London  - There has been a rise in anti-semitic incidents in Britain since the upsurge of hostilities in Gaza, a group which protects Jewish institutions said Tuesday.

The Community Security Trust (CST) said it recorded 24 incidents since December 29, of which 19 occurred in London.

They included an attempted arson attack on a synagogue in north- west London on Sunday night.

"There has been a significant rise in the number of anti-Semitic incidents, especially when compared with what is usually a very quiet time of year for racist, anti-Jewish attacks," said CST spokesman Mark Gardner.

On New Year's Eve, a gang of youths alarmed residents in Golders Green, a predominantly Jewish district in north-west London, by trying to enter Jewish shops while shouting "Jew" at individuals, Gardner reported.

In the same district, a Jewish man was pulled from his car and assaulted by three men, but not seriously hurt.

Gardner said the CST has also noted anti-semitic graffiti in Jewish areas across London, with slogans sprayed on walls including "Kill Jews."

Most of the handful of incidents outside London were in cities in north-west England. They included the daubing of graffiti on a synagogue, anti-semitic hate mail and the words "Hamas HQ" painted on a Jewish building in Manchester. (dpa)