Anti -Semitism in Austria: 32.5 % increase to alarming 1,520 cases!

Anti -Semitism in Austria: 32.5 % increase to alarming 1,520 cases!

In the calendar year 2024, the anti-Semitism registration office of the Israelite cultural community of Vienna (IKG) recorded a worrying increase in anti-Semitic incidents in Austria. A total of 1,520 incidents were registered, which means an increase of 32.5 percent compared to the previous year when 1,147 incidents were reported. This increase was officially presented on April 23, 2025 by IKG President Oskar Deutsch and General Secretary Benjamin Nägele. The increase is particularly alarming, since 2024 was strongly shaped by the genocidal major attack by Palestinian terrorist organizations on Israel on October 7, 2023, which subsequently led to a war.

The increase in anti -Semitic incidents in December 2023 is particularly impressive when the number reached a previous maximum at 294. Although there was a decline in 218 incidents in January 2024, the total number of events with an average rate of 4.15 incidents per day remained high. This represents an increase compared to 2023, where an average of 3.14 incidents per day were reported.

Details on the incidents

In the first half of 2024, 808 anti -Semitic incidents were recorded, which corresponds to an increase of 159.8 percent compared to the same period of the previous year. This incidents were clearly verified by experts, which suggests a high number of unreported cases. The most common appearance in these cases is Israel -related anti -Semitism, followed by the relativization and denial of the Shoah.

The statistical evaluations show a worrying increase in physical attacks that rose from 6 to 16 cases in the first half of the year. The number of threats has also almost quit, from 4 to 22. Anti -Semitic property damage doubled to 92, while hurtful behavior has also increased, from 179 to 277 cases.

background and reactions

The ideological background of the anti -Semitic attacks are diverse. 30.8 percent of the incidents can be assigned to a group that cannot be assigned in more detail, 29.8 percent of people with a Muslim background, 24.7 percent are motivated on the left and 14.7 percent motivated on the right. IKG President Oskar German and Secretary General Benjamin Nägele reacted to these developments with warnings of a habituation effect and asked for more presence Jewish life in public.

In this context, State Secretary Alexander Pröll announced a new plan to combat anti -Semitism, which is to be presented this year. Pröll described the results of the report as an "urgent wake -up call" and underlined the importance of education and a clear political attitude in the fight against anti -Semitism.

German also stated that many anti -Semitic incidents are not reported and the actual number is probably higher. He emphasized that, regardless of the political motivation, it was necessary to act together against anti -Semitism and to reduce it to a tolerable level.

The increasing number of incidents makes it clear that the fight against anti -Semitism continues to be one of the central challenges of society. It remains to be hoped that the announced measures for combating and prevention will have an effect in the future.