Antisemitism continues to rise

Israel has become an increasingly common political topic which people have been discussing of late, some deeply criticizing them while some adamantly defend them; however, one thing this debate has caused is an uptick in antisemitism. 

According to Pew Research Center, around 59% of the United States feels negatively towards the Israel government, especially with their century long clash with Palestine and now strikes on Iran with the U.S. but now we are seeing an issue that always comes up when any form of political divide occurs – generalization.

Whenever something bad happens, the general public takes whoever did that act and shows their frustration with it to any and everyone who seems maybe related. A key example being the spike in anti-Arabic sentiment after the attack on the World Trade Center in 2001. 

In the wake of such public disdain and frustration for Israel and their actions, antisemetic hate crimes have been on the rise, reaching 3,441 over the past two years.

The internet is the biggest home for antisemitism, especially on X (formerly Twitter) where people notoriously speak their mind a little too truthfully. In July, X’s AI, Grok, went on an antisemitic tirade, calling itself MechaHitler and similar statements. This was due to Grok being adjusted by Elon Musk, owner of X, to be ‘not politically correct’. 

While Jewish people have never been a group thought of too fondly by online individuals, modern politics have also been saying some very antisemetic ideas in of late, like former congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene blaming the 2021 California wildfires on a “Jewish Space Laser” or current president Donald Trump saying the only people he wants counting money are “little short guys that wear yarmulkes.” 

While criticism is always allowed, especially on politics, statements like these are nothing but inflammatory and inaccurate. 

Antisemitism has no place in America, no matter if you agree or disagree with what is happening overseas. 

Politicians and the general public having these sentiments is terrible, and all we can hope for is a change in sentiment sooner than later.