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Associated PressMar 22
Poll: 49% of US Adults Consider Antisemitism a 'Very Serious Problem'
Above: A member of the New York Police Department patrols in front of the synagogue Congregation Bais Yaakov Nechamia Dsatmar on October 13, 2023 in New York City. Image copyright: Stephanie Keith/Stringer/Getty Images North America via Getty Images
The Facts
A survey from Gallup released on July 1 finds that 49% of Americans consider antisemitism to be a "very serious problem," up from 9% of the population that thought the same in 2003.
In total, 81% of Americans believe that antisemitism is a "somewhat" or "very serious" problem. 74% felt the same regarding Islamophobia, as antisemitic and anti-Muslim incidents have increased in the wake of the Oct. 7 attack on Israel and their subsequent war in Gaza.
The Spin
Pro-Palestine narrative
Supporters of Israel's campaign of terror in Gaza have often cynically used the media to conflate antisemitism with justified criticism of Israel, as peaceful protests against the war in Gaza are routinely mischaracterized by politicians and credulous outlets. Many Jews have stood shoulder to shoulder with those who are criticizing Israel.
Pro-Israel narrative
Americans are waking up to the fact that the ugliness of antisemitism has reared its head once again on college campuses and at street protests nationwide. Wittingly or not, Gaza protesters around the world have repeated and spread ancient antisemitic tropes about Jews and spread vitriol against Israel.