Hate crimes against Jews hit record high of 4,000 last year, damning figures reveal
HATE crimes against Jews hit a high of 4,000 last year, shock figures show.
Anti-Semitic abuse soared as war raged in the Middle East between Israel and Gaza.
A damning dossier by the Jewish Community Security Trust charity found race hate against Jews was up by 147 per cent in 2023.
Today the CST said that was entirely due to a surge in incidents following the October 7 attacks on Israel by Hamas terrorists.
In 2022 there were 1,662 incidents recorded. That rocketed to 4,000 last year.
Between January 1 and October 6, the CST had recorded an average of five incidents per day.
But from October 7 to December 31 this rose to an average of 31.
On university campuses there was a 203 per cent rise, from 60 in 2022 to 182 in 2023.
Earlier this week three protesters walked free from court despite being convicted for displaying pro-Hamas pictures on a march.
And comedian Paul Currie swore at a Jewish audience member who refused to clap a Palestinian flag at one of his London gigs.
Corrie actress Dame Maureen Lipman, 77, told LBC radio today being anti-Semitic was becoming the “new rock and roll”.
The CST report comes as Labour is embroiled in a fresh anti-Semitism row.
Home Secretary James Cleverly described the soaring number of cases as “utterly deplorable” and vowed to “do everything in my power” to ensure the Jewish community is safe.
Labour’s Shadow Home Secretary Yvette Cooper called the figures a “stain on our society”.
She said: “There must be zero-tolerance for anti-Semitism in Britain.”
CST chief executive Mark Gardner said: “The explosion in hatred against our community is an absolute disgrace.
“It occurs in schools, universities, workplaces, on the streets and all over social media.”
Government independent adviser on anti-Semitism, Lord Mann, said: “This country will not tolerate the abuse or intimation of its citizens.”
Calls for Labour’s guest list
KEIR Starmer must root out every attendee of the meeting where two candidates smeared Israel, critics said earlier tonight.
As many as seven others are thought to have been in the meeting.
Support was withdrawn from Rochdale candidate Azhar Ali, while wannabe-MP Graham Jones was suspended for anti-Semitic remarks.
Cllr Munsif Dad was “spoken to”.
Asked if any others should be suspended, Jewish Labour Movement’s Mike Katz said: “If they’re identifiable, absolutely.”
Shadow Defence Secretary John Healey said: “Restoring the trust of the Jewish community is a constant process.”