San Francisco, CA, March 14, 2007… Anti-Semitic incidents in Northern California were virtually unchanged in 2006, compared with 2005 according to the Anti-Defamation League's annual Audit of Anti-Semitic Incidents, issued today.

The Audit tracks incidents against Jewish individuals, synagogues and community institutions.  In 2006, the Audit reported 73 incidents in Nothern California, a change from the 74 reported in 2005. Last year, of the total, 23 of the incidents appeared to be motivated by negative attitudes towards Israel.  In 2005, 9 of the incidents appeared to be similarly motivated. 

ADL Regional Director Jonathan Bernstein said, "For far too long this type of rhetoric has been dismissed as harmless political discourse.  The data from the audit shows that this type of criticism of Israel has consequences for the Jewish community."  To respond to these consequences, ADL hosted a conference in San Francisco on January 28, 2007 titled, Finding Our Voice: The Conference for Progressives Constructively Addressing Anti-Semitism. 

Nationally, incidents declined for the second consecutive year in 2006.  The Audit counted a total of 1,554 anti-Semitic incidents across the United States in 2006, representing a 12 percent decline from 1,757 reported in 2005.

Anti-Semitic Incidents Where Israel Looks to be a Motivating Factor

• A San Francisco artist who is a U.S. citizen of Israeli descent was harassed by other artists selling at the SF Arts Commission's Street Artist Program.  They gave her Nazi salutes and stated: "Hamas should do a better job and kill all of you."
• East Bay Jewish institutions received menacing phone calls being told to "go suck Israel" and "tell AIPAC to stop the massacre…go to hell, all of you."
• Anti-war protestors in San Francisco chanted: "Jews are our dogs" and "do not listen to the news, it is controlled by the Jews."

Other Incidents of Anti-Semitism

• A boy in Walnut Creek was victimized in school by anti-Semitic bullying
• The Jewish fraternity at UC Berkeley had the word "KIKE" painted on its porch
• A synagogue in Visalia had "Hitler" spray painted on its entry way
• The Sacramento State University paper ran an op-ed from Holocaust denier Bradley Smith praising the President of Iran.

About the ADL Audit

The Audit identifies both criminal and non-criminal acts of harassment and intimidation, including distribution of hate propaganda, threats and slurs. Compiled using official crime statistics, as well as information provided to and evaluated by ADL's professional staff by victims, law enforcement officers and community leaders, the Audit provides an annual snapshot of a nationwide problem while identifying possible trends or changes in the types of activity reported.  This information assists ADL in developing and enhancing its programs to counter and prevent the spread of anti-Semitism and other forms of bigotry.

The Anti-Defamation League, founded in 1913, is the world's leading organization fighting anti-Semitism through programs and services that counteract hatred, prejudice and bigotry.