By Arie Perliger
The U.S. is currently experiencing one of the most significant waves of antisemitism that it has ever seen. Jewish communities are shaken and traumatized.
Jewish and civil rights organizations both in the U.S. and in other Western countries reported a rise in antisemitic incidents following the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas attack on Israel and the subsequent Israeli military response. The Anti-Defamation League reported that in the first week after Hamas’ deadly attack, in which 1,400 Israelis were killed, antisemitic incidents in the U.S. tripled in comparison to the same week last year.
Similarly, London police recorded a 1,353% increase in antisemitic crimes compared with the same period a year earlier.
In addition, antisemitic symbols and rhetoric seem to be part of a growing number of protests that erupted around the globe following the escalation of the conflict between Israel and Hamas.
Most scholars agree that the term “antisemitism” describes animosity and discrimination against Jews. Broader definitions, such as the one adopted by the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance, include the singling out of Israel and the demonization of its character, such as the claim that “the existence of a State of Israel is a racist endeavor.”
My team of researchers at UMass Lowell and Development Service Group, a Washington, D.C.-based think tank, compiled and analyzed a comprehensive dataset of antisemitic incidents in the U.S. between 1990 and 2021. We wanted to understand what factors led to antisemitism. We covered violent antisemitism as well as incidents of antisemitic intimidation and vandalism. We included any attacks against Jews which were motivated by the religious identity of the victims – even if it was motivated by anger about Israeli policies.
Our study, which will be published soon, found a startling new phenomenon: The ideology underlying antisemitism in the U.S. now encompasses both sides of the political spectrum. And it allowed us to develop three other insights regarding the intensifying linkage between the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and antisemitism in the U.S.
1. Antisemitism is not exclusive to the far right
Traditionally, antisemitism in the United States was promoted by far-right organizations and movements, such as the Ku Klux Klan, neo-Nazi groups and skinheads. Such groups focused on propagating traditional antisemitic narratives alleging Jews’ racial inferiority, their control of the financial sector and their role in global cabals aiming to undermine America and Western civilization.
More recently, progressive and left-leaning movements that are critical of Israel’s policies – especially with regard to the Palestinian population in the territories occupied by Israel in 1967 – have become linked to antisemitic practices, too.
In a survey conducted in 2018 in 12 European Union countries among victims of antisemitism, 21% indicated that they were physically or verbally attacked by what participants called “left-wing” activists. In the U.S., our data shows that 95% of antisemitic incidents motivated by Israel’s policies were perpetrated by far-left or unidentified activists. Just 5% were perpetrated by known far-right activists.
Further indication that antisemitic violence is no longer the sole domain of far-right extremists can be gleaned from an analysis of our data that looked at the geographic characteristics of antisemitism.
We find that antisemitic hate crimes are occurring especially in politically progressive areas of the country. The New York metropolitan area and the Northeast in general, and urban centers in Florida, California, the Northwest and the Midwest are experiencing the majority of antisemitic incidents.
While these regions of the U.S. were usually considered hospitable to minorities, our data reflects that in the past decade they are the most substantial hubs of antisemitic violence.
2. US antisemitism is strongly correlated to escalation in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict
The outbreak of violence between Israel and Palestinians seems to inflame antisemitism in the U.S. and is exploited to amplify long-standing antisemitic tropes.
Rigorous analysis of our dataset found conclusive evidence that these escalations in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict – such as the violent clashes between Hamas and Israel in the Gaza Strip in the past few years – are accompanied by an increase in antisemitic incidents in the U.S.
For example, in the months leading up to the Israel-Hamas war of May 2021, there was a gradual increase in antisemitic attacks that peaked in May 2021 and gradually declined in the following months.
3. Israel’s policies and antisemitism abroad are connected
The growing connection between Israel’s policies and antisemitic violence abroad, and especially in the U.S., reflects the view among many Americans that American Jews unquestioningly support Israel’s government.
The Anti-Defamation League’s leader put it bluntly when he stated following the May 2021 Israel-Hamas war that “the violence we witnessed in America during the conflict last May was shocking … it seemed as if the working assumption was that if you were Jewish, you were blameworthy for what was happening half a world away.”
Thus, it is not surprising that following the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas attack, Jewish organizations on American campuses became the main targets of violent activism by Palestinian rights supporters. Nor was it surprising that the first reaction of U.S. law enforcement agencies in the wake of the Hamas attack was enhancing the protections of Jewish schools and communal facilities.
4. Antisemitism today exploits long-standing antisemitic tropes
American Jewish communities had traditionally strong links to the state of Israel, and many extended their support in various ways. They included contributing money to Israeli cultural, educational and social institutions, as well as advocating for U.S. support. This was explicit acknowledgment of the importance to the Jewish people of having a homeland.
In recent years, however, many Jewish communities, especially their younger members, became increasingly critical of Israeli policies and the country’s ongoing military control of the occupied Palestinian territories.
Despite such developments within the Jewish community, efforts by organizations sympathetic to the Palestinian cause to link American Jews as a whole to Israel’s policies seem to have intensified. Such linkages reflect an extension of one of the most resilient and long-standing antisemitic tropes, in which American Jews are portrayed as having a dual loyalty and a preference to support Israel’s interests over American ones, especially in times in which they may conflict.
In the past, sentiments regarding American Jews’ alleged dual loyalty were mainly exploited by extremists on the far right. Lately, it seems also to be manifested in left-wing discourse and actions that support or legitimize marginalization of Jews in the U.S. by blaming them for Israel’s policies.
Examples of this new manifestation of antisemitism include the exclusion of American Jewish organizations from progressive campaigns and events and the exclusion of Jewish activists from progressive associations.
Combating the new antisemitism
The reactions to the recent escalation in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict illustrate a profound change in the ideological roots of antisemitism in the U.S.
The many cases in which professional and student associations as well as political organizations were quick both to legitimize Hamas terrorist attacks on Israeli civilians and direct their animosity toward U.S. Jews showing solidarity and sympathy with Israeli victims are prime examples.
That means any effort to combat antisemitism in the U.S. must take into consideration the growing ideological diversity behind contemporary incidents of antisemitism.
Those efforts will need to understand the nuances that shape American Jews’ relationships with Israel – and recognize that despite the substantial progress U.S. Jews experienced in the U.S. in all aspects of public life, antisemitism is still a part of the American political landscape.
Arie Perliger is Director of Security Studies and Professor of Criminology and Justice Studies at UMass Lowell.
The Conversation arose out of deep-seated concerns for the fading quality of our public discourse and recognition of the vital role that academic experts could play in the public arena. Information has always been essential to democracy. It’s a societal good, like clean water. But many now find it difficult to put their trust in the media and experts who have spent years researching a topic. Instead, they listen to those who have the loudest voices. Those uninformed views are amplified by social media networks that reward those who spark outrage instead of insight or thoughtful discussion. The Conversation seeks to be part of the solution to this problem, to raise up the voices of true experts and to make their knowledge available to everyone. The Conversation publishes nightly at 9 p.m. on FlaglerLive.
ASF says
The “Anti-Zionism”/Anti-Netanyahu excuse for Anti Semitism is as invalid as any other excuse for Anti Semitism ever was or is now.
Deborah Coffey says
Thank you. Half my family are Jews. While I do support the right of Israel to exist as a country, I have never supported Bibi Netanyahu, his policies, or his ethics. He’s been behaving in the West Bank much like Russia is behaving in Ukraine. That certainly doesn’t make me anti-semitic.
ASF says
How, exactly, Is Netanyahu behaving in West Banl like Putin is The Ukraine? Give specifics in support of that accusation.
If you can’t or you won’t, that, in itself , might suggest a lot less about Netanyahu than it does about certain other people.
Pierre Tristam says
Ummm, occupation? The 2,657 Palestinians killed (oh, I’m sorry: the terrorists killed) by Israeli forces just since 2000 in the West Bank alone? (Israeli forces and civilians killed there, all angels of course, especially those “settlers” who like to lynch Palestinians: 472). The 38 children killed there this year alone, before Oct. 7 (of course, all little terrorists)? The 90-plus Palestinians killed–I’m sorry, the blood-sucking, ungrateful, subhuman terrorists killed–by Israeli forces and lynch mobs just since Oct. 7 in the West Bank? Did I mention the occupation is 56 years old? Of course what do animals know between occupation and paradise. They’re being occupied by the most humane, the most honorable, the most justified force in the world. Doesn’t it call itself a “defense force,” after all? No, no comparison applicable whatsoever. Netanyahu is just another Gandhi. “Certain other people” is right. Must be terrorists, too. Downright disgusting.
Sherry says
Thanks so much for the “credible facts” Pierre!
It is so terrible for all of us that almost half of our citizens live in a world of FOX “disinformation”!
ASF says
ASF’s Comment has been withheld. A warning to ASF and commenters who similarly violate policy: Do not use this site to spread disinformation. Do not use this site to spread bigotry. Do not ever put “occupation” or “pro-Palestinian” in quotes, as if it were an opinion, since you do not put “Israel” and “pro-Israel” in quotes, nor would we. Doing so is a slur. Do not libelously conflate this site with anti-semites. Doing so is a bigoted slur. You’d behaved until now in accordance with the site’s comment policy. You’ve stopped behaving. That wastes our time. Next time you won’t get an explanation, and the time after that you’ll be banned for at least a month. Please comply with our comment policy. Thank you.–FL]—FL
Samuel L. Bronkowitz says
The lede here is that questioning the actions of the state of israel is in itself an act of antisemitism, and that it is inherently antisemitic to imply that palestinians are human beings, have souls, etc. The think tank “Development Service Group” that Arie Perliger claims to have worked with doesn’t appear to exist outside of this article, and 5 minutes browsing his twitter feed is all you need to know about the intent of the article.
ASF says
There are plenty of people who criticize Israeli policy decisions and still support Israel’s right to exist and defend its people–be they Jewish or not (22% of Israel’s population is Arab.) They also believe that Palestinians are fully human and “have souls”.
In fact, many of the people slaughtered at the “Peace Music festival” on October 7th. felt that way, as did the Kibbutzniks that were brutally slain–many of whom were politically Left Leaning and who were activists known to offer their hands in peace to the Palestinians next door. Sadly, that’s what made them such easy targets. It must have been like shooting fish in a barrel.
Anti Semitism has EVERYTHING to do with that.
Pogo says
@As stated
https://www.haaretz.com/