Contemporary antisemitism is experiencing a marked global resurgence, driven by a complex interplay of political, social, and technological factors. According to recent data, antisemitic incidents have reached record highs: the Antisemitism Research Center recorded 6,326 incidents globally in 2024, with 2025 on pace to surpass that figure2. Surveys indicate that 46% of the world's adult population harbors significant antisemitic beliefs, equating to approximately 2.2 billion people4.
Geopolitical Events and the Israel-Palestine Conflict:
The October 7, 2023, Hamas attack on Israel and the ensuing Gaza conflict triggered a sharp spike in antisemitic incidents worldwide5. Periods of intense fighting in Gaza often lead to surges in antisemitic hate speech and violence, with many incidents directly tied to anti-Israel sentiment259. In 2024, 31% of all Western attacks were motivated by antisemitic or anti-Israel sentiment5.
Social Media and Digital Amplification:
The proliferation of antisemitic tropes and conspiracy theories on platforms like TikTok and Instagram has accelerated the spread of hate, particularly among younger generations3. Social media enables rapid dissemination and normalization of antisemitic ideas, often blurring the line between legitimate criticism of Israel and outright antisemitism3.
Polarization and Identity Politics:
Antisemitism now emerges from both the far-right and the far-left, each with distinct motivations. On the right, white supremacist and nationalist movements continue to propagate classic antisemitic conspiracy theories. On the left, Jews are sometimes cast as "oppressors" within the framework of identity politics, especially when conflated with the actions of the State of Israel78. This dual-front assault is compounded by a climate of increased tolerance for open expressions of bigotry and a decline in historical and civic education7.
Normalization and Mainstreaming:
Antisemitic rhetoric, once confined to the fringes, now regularly appears in mainstream discourse, including on university campuses, in political activism, and in public protests29. Slogans and chants targeting Zionists or calling for the destruction of Israel are increasingly present outside Jewish-owned businesses, schools, and synagogues9.
Historical Ignorance:
There is a documented decline in historical knowledge about Judaism, the Holocaust, and the roots of antisemitism, particularly among younger people37. This ignorance makes individuals more susceptible to misinformation and conspiracy theories.
Current antisemitism is multifaceted:
Violent attacks on synagogues and Jewish individuals have risen sharply in Europe, the United States, and Australia56.
Hate speech and harassment are rampant online and in public spaces, often tied to anti-Israel activism29.
Institutional discrimination and exclusion, especially in academic and cultural settings.
Conspiracy theories about Jewish control of media, finance, or politics persist and adapt to new contexts10.
Religious Roots:
Historically, antisemitism was rooted in religious prejudice, such as the medieval "deicide" charge (blaming Jews for the death of Jesus), blood libel accusations, and myths of ritual murder8. These tropes justified exclusion, violence, and legal discrimination against Jews for centuries.
Racial and Conspiratorial Antisemitism:
In the 19th and 20th centuries, antisemitism evolved into racial and nationalist forms, culminating in the Holocaust. Jews were depicted as a dangerous, alien race conspiring to control society—a narrative institutionalized by the Nazis and echoed in documents like the "Protocols of the Elders of Zion"8.
Economic Scapegoating:
Jews were often blamed for economic crises, depicted as manipulative financiers or exploiters, fueling pogroms and discrimination across Europe and beyond.
| Feature | Past Antisemitism | Current Antisemitism |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Motive | Religious, then racial/nationalist | Political (anti-Israel), identity-based |
| Main Arenas | Churches, legal systems, nationalist states | Social media, academia, activism |
| Key Tropes | Blood libel, deicide, race conspiracy | Israel demonization, Holocaust denial, "Zionist" as slur |
| Perpetrators | State actors, religious leaders, mobs | Far-right, far-left, lone actors, online communities |
| Victim Blaming | Jews as Christ-killers, economic parasites | Jews as oppressors, colonizers, global conspirators |
| Means of Spread | Print, sermons, state policy | Digital media, viral content, global protests |
Notably, the focus has shifted from Jews as individuals or communities to Jews as a collective embodied by the State of Israel. Modern antisemitism often manifests as anti-Zionism, where criticism of Israel crosses into demonization, double standards, or calls for its destruction—standards not applied to any other nation810.
Another key difference is the speed and scale of dissemination. Social media enables antisemitic content to reach millions instantly, fostering global echo chambers and coordinated harassment campaigns3.
Current worldwide antisemitism is shaped by a volatile mix of geopolitical conflict, digital amplification, political polarization, and historical ignorance. While it retains echoes of classic tropes, it is distinguished by its focus on Israel, its mainstream visibility, and its rapid spread via technology. The persistence and adaptability of antisemitism underscore its unique danger and the urgent need for education, vigilance, and cross-ideological condemnation810.