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Coronavirus, Conspiracies, and Israelophobia: A National Security Challenge?

On April 23, 2020, the Israel Ministry of Strategic Affairs and the Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs held a roundtable discussion with leading thinkers and writers on “Israelophobia” and the hijacking of civil discourse.

Read the report: Israelophobia and the West: The Hijacking of Civil Discourse on Israel and How to Rescue It

Watch the highlights below:

The Coronavirus Conspiracy

Dan Diker

Director of the Project on Political Warfare at the Jerusalem Center and former secretary-general of the World Jewish Congress

The coronavirus conspiracy against Israel underlies the intensifying Israelophobia phenomenon that intersects with classic anti-Semitism. It’s important that we insist upon the principles of legitimate, civil political discourse on Israel.


In the Age of the Coronavirus, Classic Anti-Semitism and Anti-Israel Rhetoric Parallel Each Other

Tzahi Gavrieli

Director, National Task Force for Countering Delegitimization, Ministry of Strategic Affairs

Tzahi Gavrieli demonstrates how, in the age of the coronavirus, classic anti-Semitism and anti-Israel rhetoric parallel each other.


Fighting Anti-Semitism from the Left and from the Right

Natan Sharansky

Chair of the Institute for the Study of Global Antisemitism and Policy, and former Chairman of the Jewish Agency for Israel

Natan Sharansky, discusses the historical parallels and patterns of anti-Semitism and Israelophobia.


Fighting Anti-Semitism by Reaching Out with Diplomacy to Countries in Need

Amb. Dore Gold

President, Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs; Former Director General, Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs

When I served in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, we saw a parallel phenomenon to what’s happening now with the coronavirus, when Ebola started becoming a real threat in West Africa. Israel actively fought Ebola, and Africa became more aware of Israel’s positive role.  Part of the strategy of fighting the new anti-Semitism  is finding allies in the developing world. They can become the greatest spokesmen for Israel.


Fighting the New Anti-Semitism with Awareness and Education

Elan Carr

U.S. Special Envoy for Monitoring and Combatting Anti-Semitism

The new anti-Semitism, which focuses on Zionism and the State of Israel, is really not new at all. It is old, classic Jew hatred, simply adjusted for modern circumstances.


The Pandemic will Worsen the Pre-existing  Anti-Semitism in the United States

Malcolm Hoenlein

Executive Vice Chairman, Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations

During the coronavirus crisis, classic anti-Semitism merges with anti-Israel hatred. During economic crises, anti-Semitism tends to rise, and we can expect this after the pandemic. Jewish institutions will also have fewer resources with which to confront  this challenge. We must build coalitions and use the IHRA definition of anti-Semitism to protect Jews.


Scapegoating Israel in the Age of Coronavirus

Brig.-Gen. (Res.) Yossi Kuperwasser

Former head of the IDF Military Intelligence Research Division and director-general of the Strategic Affairs Ministry

Israel is making great efforts to ensure Palestinians are not hit by the coronavirus, and has been praised by the international community for its efforts. Unfortunately, this doesn’t interest promoters of anti-Semitism in BDS Zoom webinars, who advocate for muqawama, or struggle, against the existence of Israel.  We cannot allow the Palestinians to get away with this rhetorical anti-Semitism.  The Palestinian Authority praises terrorists that kill Jews as heroes and martyrs. This must be called out by the international community.


The Anti-Israel Movement’s Distortion and Misuse of International Legal Terms of Art

Amb. Alan Baker

Former Legal Advisor, Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and former Ambassador to Canada

There is a serious manipulation of the international community, both by organizations and the media, through the repeated use of catchphrases and buzzwords, taken out of context and sourced from terms of   international humanitarian law, as stereotypes, in order to vilify, cause the demise of, and dehumanize the State of Israel. From there we are very quickly directed onto the short road towards anti-Semitism.


Using ‘the Occupation’ as a Vector of Anti-Semitism

Fiamma Nirenstein

Journalist and author. Former vice president of the Committee on Foreign Affairs in the Italian Chamber of Deputies

Nobody in the civilized world – not Macron, Merkel, the EU, or the UN – would accept a classically anti-Semitic point of view, such as saying that Jews spread the coronavirus. Yet, the “civilized” way of expressing this idea has become blaming the “occupation” for Palestinian problems. This assumes that Israel locks down Palestinians in their homes, which is untrue, and falsely asserts that the PA lacks its own government structures, including hospitals and a health system. Israel is blamed, even when, in reality, the Palestinians possess all the funds and wherewithal to accomplish this.


Fighting the Apartheid Myth and Improving Israel-Africa Relations

Olga Meshoe Washington

Adv., South Africa Director, DEISI International (Defend Embrace Invest(in) Support Israel)

Africa is Israel’s most strategic ally, and not only from a political perspective, from voting in the United Nations, to voting in the AU.


Clearing Israel’s Historical Record

Luba Mayekiso

Adv., Director, Africa for Israel

Anti-Semitism against Israel, using the false accusation of apartheid, manipulates historical facts.  BDS, now calling  itself Africa for Palestine, has done well at repeating a lie and inflating it, in order to gain traction over the course of time. The narrative has become more appealing because they’ve moved away from dealing with history and reality, saying, “this is about human rights, this is about justice,” and for many people that resonates.


The Truth is the Best Weapon in the Fight against Israelophobia

Joshua Washington

Director, Institute for Black Solidarity with Israel

The bubonic plague quickly turned into blaming the Jews, and during the coronavirus, we definitely see that happening again. Oftentimes, the reason why so many black Americans feel emboldened in their anti-Israel, anti-Semitic stances is because they feel that they have history on their side. They honestly don’t know anything about black American Zionism in history, besides maybe a couple of quotes from Martin Luther King.

Key people speak out of ignorance and false information, and we have to combat that with the truth.   


Elan Carr answers questions on international diplomacy and the fight against anti-Semitism.

Anti-Semitism is the greatest barometer of human suffering.


Malcolm Hoenlein talks about the role of pro-Israel organizations

Resilience is our middle name.

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The Jerusalem Center
Canada investigating Israeli-Canadian IDF soldiers?
JCFA senior researcher, Amb. Alan Baker slams the probe as a “political PR stunt with no legal basis.” “This isn’t justice—it’s a betrayal. Canada is siding with PLO propaganda over facts.”
11:29am
The Jerusalem Center
What makes a child believe killing a #Jew is justified?

In PA textbooks, Jews are called liars and frauds; their fate: elimination. This is #indoctrination—not #education. But change is happening. On East to West, @IMPACT_SE CEO Marcus Sheff exposes how #UNRWA-funded schools are fueling extremism—and what real reform looks like.  Listen now on Spotify: open.spotify.com/show/2JHqh973U  Watch on YouTube: youtu.be/8OkJTGNfVUc

11:43am
The Jerusalem Center
Highlights from the @Jerusalem_Post Annual Conference in NYC:

Dr. @Dan_Diker, President of the JCFA: “October 7 wasn’t just an attack on Israel — it was a blow to the U.S. on Israeli soil. It demands moral clarity and a united front between Israel and the U.S. to defeat jihadist terror.”

2:20pm
The Jerusalem Center
@XAVIAERD says it like it is

Well, @XAVIAERD says it like it is: If you’re part of “#Queers for #Palestine,” he’ll pay for your flight to #Gaza. Go see for yourself how they treat LGBTQ+ people over there. Don’t miss this bold take on the Israel-Hamas war and the woke right.

2:32pm
The Jerusalem Center
“This isn’t Israel vs. Hamas — it’s the frontline of the free world.”

“This isn’t Israel vs. Hamas — it’s the frontline of the free world.” On Our Middle East by @JNS_org, @Dan_Diker@KhaledAbuToameh (JCFA/@GatestoneInst) break it down: If Hamas isn’t crushed, Iran wins. The jihadis—from #Gaza to your campus—get the green light. Diker: “This war is for the West.” No fluff. No filters. Just raw insight from two insiders who actually know what’s going on.  Watch: youtu.be/4Aq_zcbb4Yo

2:15pm
The Jerusalem Center
5/5 Lt. Col. Kalo on East to West with @smartinezamir:

“This operation showcases Israel’s strategic intelligence superiority both regionally and globally. It demonstrates the moral commitment to recovered soldiers and also strengthens Israel’s position with allies.” youtube.com/watch?v=nIvNNi

2:07pm
The Jerusalem Center
4/5 The operation built on intelligence gathered during the 2019 #Baumel recovery

#Mossad agents operated under cover in #Syria for years, visiting a graveyard multiple times under fire to collect remains for DNA matching. The intelligence community’s evolution combines technology, big data analysis, and human intelligence capabilities.

2:02pm
The Jerusalem Center
3/5 This recovery coincided with the release of Israeli hostage Edan Alexander

This recovery coincided with the release of Israeli hostage Edan Alexander from #Hamas in #Gaza, significantly boosting national morale amid an ongoing conflict now stretching over 18 months. The dual successes demonstrate #Israel‘s unwavering commitment to bringing all soldiers home.

1:58pm
The Jerusalem Center
2/5 The operation used the power vacuum following #Assad’s fall from #Damascus

Lt. Col. Avi Kalo, former head of IDF Prisoners & Missing Persons Division, calls it “an outstanding event that brings hope and new spirit to the people of Israel.” The operation utilized the power vacuum following #Assad‘s fall from #Damascus, allowing #Israeli intelligence to deploy ground capabilities in #Syria.

1:56pm
The Jerusalem Center
1/5 Israeli forces recovered the remains of Sergeant First Class Zvi Feldman

In an unprecedented operation, Israeli forces have recovered the remains of Sergeant First Class Zvi #Feldman, missing since the 1982 Battle of Sultan Yacoub. The complex #Mossad mission was conducted deep within #Syrian territory, 43 years after his disappearance. This follows the successful 2019 recovery of Zachary #Baumel from the same battle.

1:54pm
The Jerusalem Center
A molotov attack on a bus = a “barbecue party”?

That’s what #Palestinian kids are being taught under @UNRWA  — from grade school to graduation. This isn’t education. It’s indoctrination. Marcus Sheff of @IMPACT_SE  breaks it down with @smartinezamir

12:51pm

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