On the eve of Holocaust Remembrance Day, a new report shows a sharp increase in the number of antisemitic incidents in the United States and other Western countries in 2022, with ultra-Orthodox Jews the main victims of the assaults.
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The Annual Report on Antisemitism Worldwide – 2022 was conducted by the Center for the Study of Contemporary European Jewry at Israel's Tel Aviv University (TAU). It was published in collaboration with the Anti-Defamation League (ADL), which recorded nearly 3,700 antisemitic incidents in the United States last year, compared to 2,717 in 2021 – a record year in its own right. "Physical attacks, which are usually not premeditated, tend to occur in a small number of areas in major urban centers on the street or on public transportation," it said.
It found that visibly identifiable Jews – particularly Haredim – are the main victims of antisemitic assaults in the West, including beatings, being spat on, and having objects thrown at them. New York City recorded the most assaults of cities worldwide, and London saw the most attacks in Europe.
Meanwhile, there was a decline in the number of attacks in several other countries like France, Germany, and the United Kingdom.
"The fight against antisemitism requires targeted policing, prosecution, and education campaigns in the areas where attacks are most prevalent," Professor Uriya Shavit, head of the center at Tel Aviv University, said.
Shavit and Dr. Carl Yonker, a senior researcher at the Center, pointed to a disturbing trend of the "normalization of crazy conspiracies" in US public discourse. They also highlighted that the spreading of antisemitic propaganda by white supremacists in the US almost tripled in 2022 compared to the year prior. "Soul-searching is required in Israel as well," Shavit said, pointing to "chilling racist remarks" made by Israeli lawmakers. "It is sad that this needs to be said on the eve of Holocaust Remembrance Day, but Jewish racism is no better than any other kind of racism. It must be condemned, banned, and eradicated."
This article was first published by i24NEWS.
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