Anti-Semitism On The Rise, State Dept. Warns (x-post)

[Behind the Aegis]

Anti-Semitism can be found in nearly every corner of the globe, according to the 13th annual State Department Report on International Religious Freedom released on Tuesday, and it is on the rise.

"Trends include increases in the traditional anti-Semitic actions and accusations that have plagued the world for millennia--including desecration of cemeteries, graffiti, and blood libel accusations--as well as Holocaust denial, revisionism, and glorification," it found. Some is part of the campaign to delegitimize and demonize Israel.

The State Department is required to report regularly to Congress by the International Religious Freedom Act of 1998; this edition covers the last half of 2010.

If found "spikes in anti-Semitic expressions" in private as well as official media, notably including cartoons, in several countries, including Poland, Spain, Egypt, Saudi Arabia and Venezuela.

In Saudi Arabia, where "The public practice of any religion other than Islam is prohibited" it reported "school textbooks continue to contain offensive statements about Jews and Christians." And it's not just inside the kingdom but also in schools it supports abroad:

more...