On Thursday 11 July, the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA) published a report on the experiences and perceptions of Jews in relation to antisemitism in the EU.
The survey, which was carried out between January and June 2023, shows that online antisemitism is particularly widespread. In fact, 90% of those surveyed had encountered antisemitism online, compared with 77% in an offline context. Negative stereotypes, Holocaust denial and accusations against Jews for the actions of Israel are the most common forms of antisemitism.
According to the survey, 96% of Jewish respondents said that they had experienced antisemitism, and 80% felt that the phenomenon had worsened in recent years.
The report reveals that half of those questioned are worried about their safety and that of their family. In addition, over 70% of respondents hide their Jewish identity occasionally. This climate of insecurity is exacerbated by the rapid proliferation of antisemitic content online, a phenomenon highlighted by a large majority of respondents.
Although the main survey was carried out before the Hamas attacks in October 2023, the FRA carried out further consultations in January and February 2024 with the largest national Jewish community organisations and one European organisation to understand the impact of the attacks.
These consultations revealed a dramatic increase in antisemitic incidents following the attacks, exacerbating an already present sense of fear.
The FRA report calls for decisive action to combat antisemitism. It recommends strict enforcement of the Digital Services Act (DSA) (see EUROPE 13346/17) to regulate antisemitic content online and the adoption of national strategies by Member States to combat this scourge.
By 2024, 14 Member States had already adopted a national strategy on combating antisemitism and 17 had appointed a special envoy or coordinator to oversee these efforts.
The report recommends increased cooperation between Member States and Jewish communities to assess and respond to security needs. It also calls for adequate resources to implement national strategies, including funding for security measures in schools, synagogues and Jewish community centres.
To read the report, go to: https://aeur.eu/f/d0i (Original version in French by Nithya Paquiry)