90% of European Jews say anti-Semitism is getting worse
Almost one-in-three Jewish people across Europe have been directly targeted by antisemitic harassment.
From online abuse to being harassed in public, thousands of people told the European Union’s Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA) antisemitism is impacting their daily lives.
For its Experiences and perceptions of antisemitism –
Around 90% of respondents to the FRA’s questions said they feel antisemitism is growing in their country. A similar number say they experience it online, while a staggering 73% say it is evident in public spaces.
The kinds of harassment, abuse, and antisemitic activity uncovered by the FRA include the desecration of Jewish cemeteries, the vandalism of Jewish buildings or institutions, and open expressions of hostility towards Jewish people.
The report also finds that the UK, Germany, Italy, and Sweden are the countries where most people feel there has been an increase in antisemitism (up by 24, 21, 14 and 11 percentage points, respectively).
More than 80% of respondents in Belgium, France, Germany, Poland, and Sweden regard antisemitism as “a very big” or “a fairly big” problem. But in France, that rises to 95%. When compared with the FRA’s 2012 report, the UK has seen a steep increase in the number of Jews who feel antisemitism is a problem – up from 48% in 2012 to 75% for 2018.
The UK comes out worst for the presence of antisemitism in political life. While the 12-country average is 70%, 84% of British Jews say antisemitism in politics is a very or fairly big problem. This coincides with a wider debate in the UK about the prevalence of antisemitism in the country’s main opposition party, Labour.
This article first appeared on the World Economic Forum.
