The first common anti-Semitism report of the SIG and the GRA
Rechtliches
The first common anti-Semitism report of the SIG and the GRA has appeared
? Antisemitismusbericht 2010 deutsch
? Rapport sur l'antisémitisme 2010 français
The Swiss Federation of Jewish Communities SIG and the GRA Foundation against Racism and Antisemitism have published their first common anti-Semitism report. In the year 2010, the SIG and GRA hotlines registered 34 anti-Semitic incidents in German and Italian-speaking Switzerland.
The collaboration between SIG and GRA aims to illustrate a representative, broad-based image of anti-Semitism in Switzerland, with the unification of data from both organisations. As the organisation CICAD published its own independent anti-Semitism report for West Switzerland, the anti-Semitic incidents in the French-speaking part of the country are not included in the report at hand.
The recorded anti-Semitic incidents are documented and analysed in the report of the SIG and the GRA, and set in the relevant societal and political context. This report is to be supplemented by an expert’s contribution every year. This year, the historian Zsolt Keller focuses on the history of combating anti-Semitism in Switzerland. As such, an important aim of the report is to improve public awareness and contribute to the combating of anti-Semitism with the aid of better situational awareness.
The registered anti-Semitic incidents are mainly written statements in the form of letters, articles, graffiti and postings in electronic media. The CICAD, active in Romandy, last year recorded 104 anti-Semitic incidents in Romandy – a big part of these anti-Semitic incidents were on the Internet. At the same time, however, SIG and GRA recorded only five cases of anti-Semitism on the Internet. This number, small when compared with West Switzerland, is explained by the fact that neither the GRA nor the SIG have been actively searching for anti-Semitic statements on the Internet; they have only recorded incidents reported to them.
For many years it was almost taboo, but today social acceptability of anti-Semitism seems to be rising again and being propagated even in public. Anti-Semitic statements often increase after escalations in the Middle East. Criticism of Israel was not in itself a criterion included in this report. Only anti-Semitism-motivated statements related to the Middle East conflict were registered. These took place following the Israeli Armed Forces’ operations in the so-called „Gaza Flotilla“ in May 2010. Thus, the Middle East conflict serves as a valve for anti-Semitic sentiments. During the report year a total of 12 clearly anti-Semitic incidents was registered relating to Middle East events or reports. This constitutes about a third of the cases registered.
The far-right-motivated anti-Semitism, which attacks Jews on racist grounds, and statements relating to the Holocaust are as widespread today as ever. In addition, an increasing political polarisation among parties and citizens is evident. In certain social circles this leads to a newly increasing willingness to discriminate minorities and to stigmatise them as scapegoats, the same being used as a political weapon.
For further questions:
Dr. Ronnie Bernheim
President GRA Foundation against Racism and Antisemitism
T +41 (0)79 662 66 50
Sabine Simkhovitch-Dreyfus
Vice President SIG Swiss Federation of Jewish Communities
T +41 (0)78 707 27 67
