A disturbing trend: even now – an increase in anti-Semitism in the European country

A new report by the Jewish Representative Council in Ireland (JRCI) indicates a disturbing increase in anti-Semitic incidents, and provides a worrying snapshot of the scope and nature of anti-Semitic behavior in the country. According to the report, between July 2025 and January 2026, a total of 143 anti-Semitic incidents were recorded, and these findings are now prompting urgent calls for the development of a national plan to deal with the growing problem.

The JRCI’s report is the first of its kind in Ireland and provides important insights into the frequency and types of anti-Semitic behavior in public places, at work, in educational institutions and on the internet. The Jewish community in Ireland, numbering about 2,200 people, expressed “deep concern” following the findings, and points to a broad trend of increasing hostility towards Jews.

According to the report, most of the incidents were related to verbal insults and hate calls, with 52 of the cases involving profanity or verbal slander. The remaining cases included 47 incidents of vandalism, 35 cases of threats or bullying, and 29 cases of exclusion or discrimination. Digital harassment, such as hate messages and spam, accounted for 24 incidents. Physical aggression was less common, with only three such cases.

The cases occurred mainly in public places, such as streets and parks (50), but there were also reports from educational institutions (21), workplaces (8), commercial environments (13) and even in private settings (6). Many of the incidents occurred when people’s Jewish or Israeli identity was revealed, whether through wearing Jewish symbols, speaking Hebrew, or identifying as Israeli.

Maris Cohen, the chairman of the JRCI, emphasizes the importance of distinguishing between anti-Semitism and racism towards other groups. “Anti-Semitism presents unique characteristics that require a targeted policy response,” says Cohen. He calls for the establishment of a unique national program to deal with the problem, and points out that there is currently no official mechanism in the country to register anti-Semitic incidents.

The report also notes a worrying trend of Holocaust denial and humiliation, which were part of 25 of the reported incidents. These findings join a survey by the “Claims Fund” conducted in January 2026, which revealed that a significant percentage of the Irish population does not believe in the Holocaust or believes that the number of Jewish victims was deliberately exaggerated. These findings only increase the concern in the Jewish community.

One of the most disturbing examples presented in the report involved a case in which a man reported that he was afraid to speak after hearing anti-Semitic comments from medical staff. Another case was of a Jew who had to stop wearing his Star of David necklace at work due to repeated insults.

The publication of the report provoked immediate reactions from senior Irish government officials and community leaders. Ireland’s foreign minister, Helen McEntee, condemned the incidents as “unacceptable”, and emphasized the government’s commitment to combating all forms of racism, including anti-Semitism. McEntee also noted that the government has already taken steps to deal with these problems, such as the implementation of the Penal Code for Hate Crimes in 2024, which toughens the punishment for hate crimes. In a statement she issued on Monday, McEntee expressed “deep concern” at the scale of the incidents and emphasized the government’s commitment to promoting Jewish life in Ireland. She also noted new initiatives, such as funding for virtual Holocaust programs for high school students in Ireland, to raise awareness and combat Holocaust denial.

The Chief Rabbi of Ireland, Yoni Vider, also responded to the report, noting that although this is not a daily reality for every Jew in Ireland, the frequency of anti-Semitic incidents and their normalization have made the sense of Jewish belonging weak and the members of the community “more vulnerable than necessary”. Vider emphasized that the report was not intended to present an exaggerated picture but to reflect the daily experiences of the community members.

In addition, the Irish police spokeswoman stated that the police take any hate crime seriously, and are committed to supporting victims during the legal process. However, the JRCI report notes that despite these efforts, many of the anti-Semitic incidents are still not reported or dealt with properly, with only 24 percent of those involved in the incidents contacting the authorities.

The growing sense of insecurity among the Jewish community led the Council of Jewish Missions in Ireland to call for the establishment of a unique national action plan to deal with anti-Semitism. The JRCI is calling on the Irish government to implement targeted measures to tackle the problem, including the establishment of more effective reporting mechanisms, monitoring of anti-Semitic hate crimes, and public education campaigns designed to challenge aggressive stereotypes and conspiracy theories.

These findings in Ireland are part of a wider trend of increasing anti-Semitism throughout Europe. According to a special survey by the European Commission, 41 percent of Irish people believe that anti-Semitism is a problem in the country, and 47 percent believe that it has increased in recent years. These data reflect a general concern in Jewish communities across the continent, which feel more and more vulnerable.

In Ireland, the public discourse surrounding Israel and Palestine also contributed to the rise of hostility towards Jews. After the Hamas massacre in Israel on October 7, a number of Jews in Ireland reported a deterioration in personal and professional relationships, often following the disclosure of their Jewish or Israeli identity. People reported exclusion, refusal of services or even dismissal from workplaces, as well as public appeals not to hire them.

This escalation has caused great concern, especially in light of the fact that Ireland prides itself on its history as an open and accepting country. The JRCI’s report serves as a reminder that despite efforts to promote tolerance, anti-Semitism still exists among some sections of Irish society.