Your evidence helps us combat this disease
THIS YEAR’S CST annual antisemitism report is probably the most detailed analysis of its type anywhere in the world. It shows the statistics, trends, triggers, victims, locations, perpetrators, ideologies and anything else you may ask about the world’s oldest hatred here in Britain in 2021.
The report has a deeply practical purpose. It is the evidence base that CST and other communal groups use when urging government, police, media and others to understand and help combat antisemitism.
It explains the record levels of reported antisemitism last year and shows how this was caused by the war in May 2021 between Israel and Gaza. I say it was “caused by the war”, but of course that is not strictly true. In fact, the worst year on record was caused by antisemitism, nothing more, nothing less.
Jew-hatred was not invented in 1948 and today’s antisemitism is not some by-product of British Jews inadequately condemning Israel.
Rather, antisemitism has roots in some of the core beliefs underpinning our society. Aspects of Christianity, Islam, nationalism and socialism have all had versions that saw Jews as not merely alien, but as bearing unique cruelty and hostility.
That is why Israel excites frenzies of condemnation like no other nation. That is why this May, from Bournemouth to Glasgow, people drove through Jewish neighbourhoods waving Palestinian flags and yelling abuse. That is why university professors label Jewish students as “Zionists” and treat them like a virus that might infect the campus body.
People still want to attack Jews and if conditions allow, they will do so. The trigger can be Israel at war, but other things will suffice, as happened with Labour under Jeremy Corbyn, or most times Spurs play a football match. We should also note that last year’s record antisemitism comes amid an unprecedented clamour against racism. This is welcome but sometimes it may actually be working against Jews, if antiracist people don’t really understand or recognise antisemitism.
For example, Whoopi Goldberg was absolutely wrong when she said the Holocaust wasn’t really about racism, but she did demonstrate just how profoundly Jews and antisemitism can be excluded from modern anti-racist theory and politics.
All of this is why we need the community to play its part. We can support your individual needs, either directly or with partner groups. We help to explain what antisemitism is and why it matters. But your evidence of antisemitism, reported to CST, shows our key partners in government and police what is urgently needed.