Dramatic escalation of social media abuse fuels all-time antisemitism high

“We need to do much more to tackle antisemitism and the intolerance this creates across society.

“As Home Secretary I am pushing for greater collaboration, both across government, policing, the courts and community groups, to remove this shameful stain on our society.”

CST Chief Executive David Delew added: “2019 was another difficult year for British Jews and it is no surprise that recorded antisemitic incidents reached yet another high. It is clear that both social media and mainstream politics are places where antisemitism and racism need to be driven out, if things are to improve in the future.”

The continuing controversy over antisemitism in the Labour Party was, according to the charity, a key reason why February and December had the highest monthly totals of reported incidents.

The general election in December — when 184 incidents were recorded — was preceded by Jewish community figures, most notably the Chief Rabbi, publicly voicing unprecedented concerns regarding Labour.

February, with 182 incidents, saw several MPs leave the Labour Party, some of whom cited antisemitism as an important reason for their decision.

In 224 of the 1,805 cases of antisemitism reported to CST in 2019, the offender or offenders, and the abuse they expressed, were related to Labour, or the incidents occurred in the context of arguments about alleged Labour Party antisemitism.

Meanwhile, CST recorded 36 incidents relating to far-right antisemitism in the first quarter of 2019; 33 in the second; 30 in the third; and 27 in the fourth.

CST said the large increase in online antisemitism involved targeted campaigns directed at individuals, often involving dozens of social media accounts.

Incidents involving social media are only recorded by CST if they have been reported to them by either the victim or a witness and if the content shows evidence of antisemitic language, motivation or targeting.

While the 697 cases of online abuse accounted for 39 per cent of the total number of incidents last year, worryingly, CST also recorded the highest total number of incidents classed as assault ever in a single year.

Of the 158 incidents of violent assault, nearly half took place in the boroughs of Barnet, Hackney and Salford, in north west England.

In 41 per cent of assaults the victims were said to look visibly Jewish.

One additional incident was classed as extreme violence but, for reasons of victim confidentiality, CST said it was not able to share any further details.

CST recorded 947 antisemitic incidents in Greater London in 2019, three fewer than the 950 incidents recorded in London in 2018.

The organisation recorded a fall of 11 per cent in antisemitic incidents in Greater Manchester, from 251 incidents in 2018 to 223 incidents in 2019.

In total, 327 antisemitic incidents, or 18 per cent of the overall national total, were recorded by CST in the London borough of Barnet, which has the largest Jewish population of any borough in the United Kingdom.

Incidents involving damage and desecration to Jewish property rose by 11 per cent, from 79 incidents in 2018 to 88 incidents in 2019. Forty-five of these incidents involved damage done to the homes and vehicles of Jewish people, 12 to Jewish organisations or companies, ten to synagogues, seven to Jewish schools, and three to cemeteries.

One hundred and twenty-two antisemitic incidents in 2019 targeted Jewish schools, schoolchildren or staff, compared to 96 incidents relating to schools and schoolchildren in 2018.

Of the 122 incidents of this kind recorded in 2019, 54 took place on the premises of Jewish faith schools; 43 affected Jewish schoolchildren on their journeys to or from school; and 25 involved Jewish children or teachers at non-faith schools.

There were 40 antisemitic incidents in which the victims were Jewish students, academics, students’ unions or other student bodies, compared to 25 campus-related antisemitic incidents in 2018.

In 2019, there were 505 allusions to Israel, the Middle East or Zionism in antisemitic incidents recorded by CST, of which 63 directly compared or equated Israel with the Nazis, compared to 49 such incidents reported in 2018. 

While CST said they do not consider criticism of Israel or Zionism inherently antisemitic, all the incidents recorded crossed over into what was classed as Jew-hatred. 

Communities Secretary Rt Hon Robert Jenrick MP said: “Who could have imagined that 75 years after the end of the Holocaust, antisemitism would be on the rise in the UK and across Europe.

“There is no place for antisemitism in our society.

“It is a scourge on us all and the record high number of recorded incidents in 2019 is completely unacceptable. 
“This government stands with CST — together we are committed to working with the Jewish community to stamp out anti-Jewish hatred and prejudice.

"Educating future generations about antisemitism is crucial. Our new funding to tackle antisemitism on campus and plans to combat… the appalling rise in antisemitic social media incidents form a vital part of our commitment to root it out of our society.”

Shadow Policing Minister and Vice-Chair All-Party Parliamentary Group Against Antisemitism Louise Haigh MP added: “CST’s data makes for depressing reading. It is shameful the Jewish community has been subjected to another year of racist abuse.

"We are beyond a stage of saying that more has to be done. We require immediate action. I will be working with colleagues, and with CST and partners to identify what more we can be doing to reverse this unacceptable trend.”