Global Antisemitism News Roundup
March 2022
RUSSIAN INVASION STIRS UP ANCIENT ACCUSATIONS: Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has triggered extremists across the ideological spectrum—from white supremacists on the right to anti-Zionists on the left— to propagate antisemitic conspiracy theories online, often invoking classic stereotypes of Jewish power, financial control, and “abuse” of the Holocaust narrative.
FEBRUARY SEES SPIKE IN ANTISEMITIC INCIDENTS WORLDWIDE: The Combat Antisemitism Movement (CAM) Information Hub tracked a total of 229 antisemitic incidents worldwide in February 2022, a 44.9% increase from the prior month and a 40.5% increase from February 2021. Of February’s incidents, 57.2% had far-right motives, while 17.0% had far-left motives, and 7.9% had radical Islamist motives. The remainder — 17.9% — had unidentifiable motives.
LOS ANGELES ATTACK VICTIM SUES ASSAILANTS: Attorneys for Mher Hagopian allege that he and fellow diners at a sushi restaurant were victims of a hate crime that “not only physically and emotionally harmed Hagopian and his friends, but also was intended to intimidate all Jewish Angelenos, instilling fear and anxiety in the heart of Los Angeles’ vibrant Jewish community.”
GEORGIA LEGISLATURE ADOPTS IHRA DEFINITION: The Georgia House of Representatives has mandated use of the definition of antisemitism promulgated by the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance in determining whether an act is considered to be antisemitic. A number of Jewish Georgians, however, posted an op-ed in the Atlanta Journal Constitution opposing the legislature’s resolution.
EUROPEAN UNION MOVES TO COMBAT ANTISEMITISM: The Council of the European Union approved measures to oppose antisemitism and racism, and these actions were praised by the World Jewish Congress. Europe has the highest number of antisemitic incidents worldwide, and the EU resolutions encourage member countries to advance action plans for combating antisemitism and promoting Jewish life.
MEDIA GROUPS MOBILIZE AGAINST ANTISEMITISM: The National Religious Broadcasters, Combat Antisemitism Movement, and International Christian Embassy Jerusalem have issued a joint statement calling on all American Christians to encourage officials at all levels of government to support the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance’s working definition of antisemitism and to “let your voice be heard in support of Israel and against the growing hatred of anti-Semitism.”