Antisemitism Persists as Germany debates definitions and U.S. culture sees new flashpoints
In Germany, police data for 2025 show a 5 % rise in antisemitic offenses, with most incidents linked to right‑wing actors and a smaller share to extremist groups labeled “foreign,” while left‑wing crimes remain rare. The debate over how to define antisemitism features the IHRA’s 2015 definition, which includes Israel‑related bias, and the 2021 Jerusalem Declaration, which argues that criticism of Zionism or Israel does not automatically count as antisemitism.
In the United States, nearly three years after the Oct. 7 massacre, antisemitic attitudes continue to appear in mainstream discourse, prompting cultural flashpoints such as rapper Macklemore’s removal from Ed Sheeran’s tour after pro‑Palestinian statements and the rapid sell‑out of his “Free Palestine” tour. Media figures including Megyn Kelly, Dave Smith and Candace Owens have repeated claims of Israeli genocide, and politicians such as Zohran Mamdani and Abdul el‑Sayed have voiced similar concerns.
How this was covered
- The two sides describe this in almost entirely different words
Why it matters
The persistence of antisemitism and contested definitions shape public debate, policy responses, and everyday safety for Jewish communities in both Germany and the United States.
How the sides frame it
MODERATE AGREEMENTLeft-leaning coverage frames antisemitism as a rising German problem tied to definition debates and primarily right-wing actors, while right-leaning coverage portrays antisemitism as a broad U.S. and Canadian issue spanning both parties and blames left-wing anti-Zionist ideology and governmental inaction.
LEFT
Antisemitism is increasing in Germany, prompting disputes over how to define it, with most incidents linked to right-wing actors but occasional left-wing tropes.
RIGHT
Antisemitism is spreading across the U.S. political spectrum and beyond, implicating both major parties and highlighting cultural flashpoints and a lack of concrete government action.
The left emphasises
- a 5 % increase in antisemitic offenses in 2025
- debate between the IHRA definition and the Jerusalem Declaration on Antisemitism
- the majority of crimes linked to right-wing actors, with left-wing crimes rare
The right emphasises
- both Democratic and Republican parties harbor serious antisemitism
- cultural incidents such as Macklemore’s tour removal and “Free Palestine” tour sell-outs
- government rhetoric is cheap and concrete action against antisemitism is lacking
How this story developed
- Oct 1 Antisemitism Gains Ground Across the Political Spectrum in the United States
- Oct 19 Macklemore’s “Free Palestine” tour sold out quickly, creating a new cultural flashpoint.
