Israel Warns of Escalating, Lethal Attacks on Synagogues Worldwide
Translated & summarized from i24NEWS French by baba
Israel's Ministry of Diaspora Affairs reported on November 5, 2026, that attacks on Jewish institutions worldwide are becoming more lethal, despite a potential decrease in overall threats. Incidents documented between October 2023 and September 2026 include shootings and arson, with worshippers also targeted. The ministry called for increased government protection for Jewish sites, especially with the Kristallnacht anniversary nearing.
The story in 6 lines · by baba
- Attacks on Jewish institutions globally are becoming more lethal, according to an Israeli ministry report.
- The report covers incidents from October 2023 to September 2026, noting varied threat levels by country.
- US saw fewer bomb threats but more lethal weapon attacks on synagogues between 2023 and 2025.
- UK and Canada also reported significant numbers of synagogue-related incidents and attacks.
- A foiled attack in France and suspected foreign involvement in Canada and Australia were highlighted.
- Israel urged governments to bolster security for Jewish sites ahead of the Kristallnacht anniversary.
A recent act of vandalism against an Orthodox Jewish synagogue in Anderlecht, Brussels, where a stone was thrown and a window broken, highlights growing concerns about attacks on Jewish institutions globally. The incident, discovered on October 27, is under investigation, with the perpetrator unidentified.
These events coincide with a report released by the Israeli Ministry of Diaspora Affairs and Combating Antisemitism on November 5, 2026. The report, covering October 2023 to September 2026, indicates a worrying trend: while the overall number of threats may decrease, the potential lethality of attacks is increasing. Methods documented include shootings, arson, Molotov cocktails, and vehicle ramming attempts, with worshippers also targeted en route to services, particularly on Shabbat and Jewish holidays.
In the United States, while false bomb threats against synagogues dropped from 1,009 in 2023 to 59 in 2025, attacks involving potentially lethal weapons rose from 23 in 2024 to 32 in 2025. The United Kingdom recorded 227 synagogue-related incidents in 2025, 50 of which targeted worshippers. Canada, particularly Toronto, has also seen a rise in incidents, with the Shaarei Torah community experiencing vandalism or arson ten times, and several synagogues facing gunfire in March 2026.
France saw a foiled attack plot near a Sarcelles synagogue in July, following the discovery of weapons in a vehicle. The report also notes concerns about the alleged use of local criminal networks for attacks, with investigations in Canada and Australia suggesting possible foreign, particularly Iranian, involvement. Avi Cohen-Scali, Director General of the Israeli Ministry, called the data a "grave alarm signal" for states, urging governments to enhance security for Jewish institutions as the anniversary of Kristallnacht approaches.
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