By Scholars for Peace in the Middle East
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 The end of the summer was dominated by allegations of ‘genocide’ and ‘famine’ thrown against Israel and its supporters. These collapse under even causal examination, but have been coupled with relentless campaigns, particular on the far right, to legitimize antisemitism. Similarly, the impact of ill-conceived European recognition of a ‘Palestinian state’ predictably backfired but further imperiled Israel’s position and that of individual Jews. The situation in the second half of 2025 sees the Democratic Party’s rapid shift against Israel, state efforts to isolate Israel economically and politically, mass movements which threaten Jews, compounded by state-sponsored terrorism and incitement, and interpersonal violence from both ‘free Palestine’ supporters and deranged individuals who celebrate the cause. The result is increasing danger for Israel, its supporters, and individual Jews.
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| The enormous growth of BDS-related antisemitism since the October 7, 2023 Hamas attack has required the BDS Monitor to be greatly expanded as a tool for historical documentation. Readers are reminded that a shortened version appears in The Algemeiner. |
| Attacks against individual Jews and Jewish institutions have become so numerous that only a sample may be listed here. A few notable examples include: |
| In a major development Australia expelled the Iranian ambassador after investigations revealed that country had orchestrated and financed a series of antisemitic attacks including the firebombing of a synagogue in 2024. The Australian government has been under pressure from the Jewish community to address increasingly frequent attacks but has also become increasingly hostile towards Israel. |
| The revelation of Iranian involvement again raise the question of state sponsorship of antisemitic attacks globally. Links have also now been documented between Hamas representatives in Italy and far left parties which have been instrumental in organizing anti-Israel protests. |
| The reality that pro-Hamas protests are not grassroots manifestations but being staged as part of influence operations aimed at American politics has not yet been appreciated by the public, media, or law enforcement. But the reality puts the 2024 FBI hate crime statistics which show Jews remain the most targeted religious group into a new light. |
| Finally, the horrific attack on a Catholic school by a transgender individual, Robert (aka ‘Robin’) Westman, which killed two children has clear anti-Catholic as well as anti-Israel and antisemitic connections. |
| Westman’s ‘manifesto’ including musings regarding killing children and fascination with causes and mass killers across the political spectrum. He also expressed hatred for “filthy Zionist Jews” and Israel, including ‘free Palestine’ and “If I will carry out a racially motivated attack, it would be most likely against filthy Zionist jews.” Westman also wrote a number of legends on his weapons including “Israel must fall,” “six million wasn’t enough,” “kill Donald Trump,” and “Atta,” in reference to 9/11 hijacker Mohammad Atta. The place of Jews in Westman’s wide-ranging hatreds reflects the deep penetration of antisemitism into both left-wing and right-wing ideologies and parts of the transgender movement. |
| While the moderate resolution was adopted and the radical one rejected, Ken Martin then withdrew both, pledging instead to create a committee that included anti-Israel activists. Martin stated “There’s a divide in our party on this issue… This is a moment that calls for shared dialogue, calls for shared advocacy.” The move confirmed that Democratic leadership is fearful of the party base which is relentlessly hostile to Israel and seeks to evolve towards their positions. |
| For the first time a majority of Senate Democrats voted in favor of a bill authored by Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) to block specific arms transfers to Israel. Several high profile Democrats also joined in support of legislation that would cut off ‘offensive arms,’ and require both Congressional authorization and detailed explanation of use. Among the supporters were Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-MD), and progressive Jewish House members, Reps. Sara Jacobs (D-CA), Becca Balint (D-VT) and Jan Schakowsky (D-IL). The legislation was also supported by Gov. J.B. Pritzker of Illinois, a putative 2028 presidential candidate. |
| Rep. Adam Smith (D-WA), the ranking Democrat on the House Armed Services Committee, also called on the Trump Administration to halt sales of “offensive weapons” to Israel as a means of “leverage” in order to force increases in aid to Gaza and halt settlement construction. |
- The case for withholding weapons from Israel today is much stronger than it was one year ago… One, they don’t face the same regional threats. Two, there was ceasefire hostage deal in place and the ability to have negotiations, and it was Israel who just walked away from it without negotiating seriously. Three, there is a full-blown famine in Gaza. And four, there are no more serious military objectives to achieve. It ust bombing the rubble into rubble.
| Sullivan’s statement, which includes three obviously false points, is a unique window into Democratic national security thinking, which appears driven by newspaper headlines and polls, and the still pivotal Obama wing of the party. |
| Even Democratic candidates beginning to openly attack Israel, for example, Democrat Adelita Grijalva, who accused Israel of “genocide” and ‘causing famine’ in a televised debate. Grijalva, the daughter of the late Rep. Rau´l Grijalva (D-AZ), is virtually assured of defeating her Republican opponent in the fall. |
| The gradual embrace of New York Democratic Socialist candidate Zohran Mamdani, whose support for ‘globalize the intifada’ is also clear, suggesting both fear of their far left and growing disinterest in Jews as a Democratic constituency even in New York City. Clear documentation regarding Mamdani’s campaign backing by far left sources connected to the Democratic Party including the Foundation to Promote Open Societies and the Tides Foundation shows that key party’s funders quietly support his agenda. |
| The leftward shift on the part of Democrats generally was also displayed at a socialist conference in Mexico City attended by a number of representatives include Rashida Tlaib, Ayanna Presley, Summer Lee, and Ilhan Omar. The most notable comments, however, came from Rep. Delia Ramirez (D-IL) who stated in Spanish “I’m a proud Guatemalan before I’m an American.” |
| For their part, the Democratic Socialists of America adopted resolutions at their national convention expressing support for the ‘right of return’ and Palestinian ‘resistance,’ and making “statements that ‘Israel has a right to defend itself’” and “endorsing statements equating anti-Zionism with antisemitism” expellable expenses. |
| In the international sphere the key development in August included announcements by a number of European states including France and Britain of their intention to recognize ‘Palestine’ as an independent state. In the case of Britain the promise of recognition was bizarrely conditioned on Israel’s willingness to permit additional aid into Gaza. This obvious reward for October 7th and relentless hostility immediately collapsed ceasefire negotiations between Israel and Hamas. The effort backfired further with Germany and the US refused to join the call for recognition, which was then immediately qualified by European leaders as conditional on Hamas being removed from power, apparently by any means besides Israeli military action. |
| The announcement late in the month by Turkey to severe all commercial and economic ties with Israel represents a significant escalation of hostilities. The move apparently includes closing Turkish airspace to all Israeli aircraft. Similar announcements have been made in the past without effect. |
| A diplomatic spat ensued when Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu rebuked French president Emmanuel Macron for his promise to recognize a Palestinian state which increased local antisemitism. In response Macron dismissed the statement as “erroneous, abject and unacceptable.” France was then publicly criticized for inadequate protection of Jews by US Ambassador to France Charles Kushner, which precipitated an even deeper diplomatic crisis with France accusing Kushner of interference in domestic affairs. |
| The extent to which hostility to Israel is now a fundamental requirement in European domestic politics was also reflected in the resignation of Dutch Foreign Minister Caspar Veldkamp and the withdrawal of his center-right New Social Contract Party from the governing coalition. Velkamp had been unable to persuade the cabinet to take additional measures against Israel. At the same time, however, the Dutch parliament voted against a motion to recognize a Palestinian state and for sanctions on Israel. |
| A number of other developments also occurred in the international sphere: |
| Most significantly, the European Union again considered suspending Israel from the Horizon research program. Israel has participated in the program since 1996. The move was blocked but pressure within the bloc continues to rise, particularly with allegations of ‘famine.’ Traditional defenders of Israel including Germany and Poland have wavered in their support while Hungary faces an election in 2026 where an EU backed candidate will challenge Prime Minister Viktor Orbán. |
| University Administrations |
| The Trump Administration continues to pressure colleges and universities, forcing monumental realignments in many areas including finances. The ostensible reason is the treatment of Jewish students but the real focus appears to be eliminating discriminatory DEI programs in admissions and hiring and to reduce the number of foreign students. |
| Some analysts have claimed that the combination of new taxes, loss of research funding, and cuts to foreign enrollment could result in Harvard’s endowment shrinking up to 40%. One outcome of the changes to university funding patterns is increased reliance on commercial debt, with large institutions receiving low rates based in part on their large endowments. Smaller institutions, however, are being charged higher rates. Overall the industry appears to be moving away from illiquid and difficult to value assets such as private equity. |
| The moves reflect the belated acknowledgment that the institution, and higher education industry as a whole, have massive overbuilt graduate education and that no sources of employment exist for advanced degree holders. While it is convenient to blame the Trump Administration, these are the result of decades of institutional competition. |
| As the semester begins, faculty members continue to find themselves caught between their institutions and the new political and economic realities being established by the Trump Administration. |
| On the one hand new surveys purport to show that only some 10% of faculty hold views that are antisemitic or deeply anti-Israel. Along with boundless anecdotal evidence, this suggests that a relatively small number of faculty can profoundly shape campus atmospheres. Faculty of both antisemitism and solutions continues to be high. Faculty at Columbia continue to express opposition to adopting the IHRA definition of antisemitism, while a poll of Harvard faculty shows they do not believe that antisemitism is a “systemic problem” at the university. |
| A petition signed by 10% of the members of the Association of American Geographers also called on the group to boycott Israel and to disclose any investments related to Israel. A special member meeting to vote on the resolution has been scheduled for October. A similar petition in the American Philosophical Association called on the group condemn Israel and the “genocide unfolding in Palestine.” |
| The impact of the both the small minority of anti-Israel faculty and the widespread naturalization of post-colonial and other intellectual frameworks was seen in a study of publicly available syllabuses showing that left wing authors dominate assigned readings. Texts that depict Israel as illegitimate predominate as do texts that denigrate the West, both its history and traditional structures. |
| The sudden visibility of ‘genocide scholars’ such as Omer Bartov and Dirk Moses condemning Israel for ‘genocide’ by redefining the term also bears noting. While many fields and publication platforms have been slowly reconfigured to focus on Israel as a unique evil, the circumstances of the Gaza war have provided a perfect opportunity for otherwise obscure academics to leverage professional authority in mass markets. |
| Anti-Israel and anti-Jewish discrimination continues to be covered up by universities. In one case the University of Oregon Law Review continues to refuse to address an incident where an article by an Israeli professor was rejected on the basis of her national origin, even as that explanation was put in writing. The faculty member responsible continues in her role. |
| In another example, an Israeli dance scholar is suing UC Berkeley after being denied a guest teaching position on the basis of pressure from graduate students and faculty. Yael Nativ’s complaints notes that the department head had revoked the promised job stating in note “My dept cannot host you for a class next fall. Things are very hot right now and many of our grad students are angry. I would be putting the dept and you in a terrible position if you taught here.” While an internal investigation supported her discrimination claims, neither an apology or restored position ensued. |
| Finally, in an incident that shows the connection between DEI personnel and antisemitism, reports showed that Derron Borders, DEI director of the Cornell Johnson Graduate School of Management, expressed support for the Hamas massacres of October 7th. He stated “When you hear about Israel this morning and the resistance being launched by Palestinians, remember against all odds Palestinians are fighting for life, dignity, and freedom — alongside others doing the same — against settle colonization, imperialism, capitalism, white supremacy, which the United States is the model.” Upon exposure he reversed his stance. |
| Recent polls also suggest students routinely lie about their progressive beliefs in order to appease left-wing faculty and to survive socially. This may indicate that the public marginalization of extremist students and faculty could shift some campus environments away from overt hostility towards Israel and Jews, as well as Christians. |
| The relentless hostility and demands from pro-Hamas activists continue to escalate despite university restrictions on BDS resolutions and protest guidelines. In one extreme example the George Mason University SJP chapter, which has been newly reinstated, released a recruitment video stating “The spirit of resistance will not be quenched until we see full liberation of Palestine from the river to the sea,” and that “We have a moral obligation to carry on the legacy of our noble people, our steadfast prisoners, and our honorable martyrs.” Several Muslim George Mason students including SJP leaders have been arrested for vandalism, threats, and attempted terrorism. |
| The fall semester saw teachers unions and pro-Hamas activists digging in over ‘ethnic studies’ which characterize Israel as a uniquely evil ‘settler-colonialist’ state and Jews as the ultimate examples of ‘white supremacy.’ These now foundational concepts have also been given support by essays in the academic journal Educational Philosophy and Theory in which among other things ‘Gaza’ is equated with ‘Auschwitz.’ |
| Over the summer a variety of school districts and teachers unions have redoubled their efforts to target Israel and Jews. Examples include: |
| Teachers union ‘Palestine interest groups’ such as Massachusetts’ ‘MTA Rank and File for Palestine’ have also continued to highlight bizarre concepts such as “pro-semitic.” This posits that Arabs are “Semites” (because they speak a Semitic language) who therefore cannot be ‘anti-semites.’ Students must therefore be prepared to support the ‘semites’ and combat the “Palestinian Holocaust.” |
| In an acknowledgment that these now foundational concepts and changing demographics have raised antisemitism to unacceptable levels, the Ontario provincial government took over four school boards including Toronto’s. A curriculum update scheduled for September will be postponed for a year. |
| In the US the House Committee on Education and Workforce opened an investigation of the National Education Association after it was revealed that the organization moved to ban ADL Holocaust education materials. The organization’s 2025 handbook also removed reference to Jews from its discussion of the Holocaust, instead making lengthy reference to the ‘nakba.’ The organization has pledged to “educate members about the difference between anti-Zionism and antisemitism” and promote “free speech in defense of Palestine at K-12 schools, colleges, and universities.” |
| In the economic sphere, arms sales to Israel continue to be a pressure point targeted by European governments. In a dramatic reversal of previous policy German Chancellor Frederich Merz announced an arms embargo against Israel. Merz faced strong criticism within his own party over the move and at least one German arms manufacturer stated production facilities would be moved to the US to circumvent the German ban. |
| Israeli participation in international arms exhibitions is also being increasingly restricted. Britain has banned official Israeli participation in the DSEI UK 2025 defense industry to be held in September over concerns regarding “Gaza.” The Dutch government has also banned Israeli firms from the November NIDV Exhibition Defense & Security exhibition. |
| Elsewhere, European dockworkers, supported by ‘international law’ organizations, have undertaken additional work stoppages aimed at cargo ships alleged to contain shipments of arms to Israel. French, Greek, and Swedish dockworkers have announced boycotts of military shipments to Israel. French airport baggage handlers have demanded the right to opt out of servicing flights to and from Israel. |
| Mainstream media also continue to celebrate pro-Hamas protestors including non-citizens such as Mahmoud Khalil, who was the subject of a fawning interview in the New York Times. The relentless media hostility is coupled with the repeated narrative of ‘Jews who support Zohran including on Gaza,’ typically constructed from interviews with members of far left Jewish groups. |
| The efforts of right wing influencers and crypto-journalists such as Tucker Carlson and overtly antisemitic Candace Owens to alienate listeners from Israel and mainstream antisemitism is proceeding. The embrace of World War II revisionism by Carlson, overt neo-Nazism by Nick Fuentes, and bizarre rantings from Owens, have all the earmarks of a well-funded series of influence operations which have emerged simultaneously since late 2024. |
| In the sporting world, the association of Italian football coaches has called for Israel to be suspended from international competitions. In its letter to the Italian football association the coaches’ organization stated “is not just a symbolic action, but a necessary choice, responding to a moral imperative, shared by the entire leadership team.” |
| Finally the artists’ group Venice4Palestine demanded the Venice Film Festival withdraw an invitation to Israeli actor Gal Gadot, who was accused of “supporting genocide.” Festival Director Alberto Barbera rejected the call saying “our position is that, on the one hand, we are the leading Italian cultural institution, a place of openness, discussion, and debate, which does not exercise any form of censorship against anyone… For this reason, we reject the request to exclude artists if they intend to attend the Film Festival… And on the other hand, we have never hesitated to clearly express and declare our enormous suffering in the face of what is happening in Gaza and Palestine.”Reports indicate Gadot had already decided not to attend the festival. |
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Preceding provided by Scholars for Peace in the Middle East