Antisemitic Incidents Surge at Universities in North Rhine-Westphalia

Reports indicate a sharp rise in antisemitic cases at NRW universities following the October 2023 Hamas attack on Israel, with researchers warning against minimizing the issue.

• The number of documented antisemitic incidents at universities in North Rhine-Westphalia rose to 65 in the first half of 2024, compared to 19 in all of 2023.
• Most incidents occurred after the Hamas attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, and include threats, assaults, and offensive behavior.
• Researcher Andreas Stahl notes that the frequency of incidents remained elevated in the second half of 2024, with no signs of improvement.
• Stahl criticizes universities for downplaying the issue, including labeling anti-Israel protests as legitimate while some students actively participate in these demonstrations.
• Concerns have been raised about the societal impact, with some Jewish students considering emigration to countries like Israel or Hungary for safety reasons.

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Westdeutsche Allgemeine Zeitung Stern Die Zeit