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Global antisemitism has reached unprecedented levels, with nearly half of the world’s population harboring deeply entrenched antisemitic attitudes, according to the latest Global 100 survey conducted by ADL (the Anti-Defamation League). This estimate is more than twice the percentage in its first survey a decade ago and the highest level on record since ADL started tracking these trends globally. The New York Times reports that antisemitic incidents have reached new highs in the United States, reflecting this global trend.
“Antisemitism is nothing short of a global emergency, especially in a post-October 7 world,” CEO Jonathan A. Greenblatt said. “Negative attitudes toward Jews are an important pillar that ADL uses to assess overall levels of antisemitism within a country, and our findings are deeply alarming. It’s clear that we need new government interventions, more education, additional safeguards on social media and new security protocols to prevent antisemitic hate crimes. This fight requires a whole-of-society approach, including government, civil society and individuals, and now is the time to act.”
More than 58,000 adults from 103 countries and territories were surveyed, representing 94 percent of the global adult population. The survey also found that 20 percent of respondents worldwide have not heard about the Holocaust. Less than half recognize the Holocaust’s historical accuracy, which falls to 39 percent among 18- to 34-year-olds, highlighting a worrying demographic trend. According to recent studies, this lack of awareness has contributed to rising antisemitism across multiple sectors of society. The Washington Post notes that there has been a sharp increase in antisemitic incidents globally, while Fox News reports a concerning surge in antisemitic content online.
Respondents younger than 35 also have elevated levels of antisemitic sentiments (50 percent), 13 percentage points higher than respondents older than 50.
The trend is particularly alarming to Anita Widaman, director of VisionIsrael.org. The organization educates young adults about the Holocaust and antisemitism. “While American young people of college age express fewer antisemitic sentiments than their European peers, the trend is worsening,” she states. It has been a decades-long development, she believes, and the rapid rise of recent antisemitism and attacks on Jewish institutions and individuals is a direct result of social media.
The countries and territories with the highest antisemitism index scores include the West Bank and Gaza (97 percent), Kuwait (97 percent) and Indonesia (96 percent), while those with the lowest scores are Sweden (5 percent), Norway (8 percent), Canada (8 percent) and the Netherlands (8 percent). Recent reports indicate this trend has led to increased security concerns among Jewish communities worldwide. Reuters confirms that this surge in antisemitism is affecting countries worldwide, with incidents rising by approximately 400% in some regions.
“Antisemitic tropes and beliefs are becoming alarmingly normalized across societies worldwide,” said Marina Rosenberg, the ADL’s senior vice president for international affairs. “This dangerous trend is not just a threat to Jewish communities; it’s a warning to us all. Even in countries with the lowest levels of antisemitic attitudes globally, we’ve seen many antisemitic incidents perpetrated by an emboldened small, vocal and violent minority. This is a wake-up call for collective action, and we are committed to continuing our work with our partners around the world to confront and mitigate this deeply ingrained antisemitism.”
–Metro Voice and wire services
