Berlin faces surge in antisemitic incidents, hits record high
The number of acts against the Jewish community has increased. According to Deutsche Welle, Berlin witnessed a record number of antisemitic incidents, marking the highest annual figure in almost a decade.
7:04 PM EST, November 28, 2024
Berlin recorded a record number of antisemitic incidents, marking the highest annual figure in almost a decade. In the first half of 2024, the number of such events already exceeded the total number from the previous year.
According to a report published by the Federal Association of Departments for Research and Information on Antisemitism, 1,383 incidents were registered in the German capital, averaging seven to eight per day.
This number surpasses the 1,270 incidents recorded in 2023 and is the highest since 2015, when the documentation of such events began in Germany. Among the reported incidents between January and June this year were two cases of extreme violence and 23 assaults.
They beat and spit on children
According to the German outlet DW, there were also 37 reported cases of deliberate property damage, including 21 involving monuments, 28 threats, and 1,240 cases of abusive behavior. There were also reports of Jewish or Israeli children being beaten or spit on by their peers.
Additionally, there was a significant increase in antisemitic incidents in educational institutions, with 74 reported cases, including 27 in schools. Since the Hamas attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, and the subsequent Israeli military offensive in Gaza, 230 cases were reported monthly. Up to 71.6% of recorded incidents had a direct connection to Israel.
The report indicates a worrying trend of increasing social acceptance of antisemitic statements and behaviors. This particularly pertains to verbal and symbolic attacks directed against Israel, but also includes instances of Holocaust trivialization and the use of overt antisemitic insults.
