Antisemitism

Antisemitism is defined as hostility and prejudice toward Jews as well as taking discriminatory action towards Jewish people. Some consider antisemitism to be a form of racism.

The word antisemitism finds its roots in the German word antisemitisch, first used in 1860 by Austrian Jewish scholar Moritz Steinschneider, in his work regarding false ideas of "Semitic races" in comparison to "Aryan races." However, the discriminatory ideas and actions towards Jews have existed since long before the term was coined.

Early incidents of antisemitism and anti-Jewish persecution include the Edict of Expulsion from England in 1290, the persecution of Jews across Europe during the Black Death from 2348 - 1351, and the Spanish Inquisition and expulsion from Spain in 1492.

The 20th century saw both the Holocaust, the genocide of European Jews, and the expulsion of Jews from countries across the Middle East, leading to the displacement of approximately 850,000 Mizrahi Jews.

In recent years both Europe and the US have seen a steady increase in antisemitic incidents, and 90% of Jews in the European Union have said that they feel this is a serious problem.

Two-thirds of religion-based hate crimes in 2025 were against Jews, FBI report reveals

The number of hate crimes targeting Jews was over seven times higher than the next highest target: anti-Muslim crimes (205 incidents).

AUGUST 18, 2026|ByMATHILDA HELLER

New York Police Department officers stand guard at Central Synagogue in New York, US, December 11, 2019.

Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-Florida) takes the stage alongside some of the city's commissioners at a Fourth of July celebration on July 4, 2026 in Sunrise, Fla.

Florida primaries put Jewish politicians, Israel critics and antisemitism in spotlight

No other low-polling candidate this cycle has grabbed as much attention as James Fishback, the former investment banker running for governor in Florida.

AUGUST 18, 2026|ByANDREW LAPIN/JTA

Crew from i24NEWS attacked by a man in Belfast, Northern Ireland, August 16, 2026.

Belfast man charged after alleged attack on Israeli TV crew

'He came over to us and started asking questions. We put the camera on him, and then he gave us the middle finger and shouted: “f*** Israel.'

AUGUST 17, 2026|ByMATHILDA HELLER

People march during a pro-Palestinian protest in Barcelona, Spain, October 4, 2025

'Feared for my life': French Jew recalls antisemitic attacks in Barcelona when leaving synagogue

"For 40 minutes, hundreds of people humiliated us and spat on us. There was a huge crowd around us. We feared we would be murdered," Jimmy Zaghroun, a 41-year-old French Jew from Paris, said.

AUGUST 17, 2026|ByALEX CARSON

Portuguese gov't demands investigation for antisemitic threats against Israeli doctoral student

Portugal’s attorney general has been asked to investigate alleged antisemitism, threats and incitement targeting doctoral student Bar Harel.

AUGUST 17, 2026ByALEX CARSON

Hundreds of anti-Zionist stickers found at the University of Coimbra campus.

Saudi textbooks continue reforms, remove antisemitic content - report

According to the findings, the remaining examples of antisemitic content identified in previous IMPACT-se reviews have now been completely removed from Saudi textbooks.

AUGUST 17, 2026ByALEX CARSON

Saudi students sit for their final high school exams in the Red Sea port city of Jeddah on June 19, 2010 at the end of 2009/10 school year; illustrative

Ireland is green with envy against Israel - opinion

Their relations have gone from bad to worse, and in the years since October 7, the Irish have launched a tirade of invective against the State of Israel and its leaders.

AUGUST 17, 2026ByNIGEL LITHMAN

PROTESTERS CALL on the Irish government to impose sanctions on Israel, in Dublin, last month. Over the years, Ireland has taken a more anti-Israel position than most European or Western nations, states the writer.

Syrian army soldiers filmed chanting death threats against Jews in Damascus

The demonstration came after Israel rejected the Board of Peace's 15-point proposal for Gaza, reiterating that Hamas must first be disarmed.

AUGUST 17, 2026ByDANIELLE GREYMAN-KENNARD

Syrian Arab Army soldiers pose for a photograph near Aleppo, January 17, 2026; illustrative.

'Jews never lose': comedian Yohay Sponder finds laughter amid war and hate

Israeli comedian Yohay Sponder is using humor to unite Jewish audiences worldwide, finding laughter amid war, loss, and rising antisemitism

AUGUST 17, 2026ByRUTH MARKS EGLASH

Israeli comedian Yohay Sponder has taken his English-language stand-up show to audiences around the world, using humor to tackle war, antisemitism, and Jewish identity.

Premium

'What you're contracting is creativity': the hidden strain on Israeli television

Israeli television is still producing global hits, but behind the success, budgets, politics and fewer commissions threaten the industry’s future

AUGUST 17, 2026ByHANNAH BROWN

French actress Melanie Laurent (right) joined the ‘Fauda’ cast for season five, starring and co-created by Lior Raz.