The rubicon of antisemitism crossed in the West - Israel will face new dangers, too - opinion

An opinion piece by Jacob Laviel Dallal argues that the current wave of antisemitism in the West is not receding but becoming more pervasive, altering Jewish life in the US, France, the UK, Canada, Australia, and Germany. Citing a survey where one in three US respondents reported antisemitism and over half of Jews changed behavior out of fear, Dallal warns of repercussions for Israel, including risks to the US alliance, and urges military self-sufficiency, alliances with non-Western countries, and countering delegitimization. He also acknowledges self-inflicted harm from Israeli extremist violence and reflexive accusations of antisemitism.

In an opinion piece published on August 9, 2026, Jacob Laviel Dallal, a research fellow at the Jerusalem Institute for Strategy and Security, argues that the current wave of antisemitism is not receding but becoming more pervasive, fundamentally altering Jewish life in Western countries with large Jewish communities: the United States, France, the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and Germany. He cites a recent survey indicating that one in three US respondents reported being targets of antisemitism, and over half of Jews have changed their behavior out of fear. Dallal contends that political polarization, convergence of left- and right-wing hatred, hostility in academia, state-funded defamation campaigns, and immigration from Arab countries signal a point of no return. He warns of major repercussions for Israel, including jeopardy to its strategic alliance with the US. He recommends Israel pursue military self-sufficiency, build alliances with non-Western countries, foster co-dependence with Western allies, and counter delegitimization efforts by Qatar, Iran, Turkey, and BDS. He also acknowledges self-inflicted harm from Israeli extremist violence and reflexive blaming of criticism as antisemitism, and warns of an eroding 'golden age' of Jewish status in the West.