Growing Obsession with Israel:<\/p>\n
Over the past six months, there has been a sharp increase in references to Israel, Jews, and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, compared with coverage of other major international issues such as the war in Ukraine or tensions with China or Iran. The analysis shows that Israel has become a central, and at times dominant, topic in the discourse of both influencers.<\/p>\n
For Candace Owens, this shift began in February 2025; for Tucker Carlson, in April. From those inflection points onward, references to Israel show a steep and sustained upward trajectory.<\/p>\n
Escalation in Tone and Sentiment:<\/strong><\/p>\n AI-based sentiment analysis reveals a significant deterioration in tone toward Israel:<\/p>\n Tucker Carlson: The share of negative content about Israel rose sharply from 48.9% in the previous six-month period to 70.3% over the last six months.<\/p>\n Candace Owens: From the outset, the overwhelming majority of her references to Israel were already classified as negative (over 96%). The primary change in her case is quantitative \u2014 a substantial increase in the overall volume of such negative content.<\/p>\n Across multiple videos, both figures employ sharp rhetoric, including comparisons between Israel and Hamas, use of the term \u201cgenocide,\u201d accusations of deliberately killing children, and the circulation of conspiracy narratives alleging Israeli influence over the United States.<\/p>\n Manifestations of Antisemitism:<\/strong><\/p>\n Tucker Carlson: The analysis did not identify consistent or explicit antisemitic statements according to the IHRA definition. However, Carlson repeatedly provides an uncritical platform to well-known antisemites, including Holocaust deniers and extremist ideologues (such as Nick Fuentes), without setting clear boundaries or offering meaningful critical challenge.<\/p>\n Candace Owens: In Owens\u2019s case, the findings are substantially more severe. Approximately 45% of videos in which Jews are mentioned were classified by the algorithm as antisemitic. In the past six months, this figure rose to roughly 75% \u2014 nearly double the rate for the previous six-month period.<\/p>\n These videos include sweeping generalizations about Jews, portrayals of Jews as a \u201ccult,\u201d accusations of \u201cJewish supremacy,\u201d and classic antisemitic tropes alleging Jewish control, deception, and manipulation. Such claims are frequently accompanied by the assertion that deployment of charges of antisemitism and antisemite are merely a \u201cZionist tactic.\u201d<\/p>\n Summary:<\/strong><\/p>\n The study provides empirical evidence that anti-Israel discourse in the United States is no longer confined to the radical left or to the political fringes. It is increasingly permeating segments of the populist right and the broader MAGA camp, amplified by influencers with significant reach and impact on public opinion.<\/p>\n Moreover, terminology such as \u201cgenocide,\u201d once associated primarily with radical progressive discourse, is now becoming part of the lexicon of prominent figures on the American right.<\/p>\n JPPI researchers argue that these findings underscore the need for a broad strategic response to address hostility toward Israel in the American public discourse \u2014 not only from the left, but also from the right. This development has the potential to erode U.S.\u2013Israel relations over the long term.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/jppi.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/67.png\")
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