Antisemitism is not just about Jews

The sharp rise in antisemitic incidents following the Oct. 7 Hamas massacres in Israel was just the latest in a disturbing trend. It is imperative that we acknowledge this dangerous phenomenon as not simply a reaction to the ongoing Arab-Israeli conflict, but as the unadulterated, murderous antisemitism it truly is.

The world must understand that antisemitism is not just a threat to Jews. It is indicative of a greater problem deeply rooted in society’s core values. And while antisemitism begins by targeting Jews, it never ends there. History has shown that hatred directed towards Jews eventually metastasizes, victimizing others in its wake. It is a malignancy that, if left unchecked, threatens the very fabric of civilization.

Under the guise of progressive discourse, this cancer has been allowed to grow within academia and among the elites of Western society. Until Oct. 8, when the first pro-Hamas demonstrations began, it seemed impossible that elites would legitimize terrorism and terrorist-sponsored regimes as so-called “progressive” movements. But we have now seen that they base their moral verdicts on rigid conceptual categories, which distort and disregard historical realities and discard nuance.

We all must stand firm in rejecting this dangerous narrative. We must call out those who seek to justify terrorism and barbaric indiscriminate mass murder. We must face facts and not accept propaganda simply because it is protected by freedom of speech. Accuracy and context empower the battle against pernicious antisemitism. Understanding the truth enables us to protect ourselves from extremists who aim to destroy, not only the Jews, but our modern global society and freedoms we so cherish.

The explicitly genocidal crusade of Hamas and jihadist terrorists, as we recently saw horrifyingly unfold before our eyes, underscores Israel’s mandate as protector — not only of its own citizens, but of Jews everywhere. It underscores the imperative that all people of good will stand firmly against such patently evil acts. Many have, but many more need to do so. We must not allow humanity to once again turn a blind eye now that we are facing nothing less than a profound crisis for the entire Jewish people.

Jews all over the world fear being publicly identified as Jews. They fear being discovered expressing their support for the Jewish homeland. They fear being targeted and attacked by antisemites, many of whom represent themselves as pro-Palestinian “advocates” for change. They fear for their lives. Jews around the world now face a menace reminiscent of the hatred they once endured — a hatred all too similar to the evils of 19th and early 20th century antisemitism.

Today’s outbursts of antisemitism, thinly veiled as “anti-Zionism”, are not really new. Rather they are a ferocious contemporary expression of the persistently insidious hatred against Jews that has plagued human civilization for centuries, for millennia.

Furthermore, calls for the annihilation of the state of Israel are clearly antisemitic and genocidal. Catchphrases like “Wipe Tel Aviv off the map,” “There is only one solution: intifada revolution” and “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free,” ferociously chanted today on university campuses and on the streets of Manhattan, Paris, London and elsewhere, are genocidal tropes, exhorting both core believers and the misguided so-called legitimate critics of Israel to drive the Jews from Israel. And it encourages attacks on Jews and Jewish institutions outside of Israel.

Make no mistake: It doesn’t end there.

For many years now, in our interconnected world, antisemitism has found a borderless home in the virtual realm which facilitates the spread of antisemitism at cyber-speed. In light of recent events, it has become painfully evident that we must swiftly and decisively combat the resurgence of antisemitism on all fronts. All portrayals and expressions of antisemitism anywhere must be countered immediately and forcefully. Through governance and effective legislation, world leaders must act now to meet the challenge of hate and violence posed by the real and cyber world.

Recent events have demonstrated that the Working Definition of Antisemitism, as established by the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA), is an indispensable tool in our arsenal. World leaders and university presidents must embrace this definition wholeheartedly and employ it in their efforts to eradicate antisemitism. They must stand united against those who have declared war not only on the Jewish state and the Jewish people but on our shared morality. It is a battle we cannot afford to lose, for the sake of our common humanity.

Dayan has been the chairman of Yad Vashem, the World Holocaust Remembrance Center, since August 2021. Between 2016-2020 he served as consul general of the state of Israel in New York.