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Last update - 20:36 27/01/2008
Anti-Semitic incidents rise in Germany, Australia, U.S. in 2007
By Anshel Pfeffer and Asaf Uni, Haaretz Correspondent
Tags: Anti-Semitism, Australia 

The annual global report on anti-Semitism being presented to the cabinet Sunday morning points to a rise in anti-Semitic incidents in Germany, Australia, the United States and Ukraine together with an overall decrease in Western Europe. The largest number of incidents were recorded in Britain, followed by France.

Under pressure from Diaspora Jewish community leaders, particularly the Board of Deputies of British Jews, it was decided this year not to cite numbers of incidents but only to report general trends. In previous years there were discrepancies between the numbers in the Israeli report and data published by other countries.

The report, a joint government and Jewish Agency project, indicates a decline in anti-Semitic incidents in 2007 after the steep jump registered for 2006 in the wake of the Second Lebanon War. In countries where an increase did occur, such as Germany and Australia, this was tied to the strengthening of the radical right, along with aggression by local Muslim communities.
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Rising anti-Semitic incidents in the U.S., including a 30-percent increase in New York, is also associated with racist activity by right-wing extremist groups.

In Ukraine, last year saw a move from spontaneous anti-Semitic acts to more organized activity within parties with anti-Semitic platforms and the distribution of anti-Semitic propaganda at universities and colleges. Contrary to President Victor Yushchenko's declarations during his visit to Israel two months ago, the government only recently began countering such activity.

Similar trends can be seen in other Eastern European countries. Anti-Semitism is rife in Russia, alongside general racism and xenophobia, but the central government has cracked down on the phenomenon over the past year.

The security director for the Board of Deputies of British Jews, Michael Whine, declined to comment on Britain's topping the list of anti-Semitic incidents in the Israeli report, saying only, "we are still going over our data."

In related news, the Muslim Council of Britain will participate for the first time in today's National Holocaust Memorial Day, chosen for the date that Auschwitz was liberated. The large umbrella organization decided two months ago to end its six-year boycott of the memorial day, a decision that followed accusations in recent years by the British government and Jewish organizations that its positions were anti-Semitic.

The city of Liverpool will host the main event, where speakers will include Britain's Chief Rabbi, Sir Jonathan Sacks and the Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr. Rowan Williams.

Related articles:
  • Anti-Semitic incidents rise in Germany, Australia, U.S. in 2007
  • Holocaust scholar: 'Jew' has become curse word among German youth
  • ADL commends N.Y. police for arrests in anti-Semitic subway attack
  • Report: British Jews facing more anti-Semitic sentiment than ever


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      1.   Thank the BBC 01:09  |  Judith 27/01/08
      2.   Words from a Muslim 01:24  |  Absolute Truth 27/01/08
      3.   The BBC and Haaretz are partially responsible for anti-semitism 01:37  |  Steve Randolph 27/01/08
      4.   Yes, the number of attacks on Arab Semites is on the rise! 01:37  |  Manny 27/01/08
      5.   Goebbels `Humans Rights` Code Word to Increase Anti Semitism 01:43  |  Joseph . E 27/01/08
      6.   when 1 writes ab. antisemitism, 1 never deals w. 01:47  |  bozhidar balkas 27/01/08
      7.   If you don`t get the numbers it says nothing 02:20  |  Mark B. 27/01/08
      8.   `trends` rather than numbers of incidents 02:47  |  hollingsworth 27/01/08
      9.   OIL MONEY IN COLLEGES 03:02  |  TOBIA 27/01/08
      10.   Few people can distinguish between israel & world jewry! 03:05  |  lakshmi 27/01/08
      11.   In Australia the left are doing a sterling job. 03:09  |  PETER SM 27/01/08
      12.   acts of foolish despiration upon the easiest target 03:13  |  The Shrink 27/01/08
      13.   Rise in Anti Semitism EXECTED 03:30  |  Theodore 27/01/08
      14.   #2 03:38  |  Moshe 27/01/08
      15.   The hypocritical MUSLIM Council of BRITAIN..... 04:29  |  Dolly 27/01/08
      16.   lol a sight to pity 05:20  |  donnie 27/01/08
      17.   australia?????? 05:56  |  staydead23 27/01/08
      18.   Mark, Thanks for your honesty (from a zionist) 06:07  |  Avi 27/01/08
      19.   You are so wrong Lakshmi but that not stopped you before 06:17  |  Avi 27/01/08
      20.   # 17 Australia ??? 06:29  |  ATLAS 27/01/08
      21.   U.S. Antisemitism and the ADL 07:36  |  Woody 27/01/08
      22.   ATLAS 07:37  |  kiwi girl 27/01/08
      23.   to # 17`s shock re Australia 08:16  |  David 27/01/08
      24.   Blink and you miss it 08:40  |  sh 27/01/08
      25.   Kiwi girl # 22 08:54  |  ATLAS 27/01/08
      26.   to Judith 09:10  |  Puhi 27/01/08
      27.   Fight anti-Semitism. 09:12  |  Harold Lane 27/01/08
      28.   Anti-Semitic incidents rise in Germany, Australia, U.S. in 2007 09:38  |  Ana 27/01/08
      29.   I can`t help but thinking that we`re all being called back... 09:38  |  akiva (zionist) 27/01/08
      30.   antisematism 09:44  |  joseph theeboom 27/01/08
      31.   KIWIgirl.Loony left is pretty good with own financial demands! 10:00  |  PETER SM 27/01/08
      32.   Academically fashionable to be anti-semitic!... 10:01  |  akiva (zionist) 27/01/08
      33.   Germany 10:31  |  Choni Davidowitz 27/01/08
      34.   That didn`t take long... 10:54  |  MaryRose 27/01/08
      35.   And when they come for you Mark B, who will speak for YOU? 11:00  |  MaryRose 27/01/08
      36.   Anti-semitic or anti-Israel? 11:09  |  AussieJew 27/01/08
      37.   Ant Semetism up 100% in Israel 11:12  |  Ben 27/01/08
      38.   hysteria 11:15  |  Angel 27/01/08
      39.   AUSSIEJEW Screaming "Itbak al Yahud"in Sylverwater is antisemitic 11:26  |  PETER SM 27/01/08
      40.   I am so proud 11:27  |  Paul Wood 27/01/08
      41.   #10 Lakshmi, the moral arbiter of the world? 11:30  |  MaryRose 27/01/08
      42.   #24, sh: "blink and you miss it" 11:43  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 27/01/08
      43.   Peter SM 11:45  |  MaryRose 27/01/08
      44.   another aussie Jew 11:47  |  les 27/01/08
      45.   no surprise when did it go away ? 11:47  |  v hardman 27/01/08
      46.   MaryRose of LA 12:03  |  akiva (zionist) 27/01/08
      47.   # 24 " it`s not even so bad..." 12:21  |  MaryRose 27/01/08
      48.   Anti-Semitism in Germany 12:35  |  Jonathan S 27/01/08
      49.   #35 Mary Rose 12:37  |  Chris Linthwaite 27/01/08
      50.   #33 12:38  |  aGerman 27/01/08
      51.   Sisters and brothers, know that you do have a hope here in Israel 12:38  |  Ravit 27/01/08
      52.   Thank the BBC 12:54  |  Sallee 27/01/08
      53.   #51 Ravit 13:12  |  Paul Wood 27/01/08
      54.   Zionist propaganda 13:14  |  Philip 27/01/08
      55.   MARRose there was no misunderstanding when the Mufti of Australia 13:16  |  PETER SM 27/01/08
      56.   Jonathan B. 13:17  |  Philip 27/01/08
      57.   #48 - anti-semitism in Germany 13:41  |  Klaus Bloemker 27/01/08
      58.   PETER SM 13:47  |  AussieJew 27/01/08
      59.   mainly by muslims, so no need for concern 14:05  |  mehmet 27/01/08
      60.   # 48 I give up 14:08  |  Alex 27/01/08
      61.   jews are victims of self 14:15  |  comprehensions 27/01/08
      62.   Anti-Semitism OR Anti-Israelism? 14:42  |  Westwell 27/01/08
      63.   Antisemitism and its environment 14:49  |  Brod 27/01/08
      64.   Peter #55 15:01  |  MaryRose 27/01/08
      65.   Alex (#60), if it`s me that you think of 15:02  |  christoph 27/01/08
      66.   Choni Davidowitz (Post No. 33) 15:16  |  Johnny Weintraub 27/01/08
      67.   #48 15:28  |  aGerman 27/01/08
      68.   Israel`s cruelty against the Palestinians rising: there is a link 15:31  |  Tamar 27/01/08
      69.   racism - on the whole 15:47  |  kaled 27/01/08
      70.   #48 Say Jonathan 15:50  |  ballistic 27/01/08
      71.   its to bad the zionist entity has evoke such hostility to jews 16:02  |  Assad-u-LLAH 27/01/08
      72.   # 17 staydead23 ......perhaps if the