Jew-hatred has been around for at least two thousand years. It has become part of Western culture, with the Crusades beginning in 1099 and continuing for two centuries. Jews were expelled from England in 1290, from France 20 years later, and from Spain at the end of the 15th century.
It became part of Muslim culture when the Almohades, a militant Islamic group led by Moroccan Berbers in the 12th century, became dominant in North Africa and Spain in response to the Crusades. Jews were slaughtered by both sides.
Recently, a new form of Jew-hatred has taken over the Muslim world, powered by Islamists, especially the Shi’ite regime in Iran, who seek to destroy Israel and America, establish a Caliphate to rule the world, and convert or kill all non-Muslims.
Sunni countries, such as Saudi Arabia, along with groups such as the Muslim Brotherhood, have also focused on eliminating Israel.
It’s not a coincidence that it’s happening while Israel is engaged in wars of survival with Iran and its terrorist proxies, Hezbollah, Hamas, and the Houthis. It’s directly related to Israel’s successes in these wars and its technological achievements.
Hatred of Jews grows when Israel appears strong
When Israel appears stronger, hatred of Jews and Israel also increases. That is why people have turned against Israel and demonstrate on behalf of Israel’s enemies and enemies of the Jewish People. Jew-hatred has a long history.
For centuries, Jews have been depicted as demonic and evil. Jew-hatred was taught in schools and institutions, although contrary to what religions are supposed to teach, is expressed by Christian and Muslim religious leaders and is found in their basic documents.
Such notions are antithetical to the notion of monotheism (belief in one god), as expressed in Torah and Jewish thought, the values of humanism and ethical behavior. By denying these values, they also deny God and Godliness; therefore, they represent a new form of paganism.
This explains why, despite Israel’s military achievements in the war with Iran and its proxies, Israel’s successes and its fate have provoked criticism and condemnation around the world. When Israel became stronger, hatred of Jews and Israel increased.
It further explains why some people support Iran and its proxies, Hamas, Hezbollah, etc, Islamism, and Palestinianism (destroying Israel and replacing it with an Arab state).
Hatred of Jews and Israel, therefore, is a way of understanding what this means even when such views are expressed by people who identify as Christians and Muslims, and even some Jews. Paradoxically, such hatred is precisely what identifies them as pagans.
This explains why pagan empires, for example, Assyria, Babylonia, Roman, and others, sought to slaughter Jews and destroy what they had built in Eretz Yisrael and throughout Europe. It is why Jews were persecuted and why Nazis perpetrated the Holocaust.
It is why Muslims are willing to sacrifice themselves in terrorist attacks, such as during the Second Intifada, and why Hamas launched its atrocity on October 7, 2023. It’s why so many support them and accuse Israel of “genocide” and crimes against humanity.
It explains why, today, many are opposed to the State of Israel and Israeli sovereignty. It explains why Communist regimes and international organizations are opposed to Israel’s existence, directly and indirectly; why the war with Iran and its proxies continues, and why the threat of Islamic terrorism and Islamic organizations such as the Muslim Brotherhood are ignored.
It’s why The New York Times publishes stories based on Hamas sources. It’s why UN representatives equate Hamas’ war crimes with charges that Israel does the same.
Opposing the State of Israel is a convenient way of attacking Jews and the Jewish People and making it seem justified and legitimate. The goal, however, is not only to eradicate Jews physically, but to destroy what Jews and Judaism represent – ethical monotheism, one God.
Preaching Jew-hatred and supporting those who seek Israel’s destruction is a form of idolatry. That’s why, therefore, those who do so are considered to be pagans, by definition.
The writer is a PhD historian, writer, and journalist.