The Associated Press Sunday, January 24, 2010; 12:56 PM

JERUSALEM—The findings of an Israeli report released Sunday says 2009
saw the most anti-Semitic incidents in western Europe since World War
II.

The report by an Israel-led umbrella of organizations dedicated to the
combat of anti-Semitism outlined hundreds of violent incidents in
Britain, France and Holland.

It said the number of incidents in the first three months of 2009 in
western Europe surpassed that of all of 2008. That followed Israel’s
invasion of Gaza, which evoked harsh reactions.

In France, for example, there were 631 anti-Jewish incidents in the
first half of 2009, of which 113 were violent, according to the report.
Worldwide, eight people were killed in attacks last year.

Jewish Agency Chairman Natan Sharansky pledged to dispatch
representatives from the semi-governmental organization to combat what
he said was growing anti-Semitism at European universities.

The Israel-based agency deals with immigration and Jewish issues.