2010: Anti-Semitic incidents in UK drop 31% from 2009

Figures, nonetheless, are the the second-highest ever according to CST report; 639 incidents were reported across the country.

By JONNY PAUL
CST anti-Semitism graph 311 (photo credit: CST)
CST anti-Semitism graph 311
(photo credit: CST)
LONDON – Anti-Semitic attacks in the UK are at their second-highest level since records began, according to a report published by a community organization on Thursday.
The Community Security Trust (CST), a charity that monitors anti- Semitism and provides security for the Jewish community in Britain, recorded 639 anti-Semitic incidents across the country in 2010.
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A further 372 reports were received by CST, but they were not deemed anti-Semitic and were therefore not included in the total.
CST defines an anti-Semitic incident as “any malicious act aimed at Jewish people, organizations or property, which shows evidence of anti-Semitic motivation, language or targeting.”
Although there was a 31-percent fall from the previous year, which saw Operation Cast Lead as a “trigger event,” the 2010 total saw a 17% rise compared to the 2008 figure of 546 incidents, continuing the long-term trend of rising anti-Semitic-incident levels over the past decade.
A record 926 anti-Semitic incidents were reported in 2009, the most since the CST started keeping records 27 years ago.
According to the report, the highest monthly total in 2010 was September, with the High Holy Days bringing large numbers of visibly Jewish people onto the streets. A total of 82 anti- Semitic incidents were recorded during that month.
The only trigger event during 2010 was the Gaza flotilla incident at the end of May. This contributed to a monthly total of 81 anti-Semitic incidents in June.
According to a breakdown of incident types in the report, there were 114 violent anti-Semitic assaults in 2010, as well as 83 cases of damage and desecration of Jewish property.
The latter includes anti-Semitic slogans, symbols, stickers or posters on Jewish property and damage to the property itself, with the property being targeted because of its actual or perceived Jewish connection.
There were also 385 incidents of abusive behavior, including verbal abuse, anti-Semitic graffiti and one-off cases of hate mail; 32 direct anti- Semitic threats; and 25 cases of massmailed anti-Semitic leaflets or e-mails.
“It is obviously worrying that a year with no major crisis in the Middle East should still produce such a high number of incidents, and continue the long-term upward trend,” said Mark Gardner, CST’s communications director.
“The incidents reveal a more embedded, basic street racism against Jews, which is growing steadily each year but can be obscured sometimes by the Israel-related anti-Semitism that emerges during times of crisis in the Middle East,” he said.
MP John Mann, chairman of the All- Party Parliamentary Group Against Anti-Semitism, stated that “these figures are a sad and timely reminder of how important our continuing campaigns are.”
He added that “our focus is absolute, and we will continue to do all we can to ensure these numbers go down over the coming years.”
Recognized by police and government as a model of responsible communal security, CST has recorded anti- Semitic incidents on behalf of the Jewish community in the UK since 1984.
Incidents are reported to the charity’s offices and representatives around the country by members of the Jewish community, Jewish organizations and other victims of, or witnesses to, anti- Semitic acts. Incidents can be reported by telephone, e-mail or mail.