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Modern antisemitism on the rise
Antisemitism is nothing new. An ancient Greek historian in the second century BCE railed against the “ridiculous practices” of the Jews and the “absurdity of their law.”
But lately, it feels like an ugly trend is back in fashion. And the numbers back that up. The Anti-Defamation League found 3,700 instances of antisemitic harassment, vandalism, or assault around the country last year, the highest number in its 43 years of tracking. And then there was the horrific attack at Pittsburgh’s Tree of Life synagogue in 2018, which killed 11 people and remains the deadliest attack on the Jewish community in the United States.
At what point do extremist politics—whether on the Right OR Left—become hate? And where do you draw the line between criticizing Israeli policies and being antisemitic? To help Ian Bremmer wade through these difficult questions is the Israeli actress, writer, and activist Noa Tishby. She served as Israel’s Special Envoy for Combating Antisemitism before Prime Minister Netanyahu dismissed her for speaking out against his controversial judicial reform agenda.
And later, an early look at a new film about one of Israel’s most controversial leaders (present Prime Minister excluded). Golda Meir, Israel's first and still only female prime minister, was beloved until her handling of the Yom Kippur War of 1973. Now a new film starring Helen Mirren tries to reframe her tarnished legacy.
Watch GZERO World with Ian Bremmer every week at gzeromedia.com/gzeroworld or on US public television. Check local listings.
Memorials outside the Tree of Life synagogue following the shooting in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
Hard Numbers: Synagogue gunman sentenced to death, talks with Niger coup leaders, migrants’ near-death journey on high seas, El Salvador’s gang crackdown
11: The gunman who killed 11 people in an attack on a Pittsburgh synagogue in 2018 – the deadliest attack on Jews in US history – was sentenced to death on Wednesday by a federal jury. It’s the first federal death penalty imposed in the country since President Joe Biden came to office in Jan. 2021.
3,500: Four Nigerian migrants survived a 3,500-mile boat ride across the Atlantic hiding above the rudder of a cargo ship. The men, who were hoping to reach Europe, were surprised when they landed in Brazil two weeks after setting off from Lagos. Two have since opted to return to Nigeria while the others have sought asylum in Brazil.
15: A delegation representing ECOWAS, an economic bloc of 15 West African countries, traveled to Niger on Wednesday to try to negotiate with junta leaders who recently seized power from Niger’s Western-aligned government. ECOWAS reps have said they will use force if needed to reinstate the ousted government, raising fears of a full-blown regional crisis.
8,000: El Salvador’s President Nayib Bukele has sent 8,000 troops to surround the central region of Cabanas, home to roughly 150,000 people, in a bid to crack down on gang violence. It’s the first time authorities have cordoned off an entire region since Bukele introduced a state of emergency in March 2022 to tackle gang violence – a measure many human rights groups have dubbed draconian.