As the focus shifts to Israel in the ongoing conflict with Hamas, there has been a surge in antisemitism worldwide. The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) reported more than 10,000 antisemitic incidents in the United States between October 7, 2023, and October 6, 2024. This was the highest number of incidents documented in a single year since the ADL began monitoring such data in 1979.
Following the deadliest day for the Jewish community since the Holocaust, protests erupted on college campuses and in major city streets. Indeed, on October 8, 2023, just one day after the tragic event and before Israel’s retaliatory actions, a crowd gathered in Times Square to glorify the perpetrators and denounce the victims.
Pro-Palestinian demonstrators protest in Times Square on the second day of the ongoing conflict between Israel and the Palestinian militant group Hamas, in Manhattan in New York City, Oct. 8, 2023. (REUTERS/Jeenah Moon)
“And the understanding that in response to that point-blank execution, instead of seeing outrage in the streets — including in New York City — what we saw was support for Hamas, the executioners, if you will. Hamas, a genocidal terror organization designated as such by the United States of America.”
While antisemitism was on the rise prior to Oct. 7, the attacks “ripped off many, many masks,” according to Cotler-Wunsh. However, she emphasizes that this is not just a problem for Jewish people; this is a warning shot for humanity.
“What we have seen systematically in this normalization historically through time is that antisemitism, when it comes to this state of normalized mainstream lethal hate, just predicts what is a major threat to freedom, humanity, and the dignity of difference.”
When speaking about the protests seen at universities across America, Cotler-Wunsh pointed to the examples of professors who either praised or downplayed the Oct. 7 attacks, including Cornell professor Russell Rickford, who described the massacre as “exhilarating.” She believes that schools need to start consistently applying policies and cracking down on systemic violations of those policies, such as the anti-Israel demonstrations seen on so many campuses.
“No rule that is not applied equally and consistently is worth the paper that it is written on,” Cotler-Wunsh told Fox News Digital.
Student protesters gather in protest inside their encampment on the Columbia University campus, Monday, April 29, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Stefan Jeremiah)
However, Cotler-Wunsh says that enforcing rules is only the first step. She believes institutions across the globe, not just universities, need to adopt the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance’s (IHRA) definition of antisemitism.
The IHRA definition states: “Antisemitism is a certain perception of Jews, which may be expressed as hatred toward Jews. Rhetorical and physical manifestations of antisemitism are directed toward Jewish or non-Jewish individuals and/or their property, toward Jewish community institutions and religious facilities.”
While criticizing Israel is not necessarily an antisemitic act, even under the IHRA’s definition, “claiming that the existence of a State of Israel is a racist endeavor” is considered antisemitic by the IHRA’s standards.
Countries and institutions across the globe, such as the U.S. and the United Nations, have adopted the IHRA’s definition of antisemitism. The Combat Antisemitism Movement says that as of Feb. 1, 2025, 1,266 entities have adopted the definition, which includes national and local governments, as well as international organizations.
