Report: Anti-Semitic incidents doubled worldwide last year, Gaza war blamed

Report: Anti-Semitic incidents doubled last year

TEL AVIV, Israel — An annual survey of world anti-Semitism says attacks on Jews more than doubled last year, the biggest jump since the study began more than 20 years ago.

The Tel Aviv University survey counted more than 1,000 anti-Semitic incidents in the world in 2009, ranging from vandalism and arson against Jewish buildings to attacks on Jews.

The report noted the steepest increase of anti-Semitic incidents occurred in Western Europe, especially Britain and France. It says most of the incidents were carried out by Muslims, whose anger over Israel’s invasion of the Gaza Strip last year often turned into attacks on Jewish targets.

The university issued its report on the eve of Israel’s annual memorial day for the 6 million Jews killed in the Nazi Holocaust.