Rise in Antisemitic Incidents Sets New Record in 2024, ADL Reports

The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) has reported a staggering total of 9,354 antisemitic incidents during 2024. This figure represents a 5% increase from the previous year and an alarming 926% rise since the organization began its tracking efforts in 1979. Such numbers reveal a concerning trend in antisemitism across the United States.

According to the ADL’s annual audit, the increase translates to over 25 targeted anti-Jewish incidents per day, which means more than one incident occurs every hour. Among the recorded events, the breakdown included 196 assaults—a significant 21% rise from 2023—2,606 vandalism incidents, which saw an increase of 20%, and 6,552 harassment incidents, slightly up from 6,535 the previous year.

Unprecedented Levels of Antisemitism

This marks the fourth consecutive year that antisemitic incidents have broken previous records in the country. The ADL attributed this trend to what they call a “continued post-October 7 spike” in antisemitism. This surge in incidents correlates with rising political tensions and social unrest both domestically and internationally.

Jonathan Greenblatt, the CEO of the ADL, expressed grave concerns about these findings while talking with Fox News Digital. He stated that antisemitism is a profound irrational hatred aimed at individuals or institutions merely due to their Jewish identity. Greenblatt emphasized that the ADL has conducted this audit since the 1970s, and the current figures are unprecedented.

A Grim Realization for Jewish Communities

Greenblatt further lamented that these statistics reflect a “horrifying level of antisemitism” plaguing American society, which he deemed a grim reality for Jewish communities nationwide. He commented on how American Jews live with the constant fear that hostility against them can escalate rapidly.

Correlation to Anti-Israel Sentiments

For the first time, the ADL found that a majority of these incidents—58%, equivalent to 5,452 occurrences—were linked to issues regarding Israel or Zionism. Notably, the audit revealed that many of these incidents were recorded at anti-Israel rallies, where antisemitic speeches, chants, and slogans were prevalent. The ADL clarified that antisemitic expressions occurring at rallies were counted as a single incident, regardless of their repetition. Approximately half of the 5,000 rallies tracked included such expressions.

Increased Activity on College Campuses

Particularly alarming is the rise in antisemitic incidents reported on American college campuses. The ADL’s audit indicated an 84% increase in these occurrences, with 1,694 incidents documented in 2024 alone. This represents a significant proportion, comprising 18% of all antisemitic incidents recorded, the highest percentage in the organization’s history.

The ADL noted that Students for Justice in Palestine and the Party for Socialism and Liberation were among the most active organizers or co-sponsors of protests linked to antisemitic incidents. This connection between campus activism and antisemitic activities raises alarms about the increasingly hostile environment for Jewish students.

Clarifying Distinctions in Dialogue

While the ADL was diligent in its audit not to conflate valid criticisms of Israel’s government with antisemitism, Greenblatt urged that nuanced debates about Israeli policies exist. He pointed out that legitimate discussions occur in the Israeli press, Jewish organizations, and educational institutions, where a diverse range of opinions is expressed.

Historical Context and Current Implications

The report indicates that some anti-Israel rallies featured antisemitic expressions, including celebrations surrounding the Hamas attack on October 7. This incident, which led to the violent deaths of 1,200 Israelis and the abduction of 251 hostages, remains a touchstone in discussions about antisemitic sentiments.

A Call to Action

Despite the grave findings, Oren Segal, ADL Senior Vice President for Counter-Extremism and Intelligence, encouraged Americans to view the audit as a constructive blueprint for the future. He stated that the report is not merely a collection of data released annually but rather a guide to understanding where advocacy and research efforts should be focused moving forward.

Segal emphasized that making often invisible trends visible is crucial for developing effective strategies to combat antisemitism and other forms of hate. The tracking of hate, extremism, antisemitism, and terrorism continues through the ADL’s H.E.A.T. Map, which provides detailed data on incidents from 2016 to 2024.