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Rising Antisemitism in Europe?
“Three-quarters of Jewish people in Europe hide their identity,” reported James Rothwell for The Telegraph on July 11, 2024. “Poll finds communities fear harassment or attack amid a ‘rising tide of anti-Semitism.’”
The news that “Three-quarters of Europe’s Jewish community hide their identities as they fear being harassed or attacked by anti-Semites,” didn’t come as a shock to those who have been warning about the problem for years.
In recent years, Europe has witnessed a troubling resurgence of antisemitism, sparking widespread alarm among Jewish communities and human rights advocates. Incidents of hate speech, vandalism, and physical assaults targeting Jews have escalated, reflecting a broader trend of intolerance and bigotry.
The United Kingdom, France, and Germany have reported significant increases in antisemitic acts. In 2023, the UK saw a record number of antisemitic incidents, with over 2,000 reported cases. Similarly, France has experienced a 74% rise in such incidents over the past decade. Germany, too, has grappled with an upsurge, with antisemitic crimes increasing by nearly 16% in 2022 alone.
Experts attribute this rise to various factors, including the proliferation of extremist ideologies, the impact of social media in spreading hate, and political polarization. The COVID-19 pandemic has also fueled…