2024 Marks Surge in Antisemitism, Report Finds

The year 2024 has been dubbed a "peak year" for antisemitism, with a staggering 340% increase in antisemitic incidents worldwide compared to 2022, according to a new report from the World Zionist Organization and the Jewish Agency for Israel. This sharp rise in antisemitism nearly doubled the number of incidents from 2023, following the outbreak of conflict between Israel and Hamas on October 7, 2023. The report comes as part of efforts to raise awareness ahead of International Holocaust Remembrance Day.

Raheli Baratz, the head of the Department for Combating Antisemitism at the World Zionist Organization and the report's author, warned that the dramatic increase in antisemitic incidents represents a serious threat to the democratic foundations of Western society. The rise in antisemitic discourse, she said, "erodes the fundamental values of democratic society and creates cracks in the wall of pluralism and tolerance."

The report detailed the geographic spread of the incidents, showing alarming trends across the globe:

- United States: Antisemitic incidents surged by 288%, with violence including the murder of Dr. Ben Harouni in California and attacks on synagogues, schools, and universities.

- Canada: Incidents increased by 562%, with a significant portion being violent, such as physical assaults and vandalism.

- Europe: France saw a 350% rise in antisemitic incidents, while the UK recorded a 450% increase. These incidents often involved violence, highlighting growing concerns across the continent.

- Latin America: In Brazil, President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva's comparison of Israeli actions to the Holocaust ignited a wave of antisemitic rhetoric, while in Chile, incidents rose by 325%.

In addition to these regions, incidents were reported across Asia and Africa, with a disturbing trend of increasing anti-Israel rhetoric and Holocaust denial, especially on social media platforms.

Online Antisemitism on the Rise

Online antisemitism grew by more than 300%, with significant increases in classic antisemitism, Holocaust denial, and anti-Israel content. Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, has begun recognizing anti-Zionism as a form of antisemitism in certain contexts. This is seen as part of a deliberate shift in language aimed at making antisemitic expressions more socially acceptable.

Baratz emphasized that the use of terms like "Zionism" in antisemitic discourse is a tactic to bypass traditional hate speech filters and normalize antisemitism.