Anti-Semitism is not just rhetoric; it is a violation of human rights. Article 18 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, signed in 1948 under the Harry Truman Administration says, "Everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion; this right includes freedom to change his religion or belief, and freedom, either alone or in community with others and in public or private, to manifest his religion or belief in teaching, practice, worship and observance."
The incidents of anti-Semitism are on the rise. According to Abraham Foxman, National Director of the Anti-Defamation League, 2009 was "probably the worst year of global antiSemitism since the Second World War . . . there has been no country, no city, no continent that was not witness to anti-Semitic manifestations, and we do not talk about thousands and thousands of Web sites, millions upon millions of hits to reinforce people's anti-Semitism."
According to the Roth Institute for the Study of Contemporary Anti-Semitism and Racism at Tel Aviv University, violent attacks against Jews worldwide more than doubled last year. In 2009 there were 1,129 Anti-Semitic incidents; this figure, up from 559 incidents the previous year, is the highest since the study began more than 20 years ago.
