Since Hamas attack

Alarming: hatred of Jews has exploded

Hatred of Jews is increasing dramatically in Austria - this is the alarming conclusion reached by the anti-Semitism reporting office of the Jewish Community Vienna (IKG). According to the report, 1147 anti-Semitic incidents were registered last year. This corresponds to an increase of 59.5 percent compared to the previous year.

The previous negative record was 965 anti-Semitic incidents in 2021, which has now been far surpassed. The year 2023 was marked by the major attack on Israel by the Palestinian terrorist organization Hamas on 7 October. The result: an explosive rise in anti-Semitism worldwide.

Before October 7, there was an average of 1.55 incidents per day in Austria. After that, the number rose to 8.31 incidents per day.

1147 anti-Semitic incidents

• 18 physical attacks
• 18 threats
• 149 cases of damage to property
• 536 mass mailings
• 426 cases of offensive behavior

As in previous years, a high number of unreported cases can also be assumed. "We are dealing with an unprecedented explosion of anti-Semitic incidents," said IKG President Oskar Deutsch on Wednesday at the presentation of the annual report of the Anti-Semitism Reporting Office.

"Anti-Semitism is not a trivial offense"
In connection with anti-Israel demonstrations, Deutsch would like to see faster justice. "There are always reports being made, but it would be important for them to lead to convictions." "One or two cases" should be dealt with quickly "to show the anti-Semites that anti-Semitism is not a trivial offense".