The Diaspora Affairs and Combating Antisemitism Ministry convened a forum on Tuesday that brought together key governmental and national entities to strategize against the growing global tide of antisemitism, The Jerusalem Post has learned.
Multiple government sectors were represented, including the Prime Minister’s Office, the ministries of Foreign Affairs, Justice, and Education, leading national institutions such as the World Zionist Organization, the Jewish Agency, and Yad Vashem.
Diaspora Affairs Ministry warns of rising antisemitism
This initiative comes after a report released by the ministry in January pointed to a surge in violent antisemitic incidents worldwide, notably in the US, reliant on antisemitic conspiracy theories in mainstream areas such as academia, media, and politics.
The report detailed three murders that took place in the past year believed to have been motivated by antisemitism, all of whom are currently under investigation.
Numerous government ministries, bodies, and national institutions are either directly or indirectly involved in combating antisemitism, which is why this forum was important, since the level of coordination and alignment between these entities is lacking. Hundreds of organizations worldwide also deal with combating antisemitism or with issues related to it, so creating a round table is crucial.
According to individuals who participated in the meeting, the objective was to “facilitate collective deliberation, conduct a unified assessment of the prevailing situation, synchronize activities, and evaluate the efficacy of ongoing initiatives.”
During the forum, participants vowed to establish a structured framework for subsequent forum meetings, as well as to create task forces to address specific issues, placing particular emphasis on countering online antisemitism and fostering a unified stance against social networks.
Avi Cohen-Scali, Director General of the Diaspora Affairs and Combatting Antisemitism Ministry said in a statement: "It is vital that all government agencies and national institutions coordinate their efforts in combating antisemitism. For the first time, our ministry has convened a forum aimed at enhancing collaboration among active organizations, streamlining action methods, and avoiding duplication of efforts and resource allocation."