Israeli President Isaac Herzog has issued a strong warning regarding the escalating global spread of antisemitism, characterizing it as an "age-old plague" that poisons societies and not solely an issue for Israelis or Jewish people.
"It's a contamination of societies that starts with the Jew — never ends with them," Herzog stated in an interview with Fox News Digital. "It's the most dangerous phenomena that has to be dealt with aggressively, with no mercy, with full adjudication, and most importantly, with education."
Herzog's remarks coincide with a significant rise in anti-Jewish incidents. New York City Police Department data revealed that anti-Jewish incidents constituted 56.9% of all confirmed hate crimes in the city in 2026, despite Jewish New Yorkers making up only about 10% of the city's population.
He specifically criticized New York City Mayor Eric Adams, accusing him of spreading hate and jeopardizing the safety of New Yorkers. Herzog referenced a social media video in which Adams reportedly called Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu "a war criminal" and "the architect of a horrific genocide against the Palestinian people." Herzog stated, "Mamdani does not respect my nation's right for self-determination — the Jewish people's inherent right to have a nation of their own. And he's basically spreading blasphemy, hate, antisemitic rhetoric. He should understand that he's risking his own citizens, he’s risking their safety, well-being and life."
Herzog also pointed to a recent stabbing incident on Manhattan's Upper West Side, where a suspect allegedly yelled "Allahu Akbar" while attacking two men, one of whom was visibly identifiable as Jewish. "We've seen the stabbing just a few days ago ... just because somebody was dressed as an Orthodox Jew. This cannot be accepted in New York, which is a city that is dear to our heart, dear to Israelis, and dear to me personally," Herzog said.
Globally, a report released by the J7 Large Communities' Task Force Against Antisemitism found that 20 individuals were killed in antisemitic attacks across seven countries outside Israel in 2025. This marked the deadliest year for such violence in the Jewish diaspora since 1994. The J7 encompasses Jewish communities in the United States, Australia, Canada, Argentina, the United Kingdom, Germany, and France.
According to the report, over 23,000 antisemitic incidents were recorded across J7 countries last year, indicating a 97% increase in violent attacks and a 136% rise in overall incidents compared to 2022.
"Of course, Israel is doing its best, but it has to be an effort with governments all over the world, law enforcement agencies, educational systems and Jewish communities, which we care about a lot," Herzog emphasized.
He also highlighted the role of social media in distorting historical facts, including Holocaust denial. "How much TikTok or the social networks distort the facts of history? They negate the worst and greatest horror of humankind, the Holocaust. And that's why we have to stand up together and combat it," he told Fox News Digital.
Herzog further noted that misinformation disseminated through "distorted and superficial channels" facilitates the smearing of Israel on social media, asserting that such narratives do not reflect reality.
In response to these challenges, Herzog launched the "Voice of the People" initiative in April 2023. This program aims to foster the next generation of Jewish leadership by bringing together a council of 150 emerging leaders—one-third from Israel, one-third from the United States, and the remainder from other parts of the world. The initiative held its inaugural summit in Haifa in March 2025, with leaders developing strategies to address global issues facing the Jewish world.