Report: American Jews Confronted with Record Amount of Antisemitic Incidents Last Year, Many Tied to Anti-Israel Sentiments

The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) released a report revealing that Jews in America faced a shocking number of antisemitic incidents in 2024, with an average of more than 25 incidents per day. The total of 9,354 incidents represented a 5% increase from the previous year, a significant rise over the past five and ten years, and the highest recorded level since ADL began tracking this data in 1979. The majority of the incidents were related to opposition to Israel for the first time, with 58% of all cases involving discrimination linked to Israel or Zionism.

CEO Jonathan Greenblatt expressed concern over the persistent and grim reality of antisemitism for American Jewish communities, emphasizing that Jewish Americans continue to face harassment, assault, and targeting for their identity on a daily basis. Despite this, he asserted that they will remain proud of their Jewish culture, religion, and identities and not be intimidated by bigots. The report highlighted that even states with small Jewish populations reported significant increases in reported antisemitism, indicating a widespread issue across the country.

The rise in antisemitic incidents linked to opposition to Israel or Zionism was attributed to anti-Israel campus and street protests, particularly during the war in Gaza triggered by Hamas’s invasion of Israel in 2023. Protests often included justifications or glorifications of antisemitic violence, with protesters openly displaying support for US-designated Foreign Terrorist Organizations. Classic antisemitic tropes such as blood libel, conspiracy theories, and equating swastikas with Stars of David were also common among protesters, reflecting a concerning trend of hateful rhetoric.

The report highlighted specific incidents on college campuses, including Columbia and Cornell, where anti-Israel and antisemitic activities were prevalent. Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP) and Party for Socialism and Liberation (PSL) were identified as the most active organizers of protests where antisemitic incidents occurred. The ADL emphasized that opposition to Israel’s policies does not equate to antisemitism, but protests often crossed the line into spewing Jew hatred through discriminatory rhetoric and actions.

The ADL’s Audit of Antisemitic Incidents in 2024 revealed alarming statistics, including 196 assaults, a 21% increase from the previous year, with Orthodox Jews being targeted in nearly a third of the attacks. Incidents of vandalism increased by 20% to 2,606, with swastikas present in nearly 40% of cases. Harassment also rose slightly, with 6,552 incidents recorded, which included antisemitic slurs and bomb threats. The audit included both criminal and non-criminal acts of harassment, vandalism, and assault against individuals and groups, as reported by victims, law enforcement, the media, and other partner organizations.