New York: Hate crimes soar
Rise of 28 percent in reports of anti-Semitic crimes, 20 percent increase in attacks against gays, New York Post reports
Hate crimes in New York City have soared by 8 percent, the New York Post reported Monday.
The report, based on New York Police figures, say Jews and gays are increasingly becoming targets of attacks.
Anti-Semitic crimes rose by 28 percent, the Post said, while homophobic attacks rose 20 percent.
According to UPI, New York Police found crimes against Asians and Hispanics to be relatively low.
Anti-Defamation League Spokesman Joel Levy said the rise in statistics on anti-Semitic attacks could be a result of a rise in reports.
"The police are going into communities and making them feel more comfortable, so people who used to be nervous about coming forward and reporting a crime are now coming forward," Levy told the Post.
Europe: Anti-Semitism on the rise
A report presented Sunday at a conference of the World Jewish Congress (WJC) in Paris Sunday indicated that anti-Semitism in Europe had increased pursuant to Israel's war in Lebanon this summer.
The report, consolidated by the European Jewish Congress, with the participation of Jewish communities from 25 nations in continental Europe, revealed that expressions of anti-Semitism have doubled since this summer.
According to the report, there is a distinct and worrying atmosphere of general anti-Semitism, more disturbing than the reports of random anti-Semitic attacks in the street.
