This past week, I had an encounter that made me confront the ever-present undercurrents of antisemitism in the world today. It took place in a bustling café in Rabat where I met an Italian tourist, and what began as a pleasant exchange quickly spiraled into something far more troubling.
As we spoke about our travels, I mentioned that I had recently visited Israel, a country I found rich in history and culture. I was surprised when the Italian's demeanor shifted. Instead of engaging in a respectful exchange of ideas, he suddenly declared, “I don’t like Israel – I hate Israel.”
Attacks on Israeli soccer fans in Amsterdam
I was taken aback but tried to remain open-minded, expecting a conversation about politics. However, he quickly veered into dangerous territory, revealing a deep, baseless hatred for Jews. He spoke of the familiar antisemitic tropes: Jews controlling the world’s money, governments and even global events. His words mirrored dangerous conspiracy theories that have plagued Europe for centuries.
At first, I was stunned. How could someone, seemingly well-educated and well-traveled, hold such backward and hateful views? But as the conversation continued, I began to realize something even more chilling: This wasn’t just an isolated opinion; it was part of a much larger wave of rising antisemitism that is spreading through Europe and, as recent events show, beyond it.
On the night of November 7, 2024, the Dutch capital of Amsterdam witnessed the first pogrom in Europe in many decades. Many Israeli tourists were in town for a UEFA soccer match, but what started as a peaceful event soon turned into a nightmare. Local Muslims and Arabs, mobilizing via social media, launched a “Jew hunt” through the streets. These mobs – often coordinated on apps like WhatsApp and Snapchat – attacked Jews with knives, clubs, fireworks and even vehicles. Terrified Israelis were trapped in their hotels while the authorities failed to stop the violence, with no arrests made during the rioting.
The image of the violence that erupted in Amsterdam was shocking, but not entirely unexpected. In recent years, there has been a growing trend of anti-Israel protests, often spilling over into acts of violence against Jewish communities. What happened in Amsterdam – a city with a rich Jewish history, home to the Anne Frank House – was a stark reminder of how quickly hate can erupt when fueled by conspiracy theories and ideological extremism.
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What struck me as particularly alarming is that these attacks are no longer just fringe occurrences. There is a growing normalization of antisemitic rhetoric, driven by radical leftists and Islamist extremists. In Amsterdam, the attackers proudly shouted “Free Palestine” as they hunted down Jewish people, using violence as their form of protest. This has become a new, disturbing reality across many European cities, where Jews have become targets not just for their identity, but for their association with Israel. And, as events in Amsterdam show, it’s often not contained by borders.
What struck me as particularly alarming is that these attacks are no longer just fringe occurrences. There is a growing normalization of antisemitic rhetoric, driven by radical leftists and Islamist extremists. In Amsterdam, the attackers proudly shouted “Free Palestine” as they hunted down Jewish people, using violence as their form of protest. This has become a new, disturbing reality across many European cities, where Jews have become targets not just because of their identity, but because of their association with Israel.
As I reflected on my conversation with the Italian tourist, I realized that the same ideologies were beginning to infect public discourse in Europe. Just like my Italian acquaintance, who relied on misinformation and deeply ingrained stereotypes, these attackers were operating in the same belief system, one that views Jews through a lens of conspiracy and hate.
The rise of antisemitism is not just a European problem. In the U.S., similar protests and acts of violence against Jews have been on the rise. The radical Left, in coalition with Islamists, is helping to create a dangerous environment for Jewish communities worldwide. The rhetoric of “Free Palestine” has morphed into a broader call to expel Jews from public life, with groups like Hamas framing all Jews as part of an existential enemy.
As I continue to process my experience in Morocco, the reality of this global rise in antisemitism looms large. It is no longer just a quiet, often ignored prejudice – it is out in the open, violent and fueled by a wave of radicalism that seeks to destroy Jewish communities both physically and ideologically. I have seen firsthand how quickly an individual’s casual antisemitic remarks can turn into violent ideologies, and the events in Amsterdam have shown just how dangerous this can become when left unchecked.
The world needs to wake up to the reality of what is happening, not only in Europe but around the globe. We cannot afford to dismiss these incidents as isolated. We must stand against antisemitism in all its forms, whether it is expressed in a café in Morocco or through violent mobs in Amsterdam, or in the streets of New York and Chicago. The fight against antisemitism is far from over, and it is up to all of us to challenge these hateful ideologies wherever they appear.
- Amine Ayoub is a policy analyst and writer based in Morocco.