The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) has published its inaugural J7 Annual Report on Antisemitism as the globe readies to observe the 80th anniversary of Victory in Europe (VE) Day.
The document highlights the increase in antisemitism observed in nations with sizable Jewish communities beyond Israel, such as the U.S., the U.K., Argentina, Canada, France, Germany, and Australia.
The J7 Task Force was established in July 2023, shortly before Hamas initiated its deadly assaults on Israel. Following the tragedy, the ADL has detected a surge in antisemitic occurrences and attitudes globally.
Anti-Israel demonstrators deface property on the day of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s address to a joint meeting of Congress on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., on July 24, 2024. (Katie Pavlich)
The United Kingdom
The Board of Deputies of British Jews (the Board) said in its section of the report that antisemitism has dropped since Q4 2023 but still remains above pre-Oct. 7 levels. Meanwhile, British Jews are “finding everyday life in the U.K. an increasing challenge” with 25% of British Jews feeling unsafe in the country.
The Community Security Trust’s 2024 Antisemitic Incidents Report showed 3,528 antisemitic incidents in the U.K., representing an 18% decrease from the 4,296 incidents reported in 2023.
“Posters of Israeli hostages are regularly torn down, and in major cities the UK has faced weekly hate marches calling for Israel’s destruction,” the Board wrote. It also stated that the Institute of Jewish Policy Research called this phenomenon “ambient antisemitism.”
The Board acknowledged the government’s actions to fight antisemitism but said that statistics showed that further action was needed. “Enhanced law enforcement, stricter regulations on online hate speech, and comprehensive educational programs are essential to effectively combat antisemitic attitudes and behaviors,” the Board wrote.
Overall, the Board believes the U.K.’s three main areas of focus should be addressing antisemitic incidents, fighting online hate speech and restoring a sense of security among British Jews.
The United States
The ADL and the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations worked together to compile a report on rising antisemitism in the U.S., noting the “alarming rise” in antisemitic incidents and attitudes.
In its 2024 antisemitism audit, which was released last month, the ADL identified 9,354 antisemitic incidents in 2024, a 5% increase from 2023 and a staggering 926% increase since it began tracking in 1979.
“Let’s be clear, antisemitism is an irrational hatred of individuals or institutions just because they are Jewish,” ADL CEO Jonathan Greenblatt told Fox News Digital upon the release of the audit. He also noted that “ADL has been conducting an annual audit of antisemitic incidents since the 1970s. And we’ve simply never seen numbers like this.”
The ADL and the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations found that “the groundswell of antisemitism in the United States shows no signs of abating.” In the report, both organizations said that the polarized political environment makes it hard to predict how antisemitism will develop.
