INTRODUCTION
In 2023, the Home Office and the SPCJ recorded 1,676 antisemitic incidents.
The year was marked by an explosion in antisemitic acts from October 7th, 2023 onwards. The study focuses first on general trends observed during the period and, subsequently, delves into the increase in antisemitic acts during the last quarter of the year.
EVOLUTION OF THE NUMBER OF ANTISEMITIC ACTS SINCE 2012
EVOLUTION OF THE NUMBER OF ANTISEMITIC IN 2023
MAJOR TRENDS IN
ANTISEMITISM IN FRANCE IN 2023
The antisemitic acts listed in this report, based only on incidents reported to the police, represent just a portion of the reality of the expression of Antisemitism in France.
This sample, compiled from reports by police stations and gendarmeries, later categorized through monthly exchanges and discussions between the Home Office and the SPCJ, according to a common classification, allows us, nevertheless, to identify the major trends in the phenomenon of antisemitism in France.
Here are the four trends observed this year, that align with those of the previous years :
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Antisemitic acts are mainly directed against individuals (nearly 60%) (physical violence, threatening words or gestures, leaflets and letters) and not property (damage, inscriptions, some leaflets and letters).
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Antisemitic acts are mainly threatening words and gestures in over 40% of cases.
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Antisemitic acts are mainly committed in the private sphere and in public space.
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Antisemitic acts are committed throughout French territory. In 2023, antisemitic acts were committed in 616 different towns or communes and in 95 of France's 101 départements.
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FOCUS ON THE UPSURGE OF ANTISEMITIC ACTS SINC OCTOBER 7TH
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THERE WERE AS MANY ANTISEMITIC ACTS RECORDED IN THE LAST 3
MONTHS AS IN THE LAST 3 YEARS COMBINED
Following the attack by Hamas, Islamic Jihad, and on October 7th, antisemitic acts in France increased by over 1000%. An average of approximately 25 daily antisemitic acts were recorded in the 30 days after the attack, peaking at nearly 40 acts on some days. In the three months post-attack period, the number of antisemitic acts equaled the cumulative total of the previous three years.
EVOLUTION OF THE NUMBER OF ANTISEMITIC SINCE OCTOBER 7TH BY WEEK & BY DAY
THE UPSURGE IN ANTISEMITIC ACTS BEGAN ON THE DAY OF THE MEDIA COVERAGE OF THE MASSACRE OF ISRAELI CIVILIANS, OCTOBER 7th
The upsurge began on October 7th, coinciding with the surprise attack by Hamas, Islamic Jihad, and PLFP. On that day, antisemitic acts increased by over 700% compared to the daily average observed over the years (16 acts recorded). This pattern was previously observed after the 2012 attack on a Jewish school in Toulouse (nearly 200% increase) and the 2015 Hypercacher attack (almost 300% increase). In the light of these three episodes, a surprising and worrying phenomenon emerges: media coverage of the massacre of Jews leads to an increase in antisemitic acts.
THE PALESTINE ISSUE HAS BEEN A DRIVING FORCE BEHIND THE INCREASE IN ANTISEMITIC ACTS SINCE OCTOBER 7th – WITHIN THE ACTS WHICH MENTION PALESTINE
The "Palestine" theme has been a major driving force behind the increase in antisemitic acts since October 7th, as revealed by a semantic study carried out on the descriptions reported in the complaints. Indeed, "Palestine '' was mentioned in almost 1/3 of the antisemitic acts perpetrated since October 7th, i.e. 372 antisemitic acts. It should be noted that :
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1/4 of these evocations praise Hamas
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in more than 10% of cases where the "Palestine" theme is evoked, the remarks also glorify Nazism
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in more than 1/3 of cases where the theme "Palestine" is evoked, the remarks also apologize for jihadism
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in more than 1/4 of cases, they are accompanied by calls for murder
THE GREATEST INCREASE IN ANTISEMITIC ACTS TOOK PLACE IN THE PRIVATE SPHERE AND IN THE SCHOOL ENVIRONMENT:
Since 10/7, antisemitic acts committed in the private sphere have increased by far ( around 1500%). This figure should be linked to the feeling, expressed by some French Jews of feeling insecure in their own homes, sometimes leading them to hide any sign of Jewishness.
In schools, too, there has been a very sharp increase (around 1200%). It is worth noting the large number of antisemitic acts accompanied by statements glorifying Nazism (nearly 40% of acts) , jihadism (more than 15% of acts) and the "Palestine'' theme (nearly ⅓ of acts)
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