CST’s six-monthly report shows 1,308 antisemitic incidents recorded between January and June 2021, a record half-year total.
The spike in antisemitism reported that resulted from reactions to the escalation of violence in the Middle East is a significant reason for the 49 per cent increase from the 875 antisemitic incidents recorded in the first six months of 2020.
More than half of these 1,308 reports occurred in May and June, during and in the aftermath of the intensification of hostilities between Israel and Hamas. More than half of these 1,308 reports referenced Israel and Palestine, were linked to the conflict, demonstrated anti-Zionist motivation, or a combination of all three, alongside antisemitism.
When so much antisemitism occurs, it is clear that Jew-hatred and Israel-hatred become much the same thing in the minds of the perpetrators. They direct their anger at Jews they know, Jews they don’t, Orthodox Jews, secular Jews, Jewish children, adults, organisations, schools, synagogues: there is no single victim profile, and no single avenue for the expression of anti-Jewish sentiment.
Antisemitism can be intellectualised, its meaning and facets debated at length. But when levels of antisemitism rise to such an extent, when ordinary Jewish people and institutions face such a considerable backlash, it becomes impossible and irrelevant to try to separate a hatred of Israel from the hatred of Jews when offenders so often do not care to make this distinction.
Whatever antisemitism is, it is ultimately defined by the lived experiences of its victims. They are the ones who call CST, scared to go into their workplace for fear that comments of “Free Palestine” will continue to be directed at them; worried that they cannot escape their next-door neighbour’s sustained campaign of harassment; nervous to freely express their identity in light of inciting, threatening shouts from a car convoy.
CST supports them, reassures them and protects them: that is why we are here. However, support, reassurance and protection are collective, societal responsibilities: they are far more meaningful and effective when the effort is united. Where culprits of antisemitic hate crime are identified, arrests must be made and prosecutions delivered. Where antisemitic threats and abuse are written online, social media platforms must take stronger action that aligns with their professed commitment to tackling hate. Where Jewish people share their experiences of antisemitism, everyone who truly wants to build a fair, inclusive, anti-racist society must stand in solidarity.
CST urges all readers to be vigilant, to report antisemitism to CST and police, and to support all of our communal efforts against the danger.
Visit www.cst.org.uk. In an emergency, call the police and then call our 24-hour emergency number, 0800 032 3263.
Mark Gardner is CST Chief Executive
