Since October 7, world Jewry has been experiencing an antisemitic moment as anti-Jewish incidents have surged to levels not seen since World War II. 30% of American Jewish parents advise their children to conceal their identity on university campuses while half of London’s Jews are contemplating emigration. Additionally, one in three Jewish institutions in Germany has been attacked. In France, antisemitic incidents have surged tenfold.¹

Antisemitism is gaining momentum in America, historically a safe haven, echoing trends observed in Europe for decades, and European Jews are contending with escalating hostility reminiscent of the challenges endured by South African Jews in recent years. Sadly, there appears to be no sanctuary on Earth where Jews feel truly secure.

Jewish life has been deeply affected by these trends, sometimes in a paradoxical or contradictory manner. Many Jews have drawn closer to Jewish organizations, engaging in both more communal activities as well as pro-Israel rallies, while others have gone underground, or even come out against Israel and Zionism to safeguard their positions. Some young adult Jews have changed their user names in apps, thinking about how not to stand out and how to lower their profile so that it doesn’t affect their social status, likability and their ability to find jobs – it brings us back to the status of a persecuted minority constantly weighing where it can feel “safe”.² If the State of Israel were to be regarded as a pariah state, it is feared that, similar to past experiences in Europe, a larger segment of the jewish community might follow this trend, distancing themselves from Israel and even downplaying their Jewish identity.

This chapter highlights major new developments that could threaten the long-term thriving of world Jewry. With China deploying antisemitic rhetoric, political parties with strong antisemitic records gaining governing positions in Europe, the number of Jewish students and faculty members in the Ivy League diminishing, and support for Israel among young Americans drastically declining, world Jewry urgently needs to rethink its strategy to combat antisemitism.

Notable Negative Developments

Made in China: China, historically untouched by antisemitism, and Russia, which had seen a decline in such attitudes over the past three decades, are increasingly adopting antisemitic rhetoric. Their criticism of Israel and Jews appear to be more rooted in advancing their own geopolitical ambitions than genuine concern for Palestinian welfare. This propaganda strains the relationship between Jews and these influential global actors.

French Jews under attack: As part of a pan-European cultural backlash, the ascent of far-right parties to governing positions in France has alarmed many in Europe’s largest Jewish community.³ These parties push policies aimed at banning Jewish ritual slaughter and the import of kosher meat, prohibiting dual citizenship, and limiting public funding of Jewish institutions. Additionally, their actions risk inciting violent reactions from marginalized Muslim communities, posing a serious threat to the safety of local Jewish populations.

Campuses under attack: The extensive focus on the Gaza war in public discourse has escalated antisemitism, especially in elite schools. Many Jewish students and professors at top universities report feeling unwelcome, being physically threatened and unprotected by their administrations.4 At this point, we don’t know if this trend is temporary or if it signals a significant and troubling shift that could erode the status of Jews throughout the West.

Increasing antisemitism and Anti-israel sentiment among young Americans: Recent trends indicate a disturbing increase in antisemitism and anti-Israel sentiment among young Americans.⁵ According to the Anti-Defamation League (ADL), young Americans, for the first time, are more likely to endorse antisemitic stereotypes compared to older generations. Additionally, support for Israel among young Americans is dwindling. Views of Hamas are also deeply concerning, with more than half of Gen Z willing in some way to befriend a Hamas supporter.⁶ Should these trends continue and intensify, Israel may face growing isolation and vulnerability in the international arena in the years ahead.

Vigorous anti-Israel advocacy among U.S. Jews: A small minority of Jews have emerged as vigorous anti-Israel protesters, publicly denouncing the Jewish state for its actions, and commanding disproportionate attention in the media and broader debates. Some of these are poised to take advantage of their new status to become leaders in some U.S. Jewish and non-Jewish organizations – including recent graduates of liberal rabbinical programs, faculty for Israel and Jewish Studies, and scholars specializing in genocide studies. They are articulating their dissent through widely publicized petitions and other forms of advocacy. This concerning trend requires vigilant monitoring.⁷

Conflation of Jews with Israel: While anti-Zionism and antisemitism were once considered separate phenomena – in a context where Jews have deep concern about the Jewish state – there’s a growing tendency among anti-Israel activists to conflate Jews with Israel regardless of individual opinions. Studies show that individuals who hold negative attitudes toward Israel-related policies, Israeli people, and Israel-oriented conspiracy theories are significantly more likely to traffic in anti-Jewish tropes and lash out against individual Jews.⁸

Global anti-Israel leftist governments coalition: A coalition of leftist governments worldwide, including Colombia, Spain, South Africa, and Belgium, is intensifying efforts to delegitimize Israel on the global political stage, with rhetoric at times inflaming anti-Jewish sentiment across borders. This unprecedented campaign has deeply unsettling implications for Jewish communities. In Belgium, for instance, Jews increasingly feel threatened in their daily lives.

Three Main Actors: The Primary Drivers of Antisemitism
First, Islamist activists are fueled by a mission to Islamize the West and facilitate Muslim immigration into Western nations. They orchestrate large-scale rallies, ostensibly in solidarity with Gaza’s suffering children, to mobilize non-Islamist Muslim migrants residing in Western countries and gain support from progressive multiculturalists.

Second, influential nations such as Iran, Russia, and China are resolute in their efforts to destabilize the Western liberal order. They exploit antisemitism or historically antisemitic tropes as rallying cries for both right- and left-wing anti-system radicals. By vilifying Israel and Jews as symbols of Western dominance, they bolster Islamist and pro-Palestine activists and propagate anti-Israel and anti-Western ideologies within educational institutions shaping future leaders. Aiming to exert its soft power influence on a global audience, Qatar has become the main funder of worldwide Islamism and anti-Israel bias in academia.9 By promoting anti-Israel content, China’s TikTok hopes to weaken an American ally and undermine American unity and determination to engage internationally.¹⁰

Last, major progressive groups are funding anti-Israel actions on campuses, at political rallies, and in the streets, with some of these efforts bleeding into antisemitic rhetoric and threats against Jews. Events and individuals are canceled, groups intimidated, and the neutrality of many key institutions undermined. In some cases, these groups directly threaten individual Jews with violence.

Notable Positive Prospects

Possible backlash against leftist and Islamic activism: Many feel that progressive activists have gone too far in their anti-Western stance and their deconstruction of identity. The rise of violent antisemitism and internal contradictions within the intersectional coalition may prove unsustainable. There is speculation that a backlash could occur, potentially benefiting Jews. Jews and anti-totalitarian advocates are starting to fight back on various fronts: in the U.S. Congress, the EU Parliament, and on the battlefield with a coalition against Iranian and Islamist terrorist groups. An initial manifestation of this potential backlash is Germany’s recent designation of the Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions (BDS) movement as an “extremist movement” posing a threat to national security. This classification enables authorities to surveil BDS activists, recruit informants within the movement and counter its influence effectively.¹¹

Support of Israel among the general population: Despite the disproportionate representation of anti-Israel discourse in the media, the silent majority in Western countries overwhelmingly supports Israel and its efforts against Hamas – over 70%. In western Europe, this high level of support is linked to concerns about the jihadist threat, as evidenced by the fact that 72% of the French population reports worrying that an October 7-style attack could occur in France.¹²

Antisemitism has a double-edged effect on Jewishness: Antisemitism, despite its reprehensible nature, has a paradoxical effect on Jewish identity. While undoubtedly causing immense harm and suffering, periods of heightened antisemitism often lead to a strengthening of Jewish solidarity and connection to heritage. A minority may diminish their Jewish ties, but for most the crucible of prejudice forges – at least over the short term – a deeper commitment to their roots. In the wake of October 7, surveys indicate that 57% of American Jews reported feeling an increased connection to Israel or their Jewish identity.¹³ Similar trends have been observed in Jewish communities worldwide during times of crisis. Oppression, rather than extinguishing Jewish peoplehood, seems to stoke its flames – a testament to the incredible resilience at the core of the Jewish experience.

Acceleration of a Paradigm Shift
Following decades of Soviet-generated anti-Zionist propaganda that has primed Western intellectuals for an anti-Israeli stance, the events of October 7 have accelerated long-standing trends. Zionism is now under intense attack, with the narrative shifting from criticizing Israeli occupation and advocating for a two-state solution to outright delegitimizing Israel as a sovereign nation, portraying it as the last vestige of Western colonialism. This shift transcends mere judgments of Israel’s actions and hints at deeper metaphysical concerns.

The word “Colonialist” has replaced “Nazi” as the ultimate insult. We are witnessing a paradigmatic shift: Western liberals once saw Zionism as a moral and legitimate response by a powerless population that had suffered persecution and genocide, and thus tolerated it. Now, they reject it. Previously, the logic of left-wing and right-wing antisemites, motivated by anti-capitalist sentiment or racial hatred, was as follows: we hate Jews, therefore we hate Israel. This logic has now been inverted: we abhor Israel, therefore we abhor Jews. The Jewish state should not exist, consequently all those with any connection to it are punishable. Anti-Zionism has become the code name for this inversion.

Two elements have been central to this shift. First, in left-wing circles, Muslims are perceived as the new proletariat deserving protection due to their supposed systemic victim status. By contrast, Jews are seen as embodying a systemically dominant group, a privileged class among whites. Within the neo-Marxist paradigm, racism is considered systemic and institutional, framed as a function of class struggle. Thus, antisemitism may not be considered “racism” since dominant class groups are not viewed as the objects of discrimination. This intellectual shift incorporated a post-modern corpus of theories, a fusion of the Frankfurt School’s neo-Marxist ideas and the “French post-structuralist theory” that gained significant academic truck in the 1980s.

Second, the growing influence of Islamic activists allied with progressives has accelerated this trend. Particularly on campuses in recent months, American Jews have begun to feel threatened by this Islamo-leftist activism. The “intersectional” fight against imperialism, colonialism, capitalism, and class stratification has led to a convergence between the radical left and radical Islam, sometimes translating into virulent antisemitism. While in North America, progressives leverage the oppressed/oppressor binary to court minorities, in Europe, leftist parties amplify radical anti-Zionist rhetoric to court the Muslim vote. The growing Muslim demographic is so influential that, in Western Europe, it can be seen as the primary predictive indicator of Jewish community vulnerability, based on the percentage of Muslims in the population.

In Europe, antisemitism – both visible and invisible – hinders Jewish communities’ participation in broader society and demotivates engagement of some in local Jewish communal life. Although anti-Jewish attitudes are not increasing in the general population, a critical mass of antisemitic elements has created a hostile environment for some Jews, leading to their rampant social exclusion in certain areas.

Snapshot of Selected Figures for Policy Makers

France: 34% of the French population exhibits antisemitic tendencies (66% among Muslims), including a third who demonstrate both a strong adherence to prejudices against Jews and a tolerance for antisemitic violence.¹⁴ Despite the majority’s rejection of such violence, a quarter of French Jews report having experienced an antisemitic incident since October 7. The Jewish community lives in a state of anxiety: 86% are afraid of becoming victims with 56% feeling this fear very strongly. 44% of those wearing religious symbols have stopped doing so in public since October 7, and one in five have removed the mezuzah from their home’s doorway. Alarmingly, 16% have even changed their names on delivery apps fearing their Jewish identity could provoke an attack.¹⁵ There are grave concerns that the police may be unable to adequately protect the Jewish population in the event of violent unrest.

Britain: During Israeli military conflicts, British Jews face risks. A notable 90% of them refrain from visiting city centers when anti-Israel demonstrations are underway. Since October 7, 61% of them or someone they know have experienced or witnessed an antisemitic incident. Moreover, 48% have contemplated emigrating in response to rising antisemitism. They not only perceive but also define themselves as closely linked with Israel. 97% feel personally connected to events in Israel, and 80% self-identify as Zionist.

Germany: Since October 7, Germany has witnessed a concerning escalation of antisemitic incidents and rhetoric at anti-Israel demonstrations, with reports of chants calling for violence against Jews and a lack of intervention by law enforcement agencies. German Jews have expressed feeling targeted by hostility in public spaces, such as while shopping or taking public transportation, and are disappointed by the lack of bystander support. Many avoid drawing attention to themselves out of fear of being attacked.¹⁶ A significant portion of the Jewish community, 40%, has reported facing marginalization or threats over the past year.¹⁷ Alarmingly, unlike other far-right European parties that at least officially distance themselves from antisemitism, the German AfD party has centered its nationalist politics around openly criticizing Germany’s efforts to commemorate and learn from the atrocities of Nazism and the Holocaust.

United States: American history has never been free of antisemitism, but recent surveys and studies on antisemitic attitudes in the country, across the ideological spectrum, reveal a disturbing rise.¹⁸ While the majority rejects antisemitism, far-right and far-left extremists have cultivated an environment of fear for American Jews in the wake of October 7. 60% of American Jews have felt unsafe in at least one of these situations: wearing Jewish signifiers in public, spending time in a Jewish institution or building, and/or sharing their views about Israel on social media or with friends. 64% say the Israel-Hamas war has affected their personal or work relationships in at least one way. Further, 9% of American Jews report having considered leaving the United States due to antisemitism.¹⁹

JPPI’s integrated Antisemitism Index encompasses three interconnected dimensions: attitudes toward Jews, antisemitic incidents, and perceptions among Jews. Examining these complementary indicators offers a comprehensive understanding of the phenomenon and assists in identifying effective intervention strategies.

Policy Recommendations – Diaspora Communities:
After several decades of relative quiet following the Holocaust, antisemitism has alarmingly returned and been normalized. Sadly, it appears there is no sanctuary on Earth where Jews can truly feel secure. Facing this harsh reality, Jewish communities must recognize that animosity toward them will not simply disappear. It is essential for them to take responsibility for their personal security and actively strive to safeguard their well-being.

This involves pressuring governments to develop strategic plans and pass legislation to combat antisemitism, advocating for robust anti-hate laws and their effective enforcement, exerting influence on online platforms to crack down on hate speech, actively combating Holocaust denial, and promoting education to foster acceptance by others. All these efforts must be prioritized and coordinated.

Coordinate advocacy against foreign influence in academia: Mobilize pro-democracy and pro-Israel forces to investigate Qatari and other anti-Israel funding in academia. Coordinate their efforts to pressure educational institutions for transparency. Launch awareness campaigns about foreign influence. Lobby for government investigations into international funding sources and their impacts. Leverage alumni networks to amplify the call for accountability in higher education. Through these actions, combat anti-Zionist bias and preserve academic integrity.

Ensure safe learning environments – establishing national centers to combat antisemitism in educational institutions: In each country establish, a national center that collaborates closely with university and K-12 administrators. These centers will promote a culture of zero tolerance for antisemitism while fostering environments grounded in civic education, democratic values, and evidence-based inquiry. They will serve as a hub for collecting complaints and intervening proactively with administrators. Additionally, the centers will empower Jewish students by equipping them with necessary skills and support networks to advocate effectively on campus and in the wider society.

Enhance security in vulnerable Jewish communities: Implement a comprehensive strategy to protect visibly Jewish communities, such as ultra-Orthodox neighborhoods, increasing physical security measures, engage with Jewish leaders to build political support, take antisemitic attack complaints seriously, impose severe punishments on perpetrators, establish clear goals to combat such attacks, and improve policing and education in high-risk areas.

Combat online antisemitism: Exert pressure on online platforms to commit to inhibiting the spread of antisemitism. Support steps to ban China/Russia/Iran ownership of media and social media as currently attempted with TikTok legislation. Address the internet’s role in fostering negative attitudes toward Jews and challenge social media platforms’ commercial incentives to permit fake news and hateful messages. International, governmental, and public pressure is required. In the United States, consider the challenges posed by the protection of free speech under the First Amendment.

Policy Recommendations – Government of Israel:

Establish an Israeli national strategic plan: Israel, the most structured and resourceful Jewish entity, has a role to play in the coordinated effort to ensure the safety and well-being of Jewish communities around the world in the face of rising antisemitism. There is an urgent need for a unified and multi-pronged approach to confront this resurgent threat.

Establish premier U.S.-recognized academic degrees at Israeli universities: Given the challenges of antisemitism on college campuses worldwide and the hesitance of many Diaspora Jews to enroll in leading universities, there is a compelling opportunity for Israeli universities to develop and expand top-tier, U.S.-recognized academic programs conducted in English. These initiatives would create an antisemitism-free academic environment attractive to overseas students. Additionally, introducing more gap-year programs that include training on combating antisemitism could further enhance these academic offerings. These efforts would not only bolster educational excellence but also foster stronger Israel-Diaspora relations.

Ensure security of Diaspora Jewish communities: Israel must act to ensure the security of Diaspora Jews facing antisemitic threats when local authorities cannot. While authorities within each country have primary responsibility, Israel should assist Diaspora communities unable to eliminate serious antisemitic risks by preparing evacuation plans for distressed communities in volatile situations, and by ensuring that absorption plans are in place in Israel (transport, employment, social integration etc.)

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1 Antisemitism Worldwide Report for 2023, Tel Aviv University, May 2024.
2 אוניברסיטאות עילית הן כבר לא האופציה המועדפת על יהודים. אלה החלופות, Globes, August 12, 2024.
3 Matthew Dalton and Noemie Bisserbe, “France’s Jews Consider the Unthinkable: Voting for a Party With an Antisemitic Past,” Wall Street Journal, June 21, 2024.
4 Please refer to the chapter titled “College Campuses in the Shadow of the Israel-Hamas War” within this report.
5 Eitan Hersh and Laura Royden, “Antisemitic Attitudes Across the Ideological Spectrum,” Political Research Quarterly 76 (2), (2023): 698
6 Antisemitic Attitudes in America 2024, ADL, February 29, 2024.
7 Among the prominent anti-Israeli petitions and op-eds, see: (1) Reconstructionist Rabbi op-ed: Anti-Zionism Forced us to Withdraw from Reconstructionist Rabbinical College,” Forward, May 17, 2024; and response from the Rabbinical College’s dean: Deborah Waxman,”I run the Reconstructionist movement. We believe in Israel’s right to exist but reject litmus tests on Zionism,” Forward, May 21, 2024. (2) Petitions by the Israel and Jewish Studies faculty that have caused controversy: Statement on Israel/Palestine,” May 22, 2021” and Jehad Abusalim, “The Elephant in the Room: Addressing the Ignored Reality in Israeli Protests”, August 10, 2023. (3) Holocaust scholars’ petition on genocide: Mohsen al Atta, Public Statement: Scholars Warn of Potential Genocide in Gaza, October 18, 2023. (4) Petition criticizing IHRA and other definitions of antisemitism Concerned Jewish Faculty Against Antisemitism.
8 “Antisemitic Attitudes in America 2024,” ADL, op. cit.
9 Networks of Hate: Qatari Paymasters, Soft Power and the Manipulation of Democracy, ISGAP (2023). See also Examining Undocumented Foreign Funding of American Universities: Implications for Education and Rising Antisemitism, ISGAP (2020), The Corruption of the American Mind: How Foreign Funding in U.S. Higher Education by Authoritarian Regimes, Widely Undisclosed, Predicts Erosion of Democratic Norms and Antisemitic Incidents on Campus, Network Contagion Research Institute (NCRI), November 2023.
10 A Tik-Tok-ing Timebomb: How TikTok’s Global Platform Anomalies Align with the Chinese Communist Party’s Geostrategic Objectives, Network Contagion Research Institute (NCRI), December 2023.
11 Rachel Fink, “Germany Designates BDS as ‘Suspected Extremist Group,’ Citing Antisemitism Concerns”, Haaretz, June 20, 2024.
12 “Le regard des Français sur le conflit israélo-palestinien et ses conséquences en France –Vague 3,” Ifop-Crif, April 2024.
13 “2024 Survey of American Jewish Opinion,” AJC, May 2024.
14 “Radiographie de l’antisémitisme en 2024, Ifop-AJC-Fondapol, April 2024, p. 9.
15 Radiographie de l’antisemitisme en France, IFOP-AJC, May 2024.
16 Antisemitische Vorfälle nach den Massakern der Hamas am 7. Oktober. Die Rolle von Gelegenheitsstrukturen für das antisemitisch; RIAS, May 2024.
17 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
18 Antisemitic Attitudes in America: Topline Findings,” Center for Antisemitism Research, ADL, January 12, 2023, and Center for Antisemitism Research, “Antisemitic Attitudes in America 2024,” ADL, February 29, 2024,
19 “2024 Survey of American Jewish Opinion,” op. cit.