U.S. State Department Releases Report on Global Anti-Semitism

Reports finds increase in both anti-Semitism and efforts to counter it

A report released by the U.S. Department of State January 5 examines acts of anti-Semitism -- defined as “hatred toward Jews, individually and as a group, attributed to the Jewish religion and/or ethnicity” -- committed from July 1, 2003, to December 15, 2004, in 62 countries worldwide.

The “Report on Global Anti-Semitism” also details the efforts of governments and other groups to counter anti-Semitism.

The one-time report was mandated by the Global Anti-Semitism Review Act of 2004 (Public Law 108-332), in response to the increase of anti-Semitic incidents since the start of the 21^st century.  When signing the law in October 2004, President Bush noted that “defending freedom also means disrupting the evil of anti-Semitism."

The report finds that the recent increase in global anti-Semitism has four main sources -- traditional, longstanding prejudice against Jews; anti-Israel sentiment that crosses the line between objective criticism of Israeli policies and anti-Semitism; anti-Jewish sentiment expressed by some in Europe's growing Muslim population; and criticism of the United States and globalization that spills over to Israel and Jews. (full text)