NEW YORK – Last year saw a significant increase in antisemitic incidents in the U.S., with the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) reporting a record high of such cases. Notably, 58% of the 9,354 incidents involved expressions or actions related to Israel, which included chants, speeches, and signs at rallies criticizing Israeli policies. This figure marks the first time that incidents connected to Israel—5,422 in the year 2024—made up more than half of the total incidents recorded. A substantial factor contributing to this rise was the broad criticism of Israel’s military response in Gaza following the Hamas attack on Israel on October 7, 2023.
The ADL’s report has added fuel to a heated debate among American Jews and the wider public about distinguishing between legitimate criticism of Israeli policies or opposition to Zionism and antisemitism. As this debate expands, the political climate has shifted under President Donald Trump’s administration, which has taken actions against universities perceived as too lenient in tackling antisemitism, and is also aiming to deport some pro-Palestinian student activists.
For many Jewish leaders, this situation presents a challenge: strongly condemning blatant antisemitic acts while also addressing concerns over the administration’s potential misuse of the issue to target certain groups. Amy Spitalnick, CEO of the Jewish Council for Public Affairs, expressed, “The fears of antisemitism are legitimate and real—we don’t want to see those real fears exploited to undermine democracy.”
While the ADL aims to clearly distinguish general criticism of Israel from antisemitism, there are complexities, particularly regarding the stance on Zionism, which the ADL views as intrinsically linked to antisemitism. However, even within the Jewish community, there are individuals who criticize Zionism.
The recent report encompassed various kinds of incidents marked as antisemitic, including those that glorified antisemitic violence, promoted classic antisemitic clichés, or equated Judaism or Zionism with Nazism. Other incidents involved celebrations of the Hamas attack on Israel and open support for terrorist actions. “In 2024, animosity toward Israel was a significant factor in antisemitism throughout the U.S.,” noted Oren Segal, who spearheads the ADL’s initiatives against extremism and terrorism.
On university campuses, the report described a hostile environment for Jewish students, where they often face isolation and sometimes physical threats due to their identity or beliefs. Rabbi Rick Jacobs, president of the Union for Reform Judaism, highlighted the responsibilities of ensuring student safety on campuses and criticized the current administration for their approach, particularly referring to Mahmoud Khalil’s detention case. “What has kept Jewish people safe is the rule of law, due process. If it is undermined for Palestinians, it will be undermined for all of us,” said Jacobs.
The ADL’s response to the administration’s actions has sparked criticism from some progressive Jewish leaders who were dismayed by the ADL’s initial support of these measures. Critics like Wesleyan University’s first Jewish president Michael Roth and Columbia professor James Schamus have voiced concerns.
Columnist Matt Bai sharply criticized the ADL, arguing that as a civil rights organization, the ADL should oppose the unlawful removal of individuals due to their views. In an opinion editorial, ADL’s CEO Jonathan Greenblatt distanced the organization from certain elements of the Trump administration’s crackdown on pro-Palestinian activists, emphasizing the importance of protecting civil liberties.
Aside from Israel-related incidents, the ADL report revealed other key trends, such as a 344% increase in antisemitic incidents compared to five years earlier. Of these, 196 incidents were marked as assaults, though none were fatal. Vandalism incidents numbered 2,606, with swastikas present in 37% of cases. Bomb threats, totaling 647, targeted mostly synagogues, and antisemitic incidents were reported in all 50 states plus the District of Columbia with over 10% occurring in New York City.
The ADL’s annual report categorizes reported acts of harassment, vandalism, and assault against individuals and groups, with contributions from law enforcement, media, and partner organizations, then evaluated by ADL experts.