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Antisemitic attacks in Britain at record high |
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Written by the Jewish Tribune staff
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Tuesday, 28 July 2009 |
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LONDON (JTA) – The number of antisemitic crimes in Britain recorded during the first half of this year was higher than the entire previous year.
The Community Security Trust (CST), which records antisemitic incidents and provides security to the Jewish community in Britain, recorded 609 antisemitic incidents during the first half of this year, compared with 541 in all of 2008. This is the worst year since CST’s records began in 1984.
The record high number of attacks was due to Israel’s operation Cast Lead in the Gaza Strip, officials said; the operation took place from Dec. 27, 2008 to Jan. 17, 2009. January accounted for 286 of the incidents and more than half of them – 158 – included direct reference to the fighting in Gaza. This was by far the worst single month ever recorded, but the antisemitic surge continued in February, with 111 antisemitic incidents. October 2000 had been the previous worst month on record, with 105 incidents. Levels had returned to ‘normal’ by May with 51 incidents.
CST categorized the 2009 incidents as follows: 77 violent assaults; two cases of extreme violence, i.e. attacks that posed a risk to life or constitute grievous bodily harm; 63 incidents of damage and desecration to Jewish property; 34 direct antisemitic threats; 391 incidents of abusive behaviour, including hate mail, verbal abuse and antisemitic graffiti on non-Jewish property; and 44 mass-mailings of antisemitic literature, in paper form or by email.
CST spokesman Mark Gardner said: “British Jews are facing ever higher levels of racist attack and intimidation that threaten the well-being of our otherwise happy and successful Jewish community. There is no excuse for antisemitism, racism and bias, and it is totally unacceptable that overseas conflicts should be impacting here in this way.”
Politicians across the spectrum also condemned the phenomenon.
“This rise in antisemitism is not just concerning for the British Jewish communities but for all those who see themselves as decent human beings,” said Shahid Malik, the minister for cohesion in the governing Labour Party. “This country will not tolerate those who seek to direct hatred towards any part of our community. Of course, it may be legitimate for individuals to criticize or be angry at the actions of the Israeli government but we must never allow this anger to be used to justify antisemitism.”
The shadow secretary of state for children, schools and families, Michael Gove, a Conservative, said reports of attacks on children were of special concern.
“We should condemn antisemitic attacks without exception, but I am especially concerned by the rising number of incidents involving Jewish schools and schoolchildren,” he said. “Teachers and staff bear a vital responsibility to ensure that all forms of political hatred and racism are kept out of our schools and playgrounds.” |
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Last Updated ( Wednesday, 05 August 2009 )
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