Israeli President Isaac Herzog warned of the global spread of antisemitism in a recent interview, emphasizing that it is a societal issue that must be addressed by all nations.
Herzog stated that antisemitism is an "age-old plague" that affects not only the Jewish people but also the societies in which they live. He urged governments, law enforcement agencies, educational systems, and Jewish communities to work together to combat this issue.
A recent report by the J7 Large Communities' Task Force Against Antisemitism found that 20 people were killed in antisemitic attacks across seven countries outside of Israel in 2025, marking the deadliest year for such violence in the Jewish diaspora since 1994.
The same report noted a significant increase in antisemitic incidents, with over 23,000 recorded across the J7 countries last year, representing a 97% increase in violent attacks and a 136% rise in overall incidents compared to 2022.
Herzog specifically criticized New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, accusing him of spreading hate and compromising the lives of New Yorkers. Mamdani had previously referred to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as a "war criminal" and "the architect of a horrific genocide against the Palestinian people" in a social media post.
In response to the recent stabbing of two men, including one who was visibly identifiable as Jewish, on Manhattan's Upper West Side, Herzog emphasized that such incidents cannot be accepted in New York or any other city.
Herzog also highlighted the importance of education in combating antisemitism, referencing a recent article titled "The Death of History." He noted that misinformation spread through distorted and superficial channels makes it easy to smear Israel on social media, but such narratives do not reflect reality.
Herzog's warning comes as hate crimes against Jewish communities continue to rise globally. In New York City, for example, anti-Jewish incidents accounted for 56.9% of hate crimes since the start of 2026, despite Jewish New Yorkers making up only about 10% of the city's population.
Herzog has launched an initiative called Voice of the People to address the challenges facing Jewish communities worldwide. The initiative brings together a council of 150 emerging leaders from around the world, developing ideas to address issues such as antisemitism and polarization within and between Jewish communities.
