Jews in Europe are experiencing unprecedented levels of anxiety due to a significant rise in anti-Semitism. A recent study by the Fundamental Rights Agency (FRA) based in Vienna, Austria, reveals that 96% of Jews have encountered anti-Semitism either online or in their daily lives within the 12 months preceding the survey.
The report highlights that the situation has worsened in recent years, a sentiment echoed by the overwhelming majority of respondents. This survey was conducted before the Hamas attacks in October 2023 and the subsequent war in Gaza, which have further exacerbated the situation.
In this increasingly tense environment, 76% of Jews in Europe reported that they occasionally hide their identity, with the figure rising to 83% in France. The escalation between Israel and the Palestinian movement Hamas has intensified these concerns, leading to a 'spectacular increase' in anti-Semitic incidents.
The FRA collected recent data from twelve Jewish community organizations, which indicates that the conflict's fallout is undermining the progress made since the adoption of the first European strategy to combat anti-Semitism in 2021. In France, 74% of Jews feel that the conflict impacts their sense of security, compared to an average of 62% across other surveyed countries.
The survey, conducted online between January and June 2023, involved nearly 8,000 Jews aged 16 or older living in 13 EU states that host 96% of the Union's Jewish population. This is the third survey on the topic, following those in 2013 and 2018.
According to the findings, the most prevalent negative stereotype is the accusation that Jews 'hold power, control finance, and the media,' followed by the denial of Israel's right to exist as a state. In 4% of cases, respondents reported experiencing anti-Semitic physical attacks, up from 2% in 2018. Additionally, 60% of Jews believe their governments' efforts to combat anti-Semitism are insufficient.
The financial burden on Jewish organizations to ensure their security has also increased, often requiring them to manage these responsibilities independently.
