J7 Report Reveals Alarming Surge in Global Antisemitism

The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) has published its inaugural J7 Annual Report on Antisemitism, coinciding with the 80th anniversary of Victory in Europe (VE) Day. The report casts a spotlight on the escalating antisemitism observed in countries with substantial Jewish populations outside of Israel, encompassing the United States, the United Kingdom, Argentina, Canada, France, Germany, and Australia.

The J7 Task Force, the entity behind the report, was established in July 2023, merely months before the devastating Hamas attacks on Israel. In the aftermath of this massacre, the ADL has documented a significant surge in antisemitic incidents and sentiments worldwide.

Record-Breaking Antisemitic Incidents

The ADL’s findings reveal a disturbing trend: antisemitic incidents have reached record highs for the fourth consecutive year. From 2021 to 2023, Australia experienced an 11% increase in such incidents, Argentina saw a 23% rise, Germany witnessed a staggering 75% surge, the U.K. faced an 82% escalation, Canada endured an 83% climb, France grappled with a 185% jump, and the U.S. recorded an alarming 227% spike.

The report also highlights a concerning pattern in antisemitic incidents per capita within the J7 countries. Germany, for instance, recorded more than 38 incidents per 1,000 Jewish residents in 2023. Australia experienced a quadrupling of incidents per capita from 2023 to 2024, indicating a rapidly deteriorating situation.

The J7 Task Force report identifies recurring themes across all nations, including a rise in violent attacks, a surge in antisemitic rhetoric online, and growing feelings of fear and insecurity among Jewish communities. The report draws on insights from Jewish communities directly impacted by the rising antisemitism in each of the J7 countries.

Argentina: Antisemitism in Academia and Online

The Delegación de Asociaciones Israelitas Argentinas (DAIA), a prominent Jewish organization in Argentina, has found that antisemitism has become deeply entrenched in social media and academic institutions. Worryingly, Argentinian Jewish students are reportedly selecting schools based on the likelihood of encountering antisemitic incidents, both from fellow students and professors. DAIA advocates for increased efforts to combat antisemitism within academia.

In 2023, Argentina experienced a 44% increase in antisemitic incidents compared to the previous year. Similar to other countries featured in the report, Argentina witnessed a surge in antisemitism and anti-Zionism following the Hamas attacks on October 7th.

DAIA also notes that Argentinian President Javier Milei’s strong support for Israel and the U.S. has paradoxically led to an increase in antisemitic and conspiratorial rhetoric.

Despite these challenges, DAIA identifies positive trends in Argentina. Sixty percent of Argentinians, particularly those aged 25-34, hold a favorable view of Israel, and only 7% support boycotting Israeli products and businesses. This may be attributed to Argentina’s own experience with terrorist organizations that have also targeted Israel. Hezbollah, for instance, carried out two deadly bombing attacks in Buenos Aires, one at the Israeli Embassy in 1992 and another at the AMIA-DAIA Jewish Center in 1994.

Australia: A Dramatic Increase in Antisemitic Incidents

The Executive Council of Australian Jewry’s (ECAJ) report, covering the period from October 1, 2023, to September 30, 2024, reveals a staggering 316% increase in antisemitic incidents. During this 12-month period, ECAJ recorded 2,062 antisemitic incidents, compared to 495 incidents in the previous year. In the decade prior, the number of antisemitic incidents each year ranged from 190 to 495, highlighting the unprecedented nature of the recent surge.

ECAJ cites a survey by Dr. Adina Bankier-Karp and Dr. David Graham, titled "Australian Jews in the Shadow of War," which found that 64% of Australian Jews believe that antisemitism is "very much" a big problem in the country. This represents a tenfold increase compared to the response in 2017, underscoring the growing concern within the Australian Jewish community.

While the Australian federal government and many state governments have banned hate symbols such as swastikas and the Nazi salute, as well as symbols of terrorist organizations, ECAJ argues that these laws are insufficient to combat the post-October 7 sources of antisemitism. The organization emphasizes that these laws do not address the majority of incidents occurring after October 7th, nor do they counter underlying anti-Jewish attitudes and behaviors.

Canada: Government Inaction and Rising Hate Crimes

The Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs (CIJA) compiled the report on Canada, highlighting increased threats of violence and "anti-Israel actions taken by the federal government that display a double standard towards the Jewish state," such as the imposition of an arms embargo.

While data for 2024 is not yet available, CIJA notes that the 2023 statistics reveal disturbing trends. Despite Jews comprising only 1% of the country’s population, 19% of reported hate crimes were motivated by antisemitism. Furthermore, hate crimes against Jews increased by 71% from 2022 to 2023.

CIJA criticizes the Canadian government’s "inaction" on antisemitism, calling for action and legal reform to combat the rising tide.

A staggering 98% of Canadian Jews believe that antisemitism is a "serious or somewhat serious problem," according to CIJA. Moreover, 82% feel that "Canada has become less safe for Jews" since the Hamas massacre on October 7th.

France: Links to the Israel-Hamas War and Violence

The Conseil Représentatif des Institutions Juives de France (CRIF) has found clear links between antisemitic incidents and the ongoing Israel-Hamas war. More than 30% of antisemitic incidents in 2024 included references to "Palestine."

French schools have witnessed a dramatic surge in antisemitic incidents, more than quadrupling from 400 in the 2022-2023 academic year to 1,670 in the 2023-2024 academic year.

CRIF reports that antisemitic incidents have become more violent in 2024, including the rape and assault of a 12-year-old Jewish girl because of her "bad words on Palestine" and the arson and antisemitic graffiti at the Rouen synagogue.

CRIF welcomes the French government’s adoption of a national plan to fight racism, antisemitism, and discrimination, which was adopted in 2023 and is set to be implemented through 2026.

However, CRIF notes that many French Jews have stopped displaying or speaking about their religious identity out of fear. Even children are avoiding the topic to prevent harassment in school, highlighting the chilling effect of rising antisemitism on Jewish life in France.

Germany: A Looming Threat from the Political Right

The Zentralrat der Juden in Deutschland (ZJD) has sounded the alarm over rising antisemitism, stating that "October 7, 2023, has massively accelerated a development that was already looming."

While antisemitism in Germany is not confined to one side of the political spectrum, ZJD points out that the rise of Alternative für Deutschland (AfD), a far-right political party, "poses a major challenge." AfD holds positions that, if implemented, would significantly impact the lives of observant German Jews, including banning religious slaughter of animals, which could effectively outlaw kosher meat.

German police recorded 3,200 crimes motivated by antisemitism between January 1, 2024, and October 7, 2024. This follows a report by the Office on Research and Information on Antisemitism in Hessen, which documented 3,000 antisemitic incidents between October 7, 2023, and the end of that same year.

A January 2025 study by the Claims Conference found that approximately 40% of 18- to 29-year-olds in Germany were unaware that more than 6,000,000 Jews were murdered in the Holocaust. However, the ADL’s 2024 Global 100 survey indicates that Holocaust distortion and denial is lower in Germany compared to other Western European nations.

ZJD concludes that ongoing debates in Germany surrounding social issues have direct impacts on the Jewish community.

United Kingdom: "Ambient Antisemitism" and the Need for Action

The Board of Deputies of British Jews (the Board) reports that antisemitism has decreased since Q4 2023 but remains above pre-October 7 levels. British Jews are "finding everyday life in the U.K. an increasing challenge," with 25% feeling unsafe in the country.

The Community Security Trust’s 2024 Antisemitic Incidents Report documented 3,528 antisemitic incidents in the U.K., an 18% decrease from the 4,296 incidents reported in 2023.

"Posters of Israeli hostages are regularly torn down, and in major cities the UK has faced weekly hate marches calling for Israel’s destruction," the Board writes. The Institute of Jewish Policy Research has termed this phenomenon "ambient antisemitism."

The Board acknowledges the government’s actions to combat antisemitism but emphasizes that statistics demonstrate the need for further action. "Enhanced law enforcement, stricter regulations on online hate speech, and comprehensive educational programs are essential to effectively combat antisemitic attitudes and behaviors," the Board writes.

The Board believes the U.K.’s three main areas of focus should be addressing antisemitic incidents, fighting online hate speech, and restoring a sense of security among British Jews.

United States: An "Alarming Rise" with No Signs of Abating

The ADL and the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations collaborated on the report on rising antisemitism in the U.S., noting the "alarming rise" in antisemitic incidents and attitudes.

In its 2024 antisemitism audit, the ADL identified 9,354 antisemitic incidents in 2024, a 5% increase from 2023 and a staggering 926% increase since it began tracking in 1979.

"Let’s be clear, antisemitism is an irrational hatred of individuals or institutions just because they are Jewish," ADL CEO Jonathan Greenblatt stated upon the release of the audit. "ADL has been conducting an annual audit of antisemitic incidents since the 1970s. And weve simply never seen numbers like this."

The ADL and the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations conclude that "the groundswell of antisemitism in the United States shows no signs of abating." The polarized political environment further complicates efforts to predict the future trajectory of antisemitism in the country.