The Community Security Trust has labelled May the “month of hate” after a record-breaking 628 antisemitic incidents were recorded by the Jewish security organisation.
In a new report, the CST details how Jews in Britain were subjected to relentless acts of racial abuse between May 8 and June 7.
Findings show that 585 of the 628 antisemitic incidents involved language, imagery or behaviour linked to the conflict in Israel and Gaza.
Examples included the pro-Palestine car convoy that drove through North London as demonstrators shouted “f**k the Jews, rape their daughters”, as well as less publicised individual acts of racism.
The report also showed that the conflict in Israel disproportionately affected the educational sector, with 25 per cent of recorded incidents relating to universities, schools, teachers and students.
The most common form of antisemitism in educational settings involved Jewish pupils and teachers being targeted by students shouting “free Palestine” and related slogans.
While the CST does not treat pro-Palestinian slogans as antisemitic in themselves, when they are directed at individuals for no reason other than their Jewish identity they are recorded as hate acts.
The CST report also details “alarming” examples of extremism and antisemitism that were evident during anti-Israel rallies.
Mark Gardner, CEO of CST, said: “This anti-Jewish rage was fuelled by extremists and directed against everyone from schoolchildren to rabbis, coming as violence and intimidation in schools, streets and shopping centres.
“We need firmer action against the perpetrators, and an end to the selective anti-racism from those who passionately oppose most racism but uniquely ignore, misrepresent or make excuses for this type of anti-Jewish hate.”
Commenting on the report, Karen Pollock CBE, Chief Executive of the Holocaust Educational Trust, said: "This shocking report released by the Community Security Trust is a distressing read. A new wave of anti-Jewish hate has been unleashed in the UK with assaults, abuse and targeting of Jewish people becoming commonplace.
"The report also highlights the deliberate manipulation and distortion of the memory of the Holocaust - the most pernicious form of antisemitism.
"We are reminded today that we can never stop educating future generations on the Holocaust and its contemporary relevance."
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