Vienna experiences 'depressing' increase in antisemitic incidents post Oct-7

The number of antisemitic incidents in Vienna has almost tripled in 2024 compared to the same period in 2023, according to the Reporting Centre for Antisemitism of the Jewish Community of Vienna (IKG).

A total of 808 antisemitic incidents were recorded between January 1, 2024, and June 30, 2024, whereas in the same time frame in 2023, only 311 incidents were recorded.

While the number of daily antisemitic incidents was lower in 2024 (4.44) than the period between October 7, 2023, and December 31, 2023 (8.31), this was said to be three times higher than the daily average before October 7 (1.55).

“These are exclusively reported incidents that our experts were able to verify as clearly antisemitic,” said Benjamin Nägele, IKG secretary-general and head of the reporting office.

The IKG added that it believes the real number is a lot higher but that many cases are not reported.

Interestingly, whereas in 2022, the IKG said most incidents were reported on the basis of “personal encounters,” in 2024, the highest number of incidents originated in social networks.

Types of antisemitic incidents

The report found that most antisemitism in the first half of 2024 was related to Israel, while the second highest was in relation to Holocaust denial.

The number of physical attacks rose from six in the first half of 2023 to 16 in 2024 and the number of threats of violence rose from four to 22.

For instance, in October 2023, a man hit a woman who was recognizably Jewish in the stomach as he walked past her. 

In November 2023, unnamed people started a fire in the Jewish part of the Central Cemetery, and in October 2024, a male attacker threw a stone through the window of a kosher butchery while shouting “Allahu Akhbar!”

The IKG also recorded 92 cases of antisemitic-motivated property damage, which is double the amount recorded in 2023.

In terms of demographics, 255 of the reported antisemitic incidents were committed by people or organizations that were ideologically or religiously associated with Islam.

Of the remaining incidents, 225 were left-wing motivated, and 116 were right-wing motivated. The other 212 could not be categorized.

Nägele said, “The Jewish communities are confronted with threats every day. It shapes our everyday lives.”

IKG President Oskar Deutsch called the situation “threatening and continuously depressing.”

“What must not happen is that people become accustomed to rampant antisemitism in all its forms,” he added.

Mitigating factors 

The report did note that, while the number of reported assaults did increase, it was not as high as feared.

The IKG suggested, “The moderating influence of the Islamic faith community may have helped ensure that the number of demonstrations in Austria glorifying violence has turned out to be far fewer than, for example, in Germany, France, or the United Kingdom.”

The report also highlighted the decisiveness of the Austrian government in condemning Hamas and the role of security forces in protecting the Jewish community.

Similar to the discussions that French politicians have been having regarding the need to codify modern antisemitism, the IKG report noted the necessity of recognizing the “mutations and variations” of antisemitism.

While Jew-hatred is millennia old, the report says, “Antisemitism itself is always looking for new ideas and ways to express itself, flourishing particularly in periods of social, economic, or geopolitical upheaval – not only, but especially if the State of Israel is involved or believed to be involved.”

This evolving nature of the hatred made it difficult to monitor reports: “The never-ending stream of incidents meant that it was not possible to check every anti-Israel demonstration for antisemitic content.”

The report noted that the “vast majority” of the antisemitic BDS and pro-Palestine groups are “Austrian citizens from the extreme left,” which have since been joined by Islamist groups.

The IKG also notes the “bizarre” phenomenon of “the anti-Israel activism by queer and feminist groups regarding themselves as progressive.”