Anti-Semitism on rise; violent attacks against Jews decrease

Violent attacks against Jews worldwide dropped in 2013, but anti-Semitism is becoming more widespread in Europe amid a rise in popularity of extremist parties, according to a report released yesterday.

Researchers at Tel Aviv University recorded 554 violent anti-Semitic acts in 2013, including attacks on people and vandalism against synagogues, cemeteries and other Jewish institutions. The figures showed a 19% drop compared with 2012, when a shooting at a Jewish school in Toulouse sparked a series of copycat attacks.

Despite the decline, the number of attacks was similar to that recorded in 2011 and over the last 10 years — a much higher average than the 150-200 cases that occurred between 1994 and 2004.