Jew-hate hits record high
● CST documents new peak in antisemitic incidents over first six months of 2019
THE LATEST report from the Community Security Trust reveals a record high total of antisemitic incidents in the UK in the first six months of this year.
Between January and June 2019, there were 892 incidents of anti-Jewish racism recorded by the CST — a rise of 10 per cent on the first six months of 2018.
The CST’s report, published on Thursday, shows that social media accounted for 36 per cent or 384 of the incidents.
The report suggests the internet has become an “essential and convenient vessel through which those who wish to harass, abuse and threaten
Jewish individuals and institutions” can target Jews.
The CST also recorded 85 incidents which were classed as “assaults” during the first six months of 2019 — an increase of 37 per cent on the 62 incidents of this type recorded in the first half of 2018.
Abusive behaviour — including verbal abuse, antisemitic graffiti, antisemitic abuse via social media and oneoff cases of hate mail — accounted for 710 of the total number.
While incidents in the Greater London and Greater Manchester regions dropped slightly, there was an increase in incidents in Hertfordshire, Merseyside and Wales.
David Delew, the CST’s chief executive, said: “This is the third year in a row that CST has seen an increase in reports of antisemitic incidents. The problem is spreading across the country and online. It reflects deepening divisions in our society and it is causing increasing anxiety in the Jewish community. It will take people of all communities and backgrounds standing together to turn this tide of hate around.”
The highest monthly totals seen during the first half of 2019 were February and March, with 182 and 169 antisemitic incidents respectively.
These were months when issues relating to Jews and antisemitism were prominent in news and politics due to the continuing controversy over antisemitism in the Labour Party.
February saw several MPs leave Labour — including Luciana Berger, who cited antisemitism as the main reason for her decision.
Twenty-five of the reported assaults involved punching or kicking of the victim; 23 involved stones, bottles, eggs or other objects being thrown; and 53 contained an element of antisemitic verbal abuse.
At least two incidents resulted in the victim needing to attend hospital. None of these violent incidents were classified by CST as ‘extreme violence’, which would mean they involved grievous bodily harm or a threat to life.
There were 225 antisemitic incidents reported to CST in the first six months of 2019 in which the victims were random Jewish individuals.
In at least 110 incidents the victims were visibly Jewish on account of their religious or traditional clothing, Jewish school uniforms or jewellery and insignia bearing religious symbols.
There were 22 antisemitic incidents recorded during the first six months of 2019 that targeted synagogues — which involved buildings, congregants and staff while on location.
A further 16 incidents saw synagogue congregants or rabbis targeted on their way to or from prayer services
— 11 such incidents were recorded from January to June last year.
Almost two thirds of the 892 antisemitic incidents were recorded in Greater London and Greater Manchester, the two largest Jewish communities in the UK.
CST recorded 453 antisemitic incidents in Greater London in the first half of 2019 — a fall of one per cent from the 459 incidents recorded in London in the first half of 2018.
There was a similar fall in antisemitic incidents in Greater Manchester, from 125 incidents in the first half of 2018 to 123 incidents this year.
In contrast, CST recorded an increase in antisemitic incidents outside London and Manchester, from 226 incidents in the first half of 2018 to 316 this year.
This included 43 antisemitic incidents in Hertfordshire, 34 in Merseyside, 18 in Gateshead, 15 in Leeds, 12 in Birmingham and 11 in Wales.
This increase in antisemitic incidents outside London and Manchester is probably a consequence of the increase in online incidents recorded by CST, as well as reflecting CST’s ongoing efforts to improve the sharing of anonymised incident reports with police forces around the UK.
National Police Chiefs’ Council Lead for Hate Crime, Assistant Chief Constable Mark Hamilton said: “We value the work of our partners at the Community Security Trust in protecting communities, helping us to understand the nature and extent of the antisemitic hostility and for sharing their expertise with others who suffer similar abuse.
“There are still far too many in our society who are prepared to act illegally, fuelled by global events, divisions in our own society or by bigoted ideologies. Evidence from hate crime statistics and the national crime survey over the last decade suggest that more hate crime victims are willing to report crimes when they do occur. However, we cannot be complacent and a single crime is unacceptable. I would encourage every victim to report any hate crimes, either by contacting the police direct or through CST.”
Communities Secretary Rt Hon Robert Jenrick MP said: “Antisemitism has absolutely no place in our society and it is utterly appalling to see that the number of antisemitic incidents continues to rise.
“This government has put millions into protecting all places of worship and faith schools, and we continue to fund education courses to tackle the scourge of racism at its root.”
Board of Deputies President Marie van der Zyl commented: “Yet again, the CST has recorded the highestever number of antisemitic incidents, [this time] for the first six months of 2019, surpassing last year’s total which was itself a record.
“The report shows a 46 per cent rise in incidents of anti-Jewish racism on social media and over 100 were specifically related to alleged antisemitism within the Labour Party.
“This makes shameful reading for the party’s leadership. They must finally take the steps required to rid their party of this appalling racism. Defeating the evil of antisemitism will take a concerted effort by the country’s political leadership and civil society to ensure that this country remains a safe and happy place for the Jewish community.”
Over 100 incidents were specifically related to antisemitism in Labour’
Yet again, the six-monthly figures from the Community Security Trust show a record number of antisemitic incidents — and a further ten per cent rise in the number recorded between January and June of this year and the same period in 2018. In all but two months since April 2016 there have been more than a hundred recorded incidents — a level of antisemitic abuse and attack that was previously seen only when Israel was at war. But the cause of this ongoing record increase in antisemitism is no mystery. It can be summed up in two words: Jeremy Corbyn. So we address this directly to the Labour leader: Are these figures high enough for you, Mr Corbyn? Because, by any objective analysis of contemporary British antisemitism, Mr Corbyn must be seen as the instigator. Over the almost four years of his leadership, Mr Corbyn has refused to take any meaningful action against antisemitism in his party and has merely mouthed platitudes.
But his is not a sin of omission; it is one of commission. His words may say one thing but his behaviour shows something very different. That behaviour has sent a clear message to racists that they are welcome in the Labour Party. More widely, Mr Corbyn has injected a poison into British politics and turbocharged the levels of open antisemitism in British society. These CST figures are Jeremy Corbyn’s legacy. They are the legacy of the most dangerous racist in British politics — a man whose toxic views and behaviour pose a far greater threat to ethnic minorities than the National Front or the BNP ever managed. The figures should shame Mr Corbyn. But, as the past four years have shown, he has no sense of shame.