Anti-Semitism is increasing around the world, according to a new United Nations report that faults both right- and left-wing ideologies for the violence and discrimination.
The report, submitted by the Special Rapporteur on freedom of religion or belief, finds that reports of violence motivated by anti-Semitism increased 13% globally in 2018, although it notes that data is limited and incidents underreported. The report focuses on “combatting anti-Semitism to eliminate discrimination and intolerance based on religion or belief.”
The rise in violence and discrimination is leaving Jewish communities uneasy, and in some cases leads individuals to consider leaving their home countries.
The report notes several concerning trends, including an increased use of anti-Semitic rhetoric by white supremacist and radical Islamist groups.
“The Special Rapporteur is alarmed by the growing use of antisemitic tropes by white supremacists including neo-Nazis and members of radical Islamist groups in slogans, images, stereotypes, and conspiracy theories meant to incite and justify hostility, discrimination, and violence against Jews,” the report states.
The report also cited “what is sometimes called ‘left-wing’ anti-Semitism,” in which individuals claiming to oppose racism and imperialism use anti-Semitic tropes to express concern with policies of Israel’s government. Those guilty of left-wing anti-Semitism have, in some cases, “conflated Zionism, the self-determination movement of the Jewish people, with racism,” or claimed Israel does not have a right to exist.
While the report explicitly highlighted rhetoric from white supremacists, radical Islamists, and some parts of the political Left as anti-Semitic, it did not make a definitive judgment on whether the boycott, divestment, and sanctions, or BDS, movement is anti-Semitic. The BDS movement supports boycotts of Israel “end international support for Israel’s oppression of Palestinians and pressure Israel to comply with international law,” and has been condemned by the United States House of Representatives.
The report “notes claims that the objectives, activities and effects of the Boycott Divestment Sanctions (BDS) movement are fundamentally antisemitic.” It also notes that proponents of the movement deny it is trying to destroy the state of Israel, claiming instead it is modeled after the civil rights movement in the United States.
The rapporteur concludes that boycotts are “legitimate forms of political expression,” but adds that if political expression draws upon anti-Semitism it “should be condemned.”
