Antisemitic crimes in Germany remain at a high level, with authorities registering 4,506 incidents so far in 2024, according to a response from the federal government to a Left party inquiry, reported by the “Rheinische Post”.
While this is a decrease of over 700 incidents from the 5,274 recorded in 2023, many crimes are still being reported with a delay, leading some to predict that the total number of antisemitic crimes in 2024, including all reported incidents, may still surpass the previous year’s record.
The Interior Ministry reported that, as of the fourth quarter of 2024, a total of 671 crimes with an antisemitic motivation had been reported, including 24 violent incidents and 237 hate crimes. The majority of these, 326, were attributed to the right-wing extremist scene.
In contrast, only 14 incidents were linked to the left-wing extremist environment, while 227 were attributed to foreign ideologies. The police reported 89 incidents with a religious motivation and 39 with other reasons.
“The current numbers of antisemitic crimes in 2024 are alarming, showing that the high level of antisemitic incidents from 2023 has continued” said Left party politician Petra Pau. “With the expected reports for the third and fourth quarters, the total number of crimes for the last year could even surpass those of 2023.”
The numbers for the fourth quarter of 2023 were exceptionally high due to the October 7 Hamas attack on Israel, but the overall numbers for 2023 were lower than in 2024. A comparison with 2022 also highlights the significant increase in antisemitic crimes.
“Even though the overall numbers for 2024 seem lower at first glance, it is not possible to speak of a decrease. Rather, the reactions to the brutal Hamas attack on October 7, 2023 and the general rightward shift have also shaped the year 2024” warned Pau. “Antisemitism comes from many directions, but the majority of registered crimes are right-wing motivated.” Pau called for more funding for prevention programs against the right.