Rolling Back A Rising Tide Of Antisemitism

Latest stories

Japan poised for a no-change, nepo-baby premiership

China's K-visa woos STEM talent put off by H-1B fee hikes

Asia's youthquake: India's Gen Z protests are boiling over

Pope Leo has repeatedly urged Israel to care for the Palestinians, but it has offered no guarantees. It was an opening gesture to Israel. Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin negotiated and signed the historic establishment of diplomatic relations between the Holy See and Israel.

Communication also involves the lack of clear positions. If Israel doesn't take responsibility for the Palestinians, Hamas will appear to be their only true representative.

Therefore, Hamas can present itself not only as a group of extremely bloodthirsty terrorists but as the genuine representatives of roughly 2 million Palestinians who are at risk of being wiped off the map – a narrative that can elicit humanitarian sympathy and potential solidarity from over 1 billion Muslims worldwide.

This becomes a convenient dynamic. In America and Europe, Muslim voters outnumber Jewish voters. Antisemitism-a taboo just a year ago-has resurfaced and it's increasingly accepted in mainstream media.

Michel Korinman, in“Deutschland über alles. Le pangermanisme 1890-1945” (1999) makes a compelling case: Pan-Germanist expansionism initially relied on German-speaking Jews in Eastern Europe.

But Slavs were more numerous and intensely antisemitic. Eventually, Pan-Germanists decided they had to choose between the Slavs and the Jews, a decision that led to the extermination of German-speaking Jews in Eastern Europe.

It could soon be the same in the Western world, thanks to immigration and the increasing power and sophistication of Arab states. These states understand they don't have to fund terrorists for their security – the US does that for them.

This means their voice is growing louder in Washington and reaching new, diverse sectors, many of which have a vested interest in becoming more influential than Israel.

The Vativan could be an ideal shield against resurgent antisemitism. But in Israel, there's an old suspicion (Catholics were initially involved with the God-killing accusation) as well as dismissive skepticism (how many divisions does the Vatican have?). There is also a legitimate sense of being patronized:“We are fighting and dying, while you enjoy the view.”

But this may only be part of the issue. Rising pro-Hamas and anti-Israeli sentiments are sweeping through the West, undermining the tolerant and liberal fabric of society, which is gradually eroding pro-Israeli support in a vicious cycle.

Nonetheless, to counter this, coordination abroad is essential. Israel may also need to pay more attention to the broader landscape of antisemitism.