Rising Antisemitism in Berlin: RIAS 2024 Report

Yesterday, the Berlin-based Research and Information Center on Antisemitism (RIAS Berlin) released its annual report documenting antisemitic incidents in the German capital during 2024. The findings are deeply troubling. The results paint a disturbing picture of intensified hostility and sustained threat to Jewish life in Berlin. This post examines the key findings of RIAS Berlin’s 2024 report on antisemitism in Germany’s capital.

A Dramatic Increase in Antisemitic Incidents

The numbers are shocking: RIAS Berlin documented 2,521 antisemitic incidents in Berlin throughout 2024, representing a staggering 98.5% increase compared to 2023 (RIAS Report 2024, p. 12). This near-doubling of incidents follows a broader pattern already visible in late 2023, but 2024 marks a grim new peak in antisemitic activity.

What’s particularly alarming is the direct connection between this surge and the October 7, 2023 Hamas massacre in southern Israel. Nearly 44% (1,101) of all documented incidents referenced the October 7 attacks or the subsequent war between Israel and Hamas (p. 12). This clearly demonstrates how these events have served as a catalyst for antisemitic expressions and actions. RIAS frames this as a “Gelegenheitsstruktur” — an opportunity structure — through which pre-existing antisemitic attitudes found an outlet, intensified by global attention and political polarization (p. 13-14).

The monthly average of antisemitic incidents in Berlin reached 210 in 2024 – approximately 7 incidents per day (p. 12). For context, from January to September 2023, RIAS Berlin recorded an average of 53 incidents per month. Following October 7, 2023, this number jumped to an average of 263 incidents per month for the remainder of that year, with the elevated level continuing throughout 2024 (p. 13). This represents not only a quantitative escalation but also a qualitative one: more open calls for violence, Holocaust trivialization, and legitimization of Hamas terror attacks have entered mainstream discourse and urban space, both online and offline.

The Nature of Antisemitic Incidents

The report categorizes incidents by type, revealing a comprehensive picture of how antisemitism manifests in Berlin:

• 2 cases of extreme violence (defined as physical attacks or assaults that cause severe bodily harm or could potentially lead to loss of life)
• 53 attacks; a 56% increase from 2023 (these include incidents that are not life-threatening and do not result in severe injuries; for instance, individuals were kicked, punched, spat on, shoved, or struck with objects)
• 99 targeted property damage incidents
• 46 threats
• 2,212 cases of abusive behavior
• 109 mass mailings containing antisemitic content (p. 18)

This typology not only captures the severity of antisemitic expressions but also underscores their pervasiveness in everyday settings, from physical aggression to symbolic and verbal harassment.

Particularly concerning is the sharp rise in attacks against individuals, which reached the highest level since RIAS Berlin began documenting such incidents. Both cases of extreme violence and 36 of the 53 attacks targeted Jews, Israelis, or people perceived as Jewish. In 10 attacks, even children and teenagers were the victims (p. 18).

These incidents were often triggered by visible Jewish symbols or Hebrew language use in public spaces, such as when a woman speaking Hebrew was brutally assaulted in a Neukölln eatery (p. 19). In multiple cases, attackers combined antisemitic with sexist, racist, or homophobic insults, suggesting the presence of intersectional hatred (p. 19).

Where Antisemitism Occurs

The report shows that antisemitism permeates various spaces across Berlin. The inner-city areas recorded the highest number of incidents with 371 incidents in Mitte, 255 incidents in Friedrichshain-Kreuzberg and 224 incidents in Neukölln (p. 35). Especially Tempelhof-Schöneberg saw a particularly alarming increase, with incidents nearly tripling from 35 in 2023 to 102 in 2024 (p. 37).

Educational institutions have become hotspots for antisemitism, with 104 incidents recorded in schools and universities (p. 38). In schools, Jewish and Israeli children were harassed with slurs, threats, and physical violence, frequently by their peers. Some incidents were not isolated but took place over weeks or even months (p. 38). At universities, the number of incidents rose dramatically from just 1-2 annually in 2021-2022 to 51 in 2024 (p. 38), with anti-Israel demonstrations, attempted building occupations, and personal harassment creating an atmosphere where many Jewish students feel unsafe.

Cultural institutions, public transportation, residential areas, and businesses have also seen significant increases in antisemitic incidents. Even memorial sites dedicated to Holocaust victims weren’t spared, with 89 incidents recorded at such locations (p. 36).

In several cases, these attacks involved symbolic desecration: Stolpersteine were scratched or painted over, and remembrance posters for Israeli hostages taken by Hamas were defaced with slogans like “Free Gaza” (p. 15, 21). At the Sderot-Platz in Steglitz-Zehlendorf, where the victims of the Hamas attack are being commemorated, commemorative wreaths were stolen, and yellow ribbons torn down (p. 21). These acts not only expressed hate, but aimed at erasing memory.

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Forms of Antisemitism

Israel-related antisemitism dominated the incidents in 2024, accounting for 71.3% of all cases (p. 29). This represents an increase from 61.9% in 2023. Other prevalent forms included:

• Antisemitic othering (51.7% of incidents)
• Post-Holocaust antisemitism (32%)
• Modern antisemitism (15.7%)
• Anti-Judaism (12.9%)

As RIAS explained, “antisemitic othering” means that Jews living in Germany are held responsible for the behaviour of the state of Israel and thus marked as not belonging to German society. This othering goes hand in hand with Israel-related antisemitism if the image of Israel is shaped by antisemitic ideas.

The report notes that Israel-related antisemitism frequently overlapped with other forms, with more than two-thirds of such incidents showing elements of multiple antisemitic tropes (p. 30). Typical examples include comparing Gaza to Auschwitz, calling Zionists “Nazis” or suggesting that Jews are collectively responsible for Israel’s actions – expressions that simultaneously deny Jewish identity and instrumentalize the Holocaust (p. 32).

This illustrates how classic antisemitic stereotypes are being redirected toward Israel, with the term “Zionist” increasingly used as a stand-in for traditional antisemitic imagery. In this context, “Zionist” becomes a coded term through which long-standing antisemitic tropes – such as depictions of Jews as demonic, references to blood libel, or claims of global domination – are reintroduced under the pretext of legitimate political criticism (p. 32).

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Anti-Israel Demonstrations as Platforms for Antisemitism

One of the most visible manifestations of antisemitism in Berlin has been through public demonstrations. RIAS Berlin documented antisemitic expressions at 208 demonstrations in 2024 – an average of 4 per week (p. 63). Of these, 177 referenced the October 7 attacks and the subsequent war (p. 63).

These demonstrations weren’t merely expressions of political views but often served as platforms for antisemitic rhetoric, terrorist glorification, and even violence. The report documents 12 antisemitic attacks that occurred before, during, or after these demonstrations, targeting counter-protesters, journalists, and even random passersby identified as Jewish (p. 69).

RIAS Berlin highlights that the events often included the glorification of terrorist organizations such as Hamas and Hezbollah. For example, participants and speakers celebrated the perpetrators of the October 7 massacre as “martyrs” and labeled the attacks as “resistance” (p. 69). The use of the red triangle symbol, popularized by Hamas, was also observed at many demonstrations as a marker of the supposed enemy, and this symbol appeared on placards, stickers, and even as hand gestures directed at counter-protesters and journalists (p. 70).

Impact on Jewish Life in Berlin

The consequences for Jewish life in Berlin have been profound. Many Jews report changing their daily routines, hiding visible Jewish symbols, and avoiding certain areas of the city. Some Jewish communities have had to alter their worship schedules when demonstrations were planned nearby, while Jewish students have avoided university campuses due to safety concerns (p. 73).

The report emphasizes that the frequency and intensity of antisemitic incidents have increased significantly since October 7, 2023, affecting not only the sense of physical safety but also the psychological well-being of Berlin’s Jewish community. Many Jews are now forced to weigh the visibility of their Jewish identity against their own security (p. 17).

But beyond these practical adjustments lies a deeper psychological impact. The report notes that many Jews in Berlin feel increasingly isolated and unsupported, as public spaces are dominated by slogans that glorify and legitimize terror against Jews and Israelis rather than expressions of solidarity with the victims of October 7 (p. 17).

The psychological burden is further compounded by the normalization of antisemitic rhetoric in public discourse and the lack of visible solidarity with Jewish victims. Personal testimonies in the report describe fear, frustration, and a sense of abandonment by broader society. But despite these challenges, the report also notes that younger Jews are increasingly organizing and engaging in advocacy, campus life, and cultural work to counter antisemitism (p. 48-53).

Political Background of Incidents

While 70% of incidents couldn’t be clearly attributed to a specific political-ideological background, the largest identifiable source was “anti-Israel activism” (15.8% of incidents). Other sources included right-wing extremism/populism (4.3%), conspiracy ideologies (4%), and left-wing/anti-imperialist groups (3.1%) (p. 44).

The report details that anti-Israel activism was the leading identifiable background for antisemitic incidents for the second year in a row, accounting for 398 incidents in 2024 – double the absolute number from 2023, even as the percentage remained nearly identical. This is largely due to the high number of antisemitic demonstrations and mobilizations attributed to this spectrum: 175 of the 208 antisemitic demonstrations in Berlin in 2024 were assigned to anti-Israel activism (p. 44-45).

RIAS Berlin highlights that the spectrum of anti-Israel activism is highly heterogeneous, including left-wing, anti-imperialist, Islamist, and nationalist actors. Despite their differing ideological backgrounds, these groups are united by a shared hostility toward Israel (p. 64). This spectrum was not only involved in organizing demonstrations but also responsible for a notable number of attacks and threats: in 2024, twelve attacks and five threats occurred in this context, frequently targeting counter-protesters, journalists, or randomly selected Jewish or Israeli individuals (p. 44). This indicates a troubling trend of cross-spectrum collaboration in antisemitic acts. It illustrates how antisemitism can function as a unifying element across otherwise ideologically opposed political movements (p. 46). The report further notes that certain antisemitic tropes – such as comparisons between Israel and Nazi Germany or the use of “Zionist” as a generalized enemy image – therefore have now become widespread across the political spectrum (p. 46). The normalization of such rhetoric, particularly in debates related to Israel, is identified as a major concern.

A Call to Action

The findings of the report are deeply troubling. The sharp increase in antisemitic incidents following October 7, 2023, demonstrates how rapidly latent antisemitism can resurface when triggered by events in Israel.

Particularly alarming is the normalization of antisemitic rhetoric in various spaces, ranging from university campuses to public demonstrations. The glorification of terrorist organizations, along with the demonization of Israel and “Zionists,” has fostered an environment in which many Jews feel increasingly unsafe and unwelcome.

This report must serve as a wake-up call for German society and its institutions. Combating antisemitism demands more than law enforcement responses to the most extreme incidents; it requires a broad societal commitment to challenging antisemitic narratives in all their manifestations. It is increasingly evident that antisemitism is not confined to the political margins – it exists within the mainstream, including schools, universities, cultural institutions, and public discourse. The normalization of antisemitic language and imagery, coupled with a striking lack of solidarity with Jewish victims, has contributed to a climate of fear and social isolation for many Jews in Berlin and across Germany.

The fight against antisemitism is not solely a Jewish concern. It is a fundamental test of our collective commitment to human dignity and democratic values. The alarming trends documented in this report must galvanize continued and determined efforts to confront antisemitism in all its forms.