same time period in 2022." The charity said the week following October 7 saw 416 antisemitic incidents reported to CST. The report said: "The speed at which antisemites mobilised in the UK on and immediately after 7 October suggests that, initially at least, this increase in anti-Jewish hate was a celebration of the Hamas attack on Israel, rather than anger at Israel's military response in Gaza."
The charity said the first such incident reported to CST took place on October 7, "when a vehicle drove past a synagogue in Hertfordshire with a Palestinian flag attached, windows wound down and an occupant shaking their fist in the air towards the synagogue".
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Attacks on the Jewish community are on the rise (Ian Vogler / Daily Mirror)Other incidents included "Free Palestine" graffiti being sprayed on a bridge in Golders Green, which is home to one of London's largest Jewish communities; the defacing with swastikas of a poster in London of a baby kidnapped by Hamas; and a visibly Jewish man being verbally abused and threatened by people who were attending a pro-Palestinian demonstration.
The charity said that it had, for the first time ever, recorded at least one antisemitic incident in every single police region in the UK across 2023. CST said it had recorded 3,328 incidents of abusive behaviour, 266 of assault, 305 of threats and 182 of damage and desecration. The CST said a further 2,185 reports of potential incidents were received by CST in 2023 but were not deemed to be antisemitic - instead involving anti-Israel activity rather than anti-Jewish language, motivation or targeting - so were not included in the 2023 total.
Home Secretary James Cleverly MP described the rise in antisemitism in recent months as "utterly deplorable" and said he "will do everything in my power" to ensure the Jewish community is safe and feels safe. Labour's Yvette Cooper, shadow home secretary, said the rise was "appalling and intolerable" and a "stain on our society". She said: "There must be zero-tolerance for antisemitism in Britain and those who proliferate that poison on the streets and online must face the full force of the law."
CST chief executive Mark Gardner said: "British Jews are strong and resilient, but the explosion in hatred against our community is an absolute disgrace. It occurs in schools, universities, workplaces, on the streets and all over social media." He thanked the Government and police for their support but added: "We condemn the stony silence from those sections of society that eagerly call out racism
in every other case, except when it comes to Jew hate."
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