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Modern antisemitism on the rise
Antisemitism is nothing new. An ancient Greek historian in the second century BCE railed against the “ridiculous practices” of the Jews and the “absurdity of their law.”
But lately, it feels like an ugly trend is back in fashion. And the numbers back that up. The Anti-Defamation League found 3,700 instances of antisemitic harassment, vandalism, or assault around the country last year, the highest number in its 43 years of tracking. And then there was the horrific attack at Pittsburgh’s Tree of Life synagogue in 2018, which killed 11 people and remains the deadliest attack on the Jewish community in the United States.
At what point do extremist politics—whether on the Right OR Left—become hate? And where do you draw the line between criticizing Israeli policies and being antisemitic? To help Ian Bremmer wade through these difficult questions is the Israeli actress, writer, and activist Noa Tishby. She served as Israel’s Special Envoy for Combating Antisemitism before Prime Minister Netanyahu dismissed her for speaking out against his controversial judicial reform agenda.
And later, an early look at a new film about one of Israel’s most controversial leaders (present Prime Minister excluded). Golda Meir, Israel's first and still only female prime minister, was beloved until her handling of the Yom Kippur War of 1973. Now a new film starring Helen Mirren tries to reframe her tarnished legacy.
Watch GZERO World with Ian Bremmer every week at gzeromedia.com/gzeroworld or on US public television. Check local listings.
Podcast: Antisemitism's tragic persistence
Listen: Delve into a thought-provoking conversation that confronts the unsettling resurgence of antisemitism, tracing its historical roots and contemporary manifestations. A recent report from the Anti-Defamation League documents 3,700 instances of antisemitic harassment, vandalism, and assault— including the heart-wrenching attack at Pittsburgh's Tree of Life synagogue in 2018, a grim reminder of the deadliest assault on the Jewish community in the United States — and paints a troubling broader picture of modern antisemitism around the world.
Sitting down with Ian Bremmer on the GZERO World Podcast is Noa Tishby, an Israeli actress, writer, and activist who previously held the role of Israel's Special Envoy for Combating Antisemitism. She is no stranger to controversy, having taken a principled stand against her nation's controversial judicial reform agenda. She shares her unique perspective about the history and causes of antisemitism and how it connects to Israel's right to exist and its identity. The discussion turns to the contentious boundary between critiquing Israeli policies and crossing into antisemitism, and also addresses a crucial question—when does the spectrum of extremist politics morph into hate?
Subscribe to the GZERO World Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, or your preferred podcast platform, to receive new episodes as soon as they're published.
Ian Explains: Why antisemitism is increasing around the world
Antisemitism is as old as civilization. An ancient Greek historian in the second century BCE railed against the “ridiculous practices” of the Jews and the “absurdity of their law.” And Shakespeare’s Shylock once asked, “If you prick us, do we not bleed?” But lately, it feels like this particularly ugly trend is back in fashion. And the numbers back that up, Ian Bremmer explains on GZERO World.
The anti-defamation league found 3,700 instances of antisemitic harassment, vandalism, or assault around the country last year alone, the highest number in 43 years. The FBI has also marked an uptick in hate crimes, with nearly two-thirds of all hate crimes targeting Jews.
Remember the sight of watching torch-bearing white supremacists marching on Charlottesville in 2017’s Unite the Right Rally? Then on October 27, 2018, a gunman killed 11 worshippers in Pittsburgh’s Tree of Life synagogue, in the deadliest antisemitic attack in US history. And in January of 2022, a British citizen radicalized by Islamic extremists walked into a Texas synagogue and took a Rabbi and several others hostage, though fortunately, the congregants managed to escape unharmed.
So how did we get here? Or has America always had this ugly undercurrent of hate bubbling beneath its surface, waiting for the right moment—movement—to erupt? It’s a painful question to face, but if we want to avoid the next Tree of Life tragedy, we have no choice.
Watch GZERO World with Ian Bremmer every week at gzeromedia.com/gzeroworld or on US public television. Check local listings.
Are online extremists moving underground?
One result of the law enforcement crackdown on pro-Trump Capitol rioters following the events of January 6 is that many right-wing extremists have left public social media platforms like Facebook and Twitter for encrypted apps like Telegram and Signal. But renowned tech journalist Kara Swisher isn't all that concerned. "The white supremacist stuff, it's like mold. They thrived in the light, actually." Now that these groups no longer have such public platforms, their recruiting power, Swisher argues, will be greatly diminished. Plus, she points out, they were already on those encrypted apps to begin with. Swisher's conversation with Ian Bremmer was part of the latest episode of GZERO World.