Breaking News: The Anti-Defamation League has reported the highest number of antisemitic incidents in the US since records began.
The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) recorded 3,697 antisemitic incidents across the United States in 2023, marking the third consecutive year of record-high figures. This represents a 36% increase since the Hamas attacks on 7 October, according to preliminary ADL data. The surge includes a dramatic rise in antisemitic acts on college campuses.
The report details 2,242 incidents of harassment, a new annual high, and 1,455 incidents of vandalism, also the highest ever recorded. Assaults comprised a smaller, though still troubling, 41 incidents. The figures include demonstrations, online harassment, and physical attacks targeting Jewish individuals and communal institutions. Fox News reports that the ADL attributes much of the increase to a spike following the outbreak of the Israel-Hamas conflict. The Jerusalem Post notes the incidents occurred across 36 US states and Washington DC. The Daily Mail further reported that the spike was fuelled by online activity and protests. The Daily Telegraph reported that the “increase comes amid heightened tensions over the war in Gaza”.
Jonathan Greenblatt, ADL CEO, stated the figures are “a wake-up call” and demonstrate “a deeply worrying trend”. He warned the numbers reflect a “normalization of antisemitism” in American society, per reports by The Sun. The Jerusalem Post adds that Greenblatt specifically cited the impact of social media platforms in spreading antisemitic conspiracy theories. The figures undermine claims that safety for Jewish communities in the US is guaranteed.
The ADL is urging increased security measures for Jewish institutions and is calling on social media companies to enforce their policies against hate speech. Further analysis of the data is expected to be released in the coming weeks, with anticipated insights into the motivations behind the surge in incidents.
Sources: The Sun, The Daily Telegraph, The Daily Mail, Fox News, The Jerusalem Post.
