A former U.S. Public Delegate to the United Nations who helped shape the Biden administration’s first National Strategy to Counter Antisemitism warned in a Time essay that antisemitism is resurging in the United States as global outrage grows over the humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza.
The essay says the pattern reflects both a resurgence of long-standing threats and new dynamics that have eroded trust: some people broadly label criticism of Israel as antisemitic, diluting the term’s meaning, while others have weaponized the fight against antisemitism for political gain, using Jewish people as props and emboldening those who would harm them. The author pointed to FBI data showing the highest-ever number of anti-Jewish hate crimes and noted that Jews represent roughly 2% of the U.S. population but are the victims of nearly 70% of religion-based hate crimes.
The essay draws a distinction between legitimate criticism of Israeli government policy and antisemitic behavior that targets Jewish identity. It argues the line is crossed when Jewish individuals are held collectively responsible for the actions of a state, when identity is equated with government decisions, or when rhetoric demands collective accountability of Jews worldwide for Israel’s conduct. The author says such treatment is discrimination and has coincided with an increase in harassment, threats and violence against Jews who have no connection to Israeli policy.
The writer acknowledged that the humanitarian crisis in Gaza has produced justified moral outrage, describing scenes of overwhelmed hospitals and civilians in dire need. At the same time, the essay warns that intense conflict and rage can create fertile ground for antisemitism, which can exploit legitimate grievances and transform them into targeted hatred. The author urged honesty about the difference between peaceful protest and speech or actions that threaten or intimidate people because of their faith.
Specific slogans and calls to action have been singled out in the essay as examples of language that many Jews find threatening because of historical associations. Phrases such as "Globalize the intifada" and "There is only one solution: Intifada revolution" are cited as evoking memories of past attacks and civilian killings tied to earlier periods of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The essay says language carries the weight of history and collective trauma, and that dismissing others’ pain by insisting on intent alone is insufficient.
The piece also addresses internal community responsibilities and longtime Jewish commitments to social justice. Citing religious-ethical teachings that discourage causing harm through speech, the author urged Jewish leaders and allies to model careful, empathetic language while continuing advocacy for broad causes, including civil rights, LGBTQ+ equality and disability inclusion. The essay invoked historical cooperation with other movements for justice as a foundation for renewed solidarity in the current moment.
The author called on political leaders, activists and institutions to listen to the communities reporting fear and to distinguish between criticism of states and targeting of people for their religion. The essay rejected framing those concerns as attempts to silence dissent, while also warning against allowing claims of antisemitism to be co-opted for partisan advantage.
Concluding with an appeal for renewed mutual respect, the essay encouraged people to acknowledge when words have caused pain and to adjust their language accordingly, arguing that such steps strengthen rather than weaken coalitions for justice. The author said that recognizing harm and avoiding rhetoric that provokes existential fear are necessary parts of protecting communities and preserving broad advocacy alliances.
The observations appear amid broader debates in U.S. politics about how to balance free expression, protest over foreign policy, public safety and the protection of religious minorities. Policymakers, community leaders and advocacy organizations are confronting those tensions as they respond to the FBI’s reported spike in anti-Jewish hate crimes and ongoing international concerns about civilian suffering in Gaza.