Antisemitism up 34% worldwide following Iran strikes

Half of all antisemitic attacks last week were related to the war against the Islamic Republic, according to a study.

By World Israel News Staff

The number of antisemitic incidents reported around the world surged by 34% since the beginning of the conflict with Iran on February 28, according to new data released by the Combat Antisemitism Movement’s (CAM) Antisemitism Research Center (ARC).

The ARC recorded 154 antisemitic incidents worldwide in the first week of the conflict, with 73, or 47.4%, directly linked to the war with Iran, including incitement against Jews, conspiracy theories blaming Jews or Israel for the conflict, and explicit glorification of the Iranian regime.

The incidents documented by ARC run the gamut from antisemitic posts on social media to public displays of support for Iranian attacks on Israel, to the use of traditional antisemitic tropes and imagery.

The messages have included calls for violent attacks on Jews, conspiracy theories alleging Jewish world domination, and classic anti-Jewish narratives.

“As Iran targets civilians in Israel and our neighbors, antisemites have been emboldened throughout the world to increase their acts of Jew hatred,” said CAM CEO Roytman Dratwa.

“At this historic moment, our allies must follow the leadership of the United States in standing against this horrendous violence and act with moral clarity against antisemitism.”

According to the ARC report, last week’s spike in antisemitism reflects the varied sources of far-right and far-left opposition to the conflict with Iran and attempts to merge criticism of the US and Israeli air campaigns with overtly antisemitic messaging.

CAM argued that Iran was partly to blame for the promotion of antisemitism among critics of the Mideast strikes.

“The Iranian regime’s campaign of violence does not stop at Israel’s borders,” Dratwa added. “Its ideological allies and sympathizers are spreading hatred far beyond the battlefield. The international community must confront both threats with resolve.”