Antisemitism Incidents Have Risen Sharply

According to the report published on Wednesday by the Antisemitism Reporting Office of the IKG Vienna, 1,520 antisemitic incidents were documented in Austria last year. Compared to 2023, which was previously the year with the most reports (1,147 cases), this represents an increase of 32.5 percent.

Wave of Antisemitism Incidents Following Hamas Terror Attack

After the Hamas massacre on October 7, 2023, in Israel, a "veritable wave of antisemitism broke out," said IKG President Oskar Deutsch during the presentation of the report. It is a "new reality" consisting of "worries and fear, police presence, and massive security concerns." Regarding the 1,520 reports in 2024, the president said he did not want to know which antisemitic incidents were not reported - "there is certainly a much higher number." "It is our collective duty (...) to fight against this cancer of antisemitism. It's not about the numbers, it's about the people," said Deutsch. As an example, he mentioned children who were recognized as Jews because of their clothing and physically attacked by youths - or attacks on a father with two children after leaving the synagogue in Vienna after evening prayers. Deutsch also reported on a child who no longer wants to go to school due to harassment on the way to school. "We will never get used to it," he said about such incidents.

Of the 1,520 incidents reported in the report (available at https://go.apa.at/nyPUqt70), 24 were physical attacks (2023: 18), 38 threats (2023: 18), in addition, there were 216 cases of property damage (2023: 149), 616 cases of mass mailings (2023: 536), and 626 cases of offensive behavior (2023: 426). Since the establishment of the reporting office, the cases have increased significantly. In the first year, 2009, there were 200 reported incidents, in 2015 the number rose to over 400 for the first time with 465 and remained below 600 until 2020. In 2021, 965 cases were recorded, 719 in 2022, before the numbers then skyrocketed following the Hamas attack. Looking at the ideological background of the attacks, 30.8 percent (468 cases) were unassignable. 29.8 percent (453 cases) had a Muslim background, 24.7 percent (376) a left-wing, and 14.7 percent (223) a right-wing background.

IKG President Sees All Sides Called to Fight Against Antisemitism

For the victims, it is "completely irrelevant whether the attacker is a Nazi or an Islamist. Whether it comes more from one side or the other is completely irrelevant," President Deutsch saw all sides called to take action against such incidents. He no longer believes that antisemitism can be completely eradicated, he said. "But we must reduce it to a somewhat tolerable level." However, Jewish life will not disappear from the public, "on the contrary," Deutsch said defiantly. It is the task, "especially in challenging times, to show even more presence." "We will not let antisemites, no matter from which side, drive our Jewish life in Vienna or Austria away in any way. We are Austrians, we enjoy living here, we also want to fully live out our Jewish life here." Schools and synagogues must be secured, which also costs a lot of money, he emphasized, and the executive is increasing patrols in places where there are many community members. "We will not be intimidated by anyone." IKG Secretary General Benjamin Nägele said that what is particularly shocking is the "brutalization" and the physical assaults, "which are increasing" - and from the context, "that perpetrators are getting younger and that the victims are getting younger."

Government Announces Action Plan Against Antisemitism

The State Secretary in the Federal Chancellery responsible for combating antisemitism, Alexander Pröll (ÖVP), announced a new action plan in light of the figures. "The results of this report are an urgent wake-up call. Particularly alarming is the increase in antisemitic incidents related to Israel," said Pröll in a statement available to the APA. It is "unacceptable that more and more people in Austria feel legitimized to antisemitism by the politics of Israel." The position of the federal government is clear: "The Jewish communities have a reliable partner in us," said Pröll. "An appropriate adaptation of the National Strategy is urgently necessary," said Pröll. Therefore, a new action plan is to be presented this year. Antisemitism in any form is a danger to society. "We will consistently counter these worrying developments," emphasized Pröll.

Integration Minister Claudia Plakolm (ÖVP) stated in a written statement that Muslim antisemitism has "overtaken right-wing antisemitism and is, at 30 percent, the most common form of antisemitism. "At this point, I expect not only a clear commitment from all parties but also a commitment from Muslims, from religious communities, from left and right associations and organizations, that antisemitism has no place in this country," she explained. She also expects "appropriate actions."

From the SPÖ, the spokesperson for remembrance culture, Sabine Schatz, was "deeply affected" by the figures. She sees a "clear mandate for action" in them: "We will resolutely oppose antisemitism. The protection and security of the Jewish community and Jewish institutions are a priority," she said in a release. She is pleased that the federal government clearly commits to promoting Jewish life in Austria and fighting antisemitism. Now, further work must be done on implementing the National Strategy against Antisemitism. "We will also refine where necessary to combat antisemitism sustainably."

Greens and NEOS: Antisemitism Must Have No Place

The Green spokesperson for right-wing extremism, Lukas Hammer, stated in a release that antisemitic attitudes are "by no means only to be found at the 'margins' of society but run through all areas of society." Therefore, the fight against antisemitism must also be a comprehensive and socio-political mandate. "Antisemitism must have no place in our society - no matter from which side it comes," said Hammer. Urgent targeted measures are needed - "in education, prevention, and deradicalization." For this, the National Action Plan against Antisemitism must be "urgently revised and adapted."

The NEOS also expressed "great concern": "Antisemitic attitudes and actions are no longer limited to individual perpetrators or a few social groups but are evident across society, increasingly among young people," said NEOS justice spokesperson Stephanie Krisper in a release. "Antisemitism appears in different forms and must be efficiently prevented and combated in all its forms - regardless of whether it is right-wing, left-wing, politically, or religiously motivated, both in public and digital spaces. For us NEOS, it is clear: Antisemitism - no matter from which direction - has no place in Austria." Education Minister Christoph Wiederkehr (NEOS) emphasized that antisemitism has no place in schools and referred to a scientific project developing recommendations for schools on dealing with antisemitism. Additionally, the federal government is developing a new nationwide strategy against antisemitism, which will also include the training and further education of teachers.

The Freedom Party, meanwhile, identifies a "rise of left-wing extremist violence in Austria." The dramatic increase in antisemitic incidents is "more than an alarm signal," said left-wing extremism spokesperson Sebastian Schwaighofer, who points to perpetrators from the Islamist and left-wing extremist spectrum. Yet, the government remains persistently silent on left-wing extremism. It is "trivialized, ignored, or even made socially acceptable" as long as it is directed against the opposition.

(APA/Red)

This article has been automatically translated, read the original article here.