Researchers: COVID-19, Israel-Gaza war fueled antisemitism

By LAURIE KELLMAN
Associated Press

JERUSALEM (AP) — Israeli researchers say the coronavirus pandemic and the Israel-Gaza war fueled a spike in antisemitism around the world last year. Tel Aviv University’s antisemitism report released on Wednesday found that the developments kept people home in 2020 “glued to their screens,” where conspiracy theories abounded. Then restrictions were loosened for some parts of 2021 and the numbers of antisemitic incidents rose in many countries, notably the United States, United Kingdom, Germany and Australia. The report also says antisemitism spiked during the Israel-Gaza war, with social networks playing a role in the wave. The report compiled data from 22 countries and was released ahead of Israel’s Holocaust Memorial Day.