Antisemitism is a certain perception of Jews, which may be expressed as hatred toward Jews. Rhetorical and physical manifestations of antisemitism are directed toward Jewish or non-Jewish individuals and/or their property, toward Jewish community institutions and religious facilities.

(The International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance’s (IHRA) Working Definition of Antisemitism adopted by more than 1,000 entities)

The most useful—and for some the most controversial—of the examples provided in the definition are those related to the State of Israel. They are intended to explain where and how anti-Israel animus can become a form of antisemitism, separate and apart from criticism of Israel. These include drawing analogies to the Nazis, declaring Israel a racist— and thus illegitimate—endeavor, holding it to standards expected of no other democratic state, and holding Jews collectively responsible for its actions. These examples are reflected in the 2018 FRA survey and track what the vast majority of European Jews themselves consider antisemitic.¹ Some critics of Israel have unfairly claimed that the Working Definition is intended to label them as antisemites. In fact, its careful wording leaves a wide berth for sharp and vigorous criticism of Israel’s government and policies. It is a “non-legally binding” definition intended to guide and educate. It is not a means to squelch debate or free speech, and those who misuse it in this way should be opposed.

¹Experiences and perceptions of antisemitism/Second survey on discrimination and hate crimes against Jews in the EU.” European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights. Luxembourg: Publications Office of the European Union, 2018.

When does criticizing Israel veer into antisemitic territory? In May 2021, as tensions heightened during the conflict between Israel and terrorist groups in Gaza, we saw two examples: beating Jews down in the streets and telling them to go back to Israel. Across the globe, protesters—some maliciously, some unwittingly—employed and spread antisemitic themes and tropes.

Fast forward to October 7, 2023, as thousands of Hamas terrorists funded by Iran and fueled by hatred for Jews attacked Israel with one goal: to indiscriminately butcher and kidnap as many Israelis as possible—women, the elderly, children, and babies.

In the wake of Hamas’s war on Israel, antisemitic incidents have quadrupled in the United Kingdom, including a Jewish person walking to a synagogue in London on October 8, 2023, who was called a “dirty Jew” by a stranger, who said, “no wonder you’re all getting raped.”

No doubt these incidents will grow and multiply, sending ugly tentacles of hatred and blame throughout the world. Yet many Jewish people abhor the killing of civilians in Gaza and are begging Israel to stop the war.  The confusion between Israeli, Jewish and Zionist is fuelling these anti-semitic attacks.

A Zionist is not necessarily Jewish and a Jewish person is not necessarily a Zionist. This seems an almost impossible concept to explain to those who lump all three terms together, this tripling the scourge of anti-semitism.

There are residents of Israel who are not Jewish, be they Christian, Muslim or Palestinian Israelis, and who are also potential victims of Hamas. And there are many Jewish residents in Israel who abhor the right-wing, war-mongering tactics of the Netanyahu government – witness the recent protests in Israel by its Jewish citizens against the government.

It’s predictable that the world would blame Israel for the tragic bombing of the hospital in Gaza. Besides the fact that the military has no reason to target a hospital when their stated aim is to rid the world of Hamas, and they have given warnings to residents of Gaza before any attack, evidence now points more towards a failed rocket launch strike from Hamas than an Israeli air strike.