7th Global Forum to Combat Antisemitism to begin in Jerusalem
Today marks the start of the 7th Global Forum for Combating Antisemitism, a biennial event sponsored by the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) to address different approaches to respond to the global rise in anti-Jewish bigotry and hatred.
As the COVID-19 pandemic erupted and countries entered various states of lockdown, researchers observed that conspiracy theories attributing Jews and Israel for the global catastrophe blossomed. Although targeted violence against Jews worldwide dropped in 2020 from 456 to 371 incidents, online antisemitism and conspiracies have exploded. Online hate rarely stays online however, and incidents have risen globally.
As countries re-open from lockdowns and a sense of normality returns around the world, Israel’s MFA will need events like today’s forum to head off future hate-fueled violence against Jews and Jewish businesses. Israel is working with countries like the US and Germany to launch new initiatives to combat hatred, but as tensions and violence between Israel and Palestine continue, and as Arab nations continue to normalize relations with Tel Aviv, Israel cannot afford to take a step back. Following today’s forum, expect to see coordinated pressure for more countries and organizations to support antisemitic censorship on social media platforms.
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