A significant majority of American Jews have reported an increase in antisemitism since the Hamas attacks on southern Israel on October 7, according to a recent Pew Research Center study.
The poll, which surveyed over 12,600 people in February, reflects growing concerns about antisemitism in the United States in the wake of the Israel-Hamas conflict. It found that nearly 90% of American Jews perceive a rise in antisemitism.
There has also been a notable increase in the perception of antisemitism within American society, with 57% of US adults noticing that discrimination against Jews has increased since the start of the Israel-Hamas war, while 19% say it has stayed the same and 3% say it has decreased. Around one-in-five are not sure.
Only 40% of Americans acknowledged that Jews faced significant discrimination prior to the Gaza war, a number that has doubled since 2021. Among Americans aged 65 and older, awareness of the discrimination faced by Jews has surged by 29 percentage points since 2021, jumping from 21% to 50%.
The study also revealed a disturbing tolerance for hate speech, where one in ten respondents believed Americans should be allowed to advocate violence against Jews. Adults under 50 were more inclined than their older counterparts to harbor this antisemitic sentiment.
