Neo-Nazi march in Virginia
US Jewry sees 70% increase in anti-Semitic incidents
ADL figures reveal attacks on Jewish schools, community centers doubled from 2016 to 2017; sharp rise in incidents on college campuses under anti-Israel guise.
A total of 1,299 anti-Semitic incidents took place in the United States in the first nine months of 2017—an increase of almost 70 percent from the previous year, according to figures released by the Anti Defamation League (ADL).
The statistics include assaults, destruction of property and attacks against Jewish institutions. The report was revealed Monday at a Knesset session of the Committee for Immigration, Absorption and the Diaspora.
Hate vandalism (Phot: JCCNV)
The number of attacks on Jewish schools and community centers doubled, as incidents of harassment and destruction of Jewish property are experiencing a sharp rise on US college campuses under the guise of anti-Israel attacks.
Carol Nuriel, executive director of the ADL office in Israel, stressed that many incidents go unreported either due to the victim's fears or because identifying an incident as anti-Semitic is often problematic.
Nuriel reported that from January 1 to September 30, 2017, there were 703 incidents of harassment, 162 bomb threats against Jewish institutions, 584 incidents of destruction of property—including 52 against institutions; and 12 physical assaults.
The incidents took place across the United States. New York, which has the largest Jewish community, witnessed 267 incidents; California witnessed 197; Florida—69; and Pennsylvania—58.
Only 12% did not experience anti-Semitism
The ADL refereed as well to the radical right wing march in Charlottesville Virginia last summer where anti-Semitic and racist slurs were hurled and swastika flags waved.
Immediately after the march, there was a sharp uptick in anti-Semitic incidents. Of the 306 incidents during the third quarter, 221 took place on the day of the march or immediately after. The Charlottesville march was only one of 33 radical right wing marches that took place in the US during the year.
Incidents at Jewish schools doubled in 2017 compared to the previous year: 269 compared to 130 in 2016. There were 142 assaults and 114 incidents of property destruction.
The ADL reported that there were 118 anti-Semitic incidents on college campuses up to September 2017, up from 74 the previous year –an increase of 59 percent.
According to a recent poll by the World Zionist Organization, 70 percent of US Jews have experienced some form of anti-Semitism during the last year; only 12 percent claim to never have experienced such an incident. However, only 10 percent of victims have reported the incident according to Yaakov Hagoel, deputy director of the organization.
