68% Of Online Antisemitism Comes From Palestinians Or Progressives

Arab antisemitism

In the Arab and Muslim world, the centers for antisemitic discourse on the internet were in Jordan and Egypt, according to the findings. The discourse in the region mainly focuses on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. This became even more apparent in the wake of events such as the death of Al Jazeera journalist Shireen Abu Akleh in Jenin in May 2022 and the aerial war (Operation Breaking Dawn) between the IDF and Islamic Jihad in Gaza in August, both of which led to a massive spike in antisemitic rhetoric on internet platforms across the Arab world.

The spread of antisemitic content in the Palestinian arena continued to escalate last year. These messages, including the demonization of Jews, were widely distributed by prominent political and religious figures as well as official media outlets of the Palestinian Authority.

Additionally, the report found that some nongovernment organizations claiming to promote human rights and enforce international law in relation to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict were promoting antisemitic views through their activities, publications and rhetoric. Some of these organizations receive funding from the European Union and other European nations.

In response to these findings, Ad Kan, an Israeli NGO that combats anti-Zionist groups, said: “The Palestinian terrorist organizations that operate as ‘human rights’ organizations as part of their terrorist campaign against Israel are key players in the rise of antisemitism around the world. In recent months, we have exposed a number of such organizations, which work with and are financed by terrorist organizations.”

New definitions of antisemitism

Chikli said adapting the definition of antisemitism to modern conditions would be a major step forward. He focused on the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) Working Definition of Antisemitism that broadens the term to include anti-Israeli sentiment and discriminatory double standards towards Israel, as well as denying the country’s right to exist.

“The State of Israel has the duty to lead the fight against antisemitism and to work to expand the adoption of the IHRA definitions, which have become the standard for the definition of antisemitism, including the new antisemitism that denies the Jews the right to self-determination, in as many countries and institutions around the world as possible,” Chikli said.

Yaakov Hagoel, chairman of the World Zionist Organization, also spoke at the coalition round table. He encouraged Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Foreign Minister Eli Cohen to advocate for the adoption of the IHRA definition.

The IHRA definition is an important “tool in the fight against the sick and evil hate,” Hagoel said.

Ninety-one major organizations have adopted the definition in the past year, with 52% of them located in the US and Canada. This represents a major decrease compared to the 200 adoptions in 2021.