The frequency of antisemitic occurrences in Switzerland has increased since the Israeli military’s action in the Gaza Strip on October 7, according to a report issued on Tuesday.
According to a research conducted by the Swiss Federation of Jewish Communities (SIG) and the Foundation against Racism and Antisemitism (GRA), the number of “real world” events increased from 57 the previous year to 155 in 2023, the majority of which occurred after October 7.
The survey reported a “unprecedented increase” in occurrences, including 10 physical assaults compared to one the previous year, as well as verbal insults, graffiti, and antisemitic signs.
One of the most prominent recent occurrences occurred on March 2, when a Swiss teenager stabbed an observant Jewish man, leaving him with life-threatening injuries.The act, described by SIG as Switzerland’s most serious antisemitic hate crime in two decades, sparked widespread outrage and alarm, prompting increased protection for Jewish landmarks in Zurich, where the attack occurred.
