Wave of Anti-Jewish Activity in the World - October 2000- Summary and Analysis

General

During October (and the New Year which preceded it), Jewish communities throughout the world experienced a wave of anti-Jewish incidents of unprecedented proportions in reaction to the events in Israel and the territories. These incidents, which were termed the 'Al-Aqsa Intifada', led to Muslim religious identification throughout the world and encompassed traditional 'anti-Jewish' elements among Muslims and Palestinians.

Alongside Muslim/Arab/Palestinian activity against Jewish communities, exceptional activity of radical right and Neo-Nazi elements was also prominent. These drew inspiration from the wave of activity from the Islamic direction and from the hostile 'media atmosphere' towards Israel, and stepped up their activity against Jews to promote their goals. Activity from left-wing radical organizations was manifest mainly in anti-Israeli demonstrations.

During October, there were 180 attacks, attack attempts and violent incidents. Many of the incidents were directed towards synagogues and worshippers. There were also many cases, not counted among these, of hostile slogans on synagogues and various buildings throughout the world, harassment of Jews by abusive cries (including from moving cars), many threats received (some of them bomb threats against Jewish facilities) and much propaganda disseminated that was directed towards Israel, Zionism and the Jews, which also included incitement and a call for killing Jews in various places in the world (including Britain).

Some countries were conspicuous in the number of incidents that occurred - France (61 incidents), Canada (29 incidents), the U.S. (22 incidents) and Britain (20 incidents). These countries are characterized by a large Jewish population which has many community facilities and at the same time, a large Muslim population.

During October, there were 5 cases of shots fired and stabbing:

• in London, a young Jew was stabbed and hospitalized in serious condition.
• in New York, a Jew was attacked with a knife and required medical treatment.
• in Chicago, several shots were fired at a rabbi.
• in Sun Valley, California, shots were fired from an air rifle at a synagogue parking lot.
• In London, England, shots were fired from an air rifle at a synagogue and smashed windows.

31 cases of physical attacks occurred during October, in 6 of which the victims required medical treatment or hospitalization - in Schwerin, Germany, Montreal, Brussels, London, Toulouse and Buenos Aires.

37 cases of Molotov cocktails and burning articles thrown occurred during the month. Most of them - 25 cases - occurred in France. In Canada there were 4 cases, in Australia 2, in Belgium 2, and in the U.S., Germany, Uzbekistan and the Netherlands one each.

There were also 22 cases of arson and attempted arson. Most of them were in France - 9 cases, in the U.S. 5, in Canada 4, in Australia 2 and in Britain and Sweden one each.

2 cases of explosions and fire occurred this month - one in Paris (Trappes), where a synagogue was completely burnt down and in Syracuse, New York, where much damage was caused to the synagogue. There was also one case of a dummy letter bomb sent this month in Germany.

There were 65 cases of stones, bottles and other articles thrown this month. Most of them occurred in Britain and France and some in other countries such as Canada, the U.S., Germany, Belgium, Spain, including Ceuta, the Netherlands, Dagestan, Mexico, Brazil, Argentina and Australia.

There were 17 instances of desecration of cemeteries, memorials, synagogues and succahs in October (about half of them in Germany).

In Europe, France was the focus of anti-Jewish activity with 61 attacks, attack attempts and violent incidents. In addition to France, these countries were outstanding in their level of anti-Jewish violence: Britain (20 instances), Germany (13) and Belgium (7). Other countries in Europe which reported such incidents were the Netherlands (4), Spain and Ceuta (3) and Scandinavia (2).

North America was a further focus of activity. In Canada, there were 20 attacks, attack attempts and violent incidents and in the U.S., 22 cases of such activity.

Australia reported 12 cases of attacks, attack attempts and violent incidents.

Conspicuous in its relatively low number of incidents was South America, with 4 violent incidents and the CIS with 3.

According to the analysis of the violent incidents directed at Jewish communities since the outbreak of the riots in the Territories, it is apparent that these expressed popular protest, partly organized, which derived from a desire to show solidarity with the Palestinian struggle. The characteristics of the activity and its results indicate an absence of professional direction and execution in the series of attacks and incidents and an amateur and even spontaneous type of activity.

The great amount of anti-Jewish activity which struck Jewish communities around the world during October points to a tight connection between events in Israel and the Territories and reactions towards Jewish communities throughout the world. The communities are perceived by hostile elements as unequivocally identified with the State of Israel and Zionism.

The great preoccupation of the media with the events and Muslim/Palestinian propaganda fall on attentive ears, not only in the Muslim/Palestinian/Arab camp, but in the radical right camp and the radical left camp which traditionally supports Palestinian goals.

We assess that the connection and coordination between what happens in the Israeli-Palestinian arena and what occurs in the Jewish community around the world is expected to continue. Escalation of violent activity in the Territories and in Israel could re-ignite activity against Jewish communities. The scope of activity against Jewish communities might decrease due to the awareness and willingness of the authorities on the one hand and the acclimatization to the current wave of conflict on the other. Nevertheless, it is likely that the type of activity will be more professional. The extent of the threat against Jewish communities is prominent in those countries where there is a large Arab population such as France, Britain, Belgium and Germany in Europe and in North America.

Incidents against Jewish communities throughout the world are tightly bound up in what goes on in Israel and the Territories. A certain drop in the scope of events in Israel and the subsequent less media coverage is clearly reflected in a drop in the number of anti-Jewish incidents around the world.