German data shows decline in antisemitism in 2016, contrary to report
By TAMARA ZIEVEUpdated: FEBRUARY 1, 2017 23:28The Brandenburg Gate in Berlin, Germany, is illuminated with the colours of the Israeli flag to show solidarity with Israel(photo credit: REUTERS)
Antisemitic incidents in Germany appear to have slightly declined in 2016, contrary to a Diaspora Affairs Ministry report published last week.A ministry statement said reported antisemitic attacks in Germany had doubled from 2015 to 2016 – but The Jerusalem Post later learned the number for 2015 was wrong.The ministry report said that between January and September 2015, 194 antisemitic incidents were reported in Germany, and that the number had risen to 461 during the same period in 2016, indicating a dramatic increase.Official Bundestag documents, however, showed that the number of antisemitic incidents recorded in Germany between January and September 2015, were in fact 538 – 77 more than for the same months of 2016.Having been subsequently alerted to the mistake by the Post, the ministry reviewed the data and found that the figure 194 had actually been the number recorded for Berlin alone. The ministry was due to release a correction and said the original mistake was caused by a technical error.