- The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) reported that it counted 8,873 antisemitic incidents in 2023, a 140% increase from 2022. The figures were released Tuesday as part of the group’s annual report on instances of antisemitism. Reuters (LR: 3 CP: 5)
- The advocacy group reportedly tracked incidents such as harassment, vandalism, and assault, while noting that it detected the highest number of anti-Jewish acts since it started tracking such data in 1979. CNN (LR: 2 CP: 5)
- A 184% increase in harassment drove the vast majority of the 2023 increase, with 6,535 reported incidents. However, the ADL tracked increases in assault (161 reported incidents), and vandalism (2,177 reported incidents). ADL
- The group noted that most of the incidents, 5,204, occurred after Hamas’ attack on Israel on Oct. 7, and the group notes that 52% of the post-Oct. 7 incidents included references to Israel, Zionism, or Palestine. ADL
- The ADL defines harassment as instances when a Jewish person[s], or someone perceived as Jewish, is harassed with antisemitic slurs and stereotypes. After the war in Gaza broke out, it updated its methodology to include opposition to Zionism or the state of Israel. CNN (LR: 2 CP: 5)
- The report was prepared in January and doesn’t include incidents that have occurred in 2024, though many believe that the trend that started after Oct. 7 has continued into this year. Inquirer
Pro-Israel narrative:
- Antisemitism has always been a uniquely reprehensible form of hatred, and it is disheartening that levels of anti-Jewish attacks reached an all-time high in 2023. Since Israel was brutally attacked by Hamas on Oct. 7, the Jewish community across the world, but especially in the US, has been subjected to a horrific increase in antisemitic harassment, both in the form of anti-Jewish and anti-Israel messaging. This unacceptable uptick must be addressed, especially given the turbulent global times.
THE HILL
Pro-Palestine narrative:
- The ADL has abandoned its core mission to fight against hatred and bigotry of marginalized groups, aligning itself instead with the geopolitical goals of Israel. Going against Israel's occupation of Palestine and its ongoing attack on Gaza is not antisemitic and should not be labeled as such. Showing solidarity with the Palestinian people — even by anti-war Jewish voices — is now off-limits by the ADL's new criteria, which is a dangerous misrepresentation.
INTERCEPT (LR: 1 CP: 1)
Right narrative:
- For decades, the ADL has smeared anyone to the right of the Democratic Party as every form of "ist" in the book, and now it is turning its ire to those on the left who are supporting Palestine. The ADL has long engaged in rhetoric that is unfair and that fights against free speech, and finally, people across the political spectrum can now see that.
REVOLVER NEWS
Nerd narrative:
- There's a 40% chance that Iran will recognize Israel before 2070, according to the Metaculus prediction community.
METACULUS (LR: 3 CP: 3)