Project Head: Shmuel Rosner
Participants: Ghila Amati | Nadia Beider | Ariel Bendor | Eliran Carsenti | Shimrit Cohen-Barbi | Janan Danial | Dana Fahn-Luzon | Shlomo Fischer | Shuki Friedman | Avi Gil | Yehonatan Givati | Noa Israeli | Eli Kannai | Dov Maimon | Robert Neufeld | Tamir Pardo | Rivka Ravitz | Daniela Regev | Yael Ribner | Lipaz Rotkovsy | John Ruskay | Jonathan Saidel | Roy Schondorf | Amit Shoval | Noah Slepkov | Yedidia Stern | Shalom Salomon Wald | Haim Zicherman | Eldar Zilber
In 2021, there was a significant spike in manifestations of antisemitism, with the prevailing belief being that it was driven by escalated social tensions during the Covid-19 pandemic and the military conflict in Gaza. But even in 2022, when these factors were absent, a high level of antisemitism persisted. This rise suggests that the reasons behind the increase in Jew hatred are not transient but rather long-term, casting doubt on optimistic expectations of imminent improvement.
Considering this reality, Jewish communities must acknowledge that the hostility will not disappear on its own. In coordination with local authorities, they need to take proactive measures to enhance the security of Jews. This involves pressing governments to develop strategic plans to combat antisemitism, advocating for robust anti-hatred laws and their effective enforcement, exerting influence on online platforms, actively combating Holocaust denial, and promoting educational initiatives to foster tolerance and acceptance of others.
Over the past year there have been three main developments worthy of note in this review that demonstrate the expanding normalization of antisemitism.
The strengthening of the extreme right in Europe: The spread of expressions of antisemitism is evident throughout all the political spectrum, but a concrete threat to Jewish thriving in Europe may come because of the rise to power of extreme right-wing parties in France and Germany. The continued strengthening of the extreme right in France and the electoral success of the extreme right party “Alternative to Germany” in the June 2023 municipal elections are phenomena that require vigilant monitoring.
Normalization of antisemitic discourse in the United States: In December 2022, former U.S. President Donald Trump hosted the rapper Kanye West and Nick Fuentes, a supporter of white supremacy and a Holocaust denier, at his Florida residence. This event, which provoked sharp criticism, represents a change of direction that would have seemed impossible just a decade ago. Other events that reflect the normalization of antisemitic discourse were the appearance in Germany of Roger Waters in an SS uniform and Elon Musk’s tweet attacking George Soros, which was replete with antisemitic innuendo.
Disturbing Surge in Antisemitic Incidents in the U.S. – The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) recently revealed an alarming trend: a significant upsurge in antisemitic incidents across the United States. According to their report, the number of such incidents has skyrocketed by an astonishing 500% over the past ten years, escalating from 751 cases in 2013 to 3,697 cases in 2022.
In the ensuing paragraphs, some of the data describing the increase in antisemitism will be presented, followed by an analysis of four actions taken as part of the fight against antisemitism: the dramatic verdict in the synagogue in Pittsburgh, the adoption of the Digital Services Act (DSA) by the European Union, the implementation of the First-ever U.S. National Strategy to Counter Antisemitism, and the Israeli government’s decision to combine units against Antisemitism and BDS at the Ministry of Diaspora Affairs.
Snapshot of Selected Figures for Policy Makers
The JPPI integrated index encompasses three interconnected dimensions: attitudes toward Jews, antisemitic incidents, and perceptions among Jews. By examining these complementary indicators, it offers a comprehensive understanding of the phenomenon and aids in identifying effective intervention strategies.
France: 20% of French Jews have experienced physical assault; 37% say they feel insecure “often” or “occasionally. ”45% of Jewish parents in France ask their children not to disclose their religion.”1
Britain: Jewish communities perceive a lack of support in combating antisemitic phenomena, particularly within progressive left circles. British Jews grapple with a frequently imposed framing of Jews in progressive discourse. This framing is an obstacle to fighting antisemitism and contributes significantly to failures to recognize and stand against antisemitism among the broader left. Overall, 18% of British Jews reported feeling somewhat or very unwelcome in the UK.2
Germany: Between 2020 and 2021, there was a significant surge in German antisemitic internet posts, a 13-fold increase. It is concerning to note that every fifth antisemitic incident has a conspiracy-based background.3 40% of Jews reported having been disadvantaged, marginalized, or threatened in one way or another over the past year.4 Jews living in Germany often feel they are held accountable for Israeli policy vis-à-vis the Palestinians, and that the conceptualization of Israel as the “collective Jew” has become the identificational basis for regarding and judging all Jews.
United States: Significant surges in incidents include high volume increases in organized white supremacist propaganda activity (102% increase to 852 incidents), K-12 schools (49% increase to 494 incidents) and college campuses (41% increase to 219 incidents), as well as a troubling increase in attacks on Orthodox Jews (69% increase to 59 Incidents), and bomb threats against Jewish institutions (an increase from 8 to 91 incidents).
This year, two noteworthy surveys have been published that offer valuable insights into the first dimension of the JPPI Index, which investigates attitudes toward Jews. These surveys warrant inclusion in this report, as they shed light on important findings. One survey focuses on Europe, while the other concentrates on the United States.
The ADL Global 100 survey (Anti-Defamation League), which has been assessing attitudes toward Jews in over 100 countries since 2014, presents compelling evidence of persistent harmful stereotypes and prejudices against Jews in Europe in 2023. Approximately one in four individuals still holds deeply ingrained classical antisemitic beliefs.5 In Western Europe, a prevalent antisemitic trope centers around the notion of dual loyalty with Israel. it is essential to recognize that antisemitism traverses the entire political spectrum in Europe, though it tends to be more pronounced on the right-wing side of the political map.
In Eastern Europe, antisemitic attitudes are even more deeply entrenched. Although minor declines have been observed in certain surveyed countries, Hungary (37%), Poland (35%), and Russia (26%) continue to exhibit alarmingly high levels of antisemitic beliefs. Additionally, Holocaust denial is particularly pervasive in Eastern Europe. In Hungary and Ukraine, 19% of respondents either agree with the notion that “the Holocaust is a myth and did not happen” or assert that the number of Jewish victims has been greatly exaggerated. In Russia and Poland, the percentages of individuals denying the Holocaust stand at 17% and 15%, respectively.
However, amid these disconcerting findings, the survey also highlights encouraging news. Holocaust awareness is nearly universal in Western Europe, and outright denial of the Holocaust is exceedingly rare. Germany and the Netherlands have the lowest levels of Holocaust denial, with only 5% and 4% of the population respectively espousing such views. While several Western European countries exhibit greater sympathy toward Palestinians than Israelis, support for boycotting Israel remains minimal.
An in-depth research study published in January 2023, revealed disturbingly high levels of anti-Jewish sentiment among American adults.6 The study indicated that, on average, Americans agreed with 4.2 out of the 14 statements included in the anti-Jewish question battery. More concerning, however, was the finding that a fifth of Americans agreed with six or more of the original 11 statements, marking the highest level of antisemitic attitudes observed in decades of using the same set of questions.
The research sheds light on specific perceptions held by a significant proportion of Americans regarding Jews. For instance:
The researchers aimed to assess both attitudes toward Jews and attitudes toward Israel. The results revealed an intriguing trend where the boundaries between antisemitism and anti-Zionism are becoming increasingly blurred. The study revealed, for instance, that negative sentiments toward Israel, including anti-Israel views rooted in antisemitic conspiracy theories, were held by a significant portion of the American population. The findings include:
Based on these findings, researchers have delved into various topics to gain a better understanding of the factors associated with holding a higher number of anti-Jewish and anti-Israel attitudes. The study overall reveals that individuals who endorse a greater number of anti-Jewish stereotypes tend to: 1) possess limited knowledge about Jews, Judaism, and Jewish history; 2) lack personal relationships with Jewish individuals and/or describe their past interactions with Jews negatively; 3) underestimate the hostility and dangers faced by Jews in the United States today; 4) exhibit a general inclination toward conspiracy theory thinking.
The researchers found that the more positive one’s past experiences with Jews, the more comfortable they were spending time with supporters of Israel, and the more they thought Israel makes a positive contribution to the world.
The Tree of Life synagogue shooting, the deadliest antisemitic attack in U.S. history, resulted in the tragic loss of 11 lives in Pittsburgh in 2018. In a recent development, the perpetrator, Robert Bowers, was found guilty on all charges, including hate crimes. Bowers was sentenced to death by a federal jury, the first federal death penalty sentence under the Biden administration, which has also imposed a moratorium on capital punishment.
There is hope that this verdict will serve as a deterrent against future acts of antisemitic violence. The community emphasizes the importance of sending a clear message that hate crimes will not be tolerated and will be met with severe consequences.
Given the insurmountable difficulties faced by European Jews in seeking justice for convicted antisemitic killers, as illustrated by the tragic murder cases of Sarah Halimi and Mireille Knoll in Paris, this penalty holds a two-fold meaning. The enforcement of laws against antisemitic crimes remains remarkably low in Europe: less than 20% of antisemitic incidents are reported to authorities, and in France, only a quarter of reported violent assaults that meet the criteria of antisemitic crimes result in punishment.7
Social network operators have failed to adequately address the problem of antisemitic content. EU experts have found that manipulative algorithms are exploiting online platforms to spread false information and enable harmful activity. In response, the Council of the European Union passed the Digital Services Act (DSA) in July 2022.8 By 2024, the DSA will hold platform operators accountable for combating fake news and the propagation of hatred. If the effort succeeds, a reduction in prevalence of antisemitic discourse online may occur.
For this effort to be most effective, it must be implemented worldwide. However, in the United States, where freedom of speech is an enshrined constitutional right, similar initiatives face additional hurdles.
In May 2023, the Biden administration introduced the United States’ first National Strategy to Counter Antisemitism. This comprehensive plan includes over 200 policy proposals inspired by successful European strategies. It focuses on four key pillars: raising awareness about antisemitism’s threat to American democracy, safeguarding Jewish communities, challenging the normalization of antisemitism, and fostering solidarity across communities. The strategy emphasizes that antisemitism affects society as a whole and that the U.S. aims to combat all forms of hatred.
The national strategy has been positively received by prominent American Jewish organizations, which recognize it as a groundbreaking initiative that considers antisemitism a matter of national security. Their involvement in its development is seen as a significant achievement. However, this initiative has also fallen victim to political polarization and has been criticized by some conservative and right-wing organizations.
Opponents argue that the initiative primarily addresses white supremacists while neglecting anti-Zionists in the progressive camp. Some claim that the plan lacks a clear definition of antisemitism, leading to confusion. The U.S. administration decided not to adopt the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) widely endorsed definition of antisemitism and relies instead on the Nexus Document and the Jerusalem Declaration on Antisemitism (JDA), which do not recognize the delegitimization of the State of Israel and the denial of the right of the Jewish people to sovereignty as manifestations of antisemitism. Critics maintain that in this way the program enables the continuation of antisemitism. Additionally, the plan is accused of downplaying the severity of antisemitism by grouping it with other forms of hatred, despite Jews being disproportionately targeted.
The Israeli government’s decision to consolidate the units responsible for combating antisemitism and the BDS (Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions) movement at the Ministry of Diaspora Affairs appears to be a logical step in improving effectiveness and coordination. This move acknowledges that many BDS activists hold antisemitic views and aligns with the ongoing Israeli effort to encourage the adoption of the IHRA’s definition of antisemitism. However, this merger may have unintended consequences. The consolidation of these departments under one roof may hinder cooperation with progressive international actors, both Jewish and non-Jewish, who actively fight against racism and discrimination and speak out for religious freedom but harbor reservations about Zionism and Israel’s political strength.
Strategic Plans: The Israeli government and Jewish organizations must encourage the design and implementation of comprehensive plans against antisemitism at the governmental level, which include independent audit units and the allocation of adequate resources. International cooperation between peer teams from different countries, as well as adoption of uniform definitions and reporting protocols, should be encouraged.
Physical Security: The security of ultra-orthodox neighborhoods, which are major targets for violence against Jews, must be prioritized. It is recommended to concentrate on enhancing security in urban areas with visibly identifiable Jewish populations. The security of communities, supported by state aid, is contingent upon political will. Leaders of Jewish communities must establish strong ties with local political leadership to ensure proper security measures.
Enforcement: Complaints about antisemitic attacks must be taken seriously and heavy punishments must be imposed on perpetrators. Clear, practical, and measurable goals must be set to curb attacks.
Online Antisemitism: Public, political, and legal pressure must be exerted on the owners of online platforms so that they act to prevent the spread of antisemitic propaganda (as well as the spread of disinformation and hateful messages).
Adoption of IHRA Definition: Despite any reservations, the IHRA definition of antisemitism, which has gained critical mass and is regarded as the most effective definition in the fight against it, should be adopted globally.
Dissemination of Information and Promoting Encounters: It is important to share information about Judaism with non-Jews and to encourage positive interactions between Jews and non-Jews. Research indicates that such exposure and understanding can improve attitudes towards Jews and Israel.
Causes of Antisemitism and Attitudes Toward the Israeli Government
An analysis of data from the Jewish People Policy Institute’s “Voice of the People” platform allows us to identify a clear correlation between attitudes regarding the current Israeli government and attitudes regarding antisemitism in the United States.
In general, the subgroup of American Jews (by far the smallest) that identifies far-left groups as the “most significant cause” of antisemitism also tends to support the current Israeli government (27%) or feels that their opinion of the Israeli government is irrelevant (“respect the choice of Israelis”). In fact, half of those who see the extreme left as the main driver of antisemitism in the United States are not critical of the Israeli government. This is a very high percentage compared with the average percentage for the American Jewish community as a whole, most of which is “concerned” about the composition of the government. By contrast, among most Jews who regard the far right as the most significant cause of antisemitism in the United States, a significant majority are concerned, for various reasons, about the composition of Israel’s current government.
1. An analysis of antisemitism in France, AJC-Fondapol, March 2022.
2. Antisemitism Barometer 2021, Campaign Against Antisemitism, UK.
3. Kirsten Grieshaber,: ”Germany saw 2,480 antisemitic incidents in 2022, monitoring group says,” The Associated Press, June 27, 2023.Germany saw 2,480 antisemitic incidents in 2022, monitoring group says | AP News.
4. Study by the Forsa polling institute on behalf of the Central Council of Jews in Germany; “AfD-Anhänger stimmen antisemitischen Aussagen besonders oft zu,“ Jüdische Allgemeine, November 16, 2021.
5. Among the questions asked of respondents, 11 questions measuring general acceptance of various negative Jewish stereotypes were used to compile an index that has served as a benchmark for ADL polling around the world since 1964. Survey respondents who said at least six out of the 11 statements are “probably true” are considered to harbor extensive antisemitic attitudes. The ADL Global 100: An Index of Antisemitism, Update 2023. The ADL GLOBAL 100: An Index of Antisemitism
6. Antisemitic Attitudes in America: Conspiracy Theories, Holocaust Education and Other Predictors of Antisemitic Belief. Center for Antisemitism Research, March 2023. Antisemitic Attitudes in America: Conspiracy Theories, Holocaust Education and Other Predictors of Antisemitic Belief | ADL
7. SPCJ: Les chiffres de l’antisémitisme en France en 2022 https://www.spcj.org/les-chiffres-de-l-antis%C3%A9mitisme-2022-a
8. The Digital Services Act (DSA). https://digital-strategy.ec.europa.eu/en/policies/digital-services-act-package
