Israeli Foreign Ministry Reports Surge in Anti-Semitic Incidents Against Israelis Abroad

Over the past year, the Israeli Foreign Ministry has assisted 45 Israelis who suffered from anti-Semitic incidents while traveling or conducting business abroad, marking an unprecedented rise in such cases. The ministry describes this as a new phenomenon of significant scale, with previous years showing far fewer reports. Many Israelis reportedly do not report these incidents due to fear, discomfort, or a desire to leave the country quickly, suggesting the actual number of cases is likely higher.

The ministry's report outlines a troubling reality faced by Israeli travelers and businesspeople, including physical assaults, verbal abuse, refusal of service, and active removal from hotels and restaurants solely because of their Israeli identity. Eli Yifrah, Deputy Director for Consular Affairs at the Foreign Ministry, emphasized the growing hostility and anti-Semitism encountered abroad and highlighted the ministry's ongoing consular support and intervention with local authorities.

The report details the countries with the highest number of distress calls from Israelis: Egypt (56), Turkey (45), Ukraine (41), Jordan (37), Japan (33), Morocco (13), Oman (12), Seychelles (9), Indonesia (6), Malaysia (4), Bahrain (2), Iraq (2), Saudi Arabia (2), and Cuba (2). Several of these countries do not maintain official diplomatic relations with Israel.

The Foreign Ministry urges Israelis traveling overseas to exercise heightened caution, conceal Israeli or Jewish symbols in sensitive countries, and immediately contact the ministry's emergency center or local embassy if they experience harassment, discrimination, or threats. This call aims to raise awareness and improve the safety of Israeli citizens abroad amid rising anti-Semitic hostility.