A major survey of British Jews has revealed a significant drop in feelings of safety since the Hamas attacks on 7 October 2023. The research, conducted by the Institute for Jewish Policy Research (JPR) in June and July, found that 35% of Jews felt unsafe in Britain in 2025, up from just 9% in 2023.
The survey also highlighted a surge in perceptions of antisemitism, with 47% of British Jews now viewing it as a 'very big' problem, compared to 11% in 2012. Additionally, 32% of respondents reported experiencing at least one antisemitic incident in 2024.
Separate data from the Community Security Trust (CST) recorded 1,521 antisemitic incidents in the UK from January to June 2025, the second-highest total for the first half of any year. Of these, 968 occurred in Greater London and Greater Manchester, the two cities with the largest Jewish populations.
The report found that emotional attachment to Israel has increased since October 2023, with 75% of British Jews feeling attached, up from 72%. However, anti-Zionist identification rose from 8% in 2022 to 12% in 2025, particularly among younger Jews, with 24% of 20- to 29-year-olds now identifying as anti-Zionist.
Dr Jonathan Boyd, JPR's executive director, noted the resilience of British Jews but acknowledged the impact of the war and its repercussions. 'Many Jews feel less secure, more isolated and more morally conflicted,' he said.
The CST attributed the sustained antisemitism levels to the aftermath of the October 7 attack, including the prolonged conflict, media coverage, and political rhetoric. Over half of the incidents referenced Israel, Gaza, or the Hamas attack, with 703 showing anti-Zionist motivation alongside antisemitic abuse.
