The number of anti-Semitic incidents rose significantly in Europe last year, according to a joint study released Sunday by the Jewish Agency's Forum for the Coordination of the Struggle Against Anti-Semitism, the Foreign Ministry and the Prime Minister's Office.

Figures for anti-Semitic acts in Germany, Austria and the Scandinavian countries increased dramatically in 2006, the study said.

The study indicated that 360 incidents were registered in France in 2006 (compared to 300 in 2005), 312 in Britain (compared to 321), some 300 in Russia (250), 83 in Austria (50) and 53 in Scandinavia (35).

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The study shows an increase of 60% in anti-Semitic incidents in the Berlin area, though figures were not provided for Germany as a whole.

The Lebanon war produced a wave of criticism against Israel, it said, and comparisons of its actions to those of Nazi Germany.

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez said in August that the Israeli offensive in Lebanon "is reminiscent of the Fascist nature of Hitler."

Likewise, a caricature in a Norwegian newspaper showed Prime Minister Ehud Olmert as the sadistic SS officer portrayed in the film "Schindler's List."

Studies were released in various European Union countries throughout the year testifying to the breadth and severity of the phenomenon.

A report released by the British parliament indicated that Islamist and radical leftist sources were responsible for the heightened anti-Semitism in the United Kingdom.

A German study pointed to the widespread use of anti-Semitic slurs in schools, particularly by Muslim students.

A study conducted in Ukraine revealed that a third of the country's residents had negative opinions of Jews.

The authors of the document stressed the difficulties in determining whether an incident can indeed be defined as anti-Semitic, but said the paper reflects a broad trend of growing anti-Semitism in the countries polled.