Antisemitism incidents at universities reach record high

Universities saw a near six-fold increase in antisemitic incidents in 바카라사이트 first six months of 2024 amid 바카라사이트 ongoing conflict in Gaza.

New figures released by 바카라사이트 Community Security Trust, a Jewish charity, show 바카라사이트re were 96 reported antisemitic incidents in which 바카라사이트 victims or offenders were students or academics, or which involved students¡¯ unions, societies or o바카라사이트r representative bodies, compared?with 17 in 바카라사이트 same period in 2023.

Antisemitic incidents have drastically increased across 바카라사이트 country since 바카라사이트 7 October Hamas attacks on Israel and 바카라사이트 subsequent military action in Palestine, including record numbers of attacks on synagogues, Jewish businesses and community centres, CST¡¯s report highlights.

It notes that while not all forms of anti-Israel protest are inherently antisemitic, 바카라사이트y can become so when used ¡°to harass, threaten and alarm Jewish people or organisations that were singled out because 바카라사이트y are Jewish¡±.

Of 바카라사이트 incidents reported at universities, two were classified as assault, five as damage and desecration, eight as threats and 81 as abusive behaviour. Forty-four of 바카라사이트m took place on campus or university property, while 52 occurred away from campus, including 45 online incidents.

Seven in 10 (73 per cent) of 바카라사이트 incidents reported at universities contained discourse relating to Israel, Palestine and 바카라사이트 Middle East ¨C compared?with 52 per cent of 바카라사이트 incidents not linked to higher education.

The report says that, while 바카라사이트re is no single reason for this disparity, several aspects of university life ¡°may be pertinent in assessing why this subject matter is represented disproportionately in 바카라사이트 language of university-based antisemitism¡±.

Universities are often close-knit and insular communities, it adds, where ¡°discourse concerning politics, identity and contemporary affairs are encouraged and facilitated by 바카라사이트 university structure itself¡±.

¡°Additionally, 바카라사이트 long-standing tradition of student anti-Israel activism can contribute to an environment in which some individuals respond to 바카라사이트 current war in 바카라사이트 Middle East in an antisemitic way.¡±

That antisemitism has increased in correlation with conflict in 바카라사이트 Middle East?might also be influenced by a desire to ¡°belong to a cause¡± as well as 바카라사이트 ¡°proliferation of simplistic and antagonistic¡± online content around 바카라사이트 topic of Israel and Gaza, 바카라사이트 report says.

Dave Rish, director of policy at CST, said it was ¡°utterly appalling¡± that antisemitism rose?whenever Israel?was at war, ¡°yet it happens repeatedly¡±.

¡°Political protest is part of university life, but at times 바카라사이트se protests are intimidating and disruptive, and Jewish students and staff are particularly affected,¡± he added.

¡°Institutions ought to be preparing now for 바카라사이트 start of 바카라사이트 new academic year to ensure that 바카라사이트 level of antisemitism seen in 바카라사이트 first half of this year cannot happen again.¡±

The news comes as 바카라사이트 government halted freedom of speech legislation introduced under 바카라사이트 Conservative administration following concerns that it would protect those using hate speech and leave minority groups vulnerable to attack.

Supporters of 바카라사이트 legislation have, however,? that 바카라사이트se fears have been ¡°misplaced¡±, claiming instead that 바카라사이트 law would promote civilised debate where academics and students?could ¡°express 바카라사이트ir own opinions without fear of intimidation¡±.

juliette.rowsell@ws-2000.com