An extensive investigation into social media conversations on the Twitter platform conducted over several years revealed that Israel faces the highest number of human rights violation accusations compared to any other country worldwide.
The comprehensive study, undertaken by the Ruderman Family Foundation and the nonprofit Network Contagion Research Institute, examined approximately 100 million tweets posted between January 1, 2020, and June 30, 2022. The research uncovered that Israel received accusations 12 times more frequently than China, 38 times more than Iran, 55 times more than Russia, and 111 times more than North Korea.
Presented during a recent meeting of the Knesset Caucus for Israel-American Jewry Relations, the foundation’s findings indicated that the majority of “anti-Zionist” tweets during the specified timeframe also exhibited clear antisemitic undertones. These tweets employed “identical hateful tropes” and applied a double standard to Israeli conduct. Notably, the study demonstrated that antisemitic and anti-Zionist tweets peaked at different times, often corresponding to real-world events and political developments.
Throughout the analyzed period, which encompassed both the Trump and Biden administrations, there were six times more instances of antisemitic tweets compared to anti-Zionist tweets when the former was in power. Conversely, when the latter assumed office, there were approximately three times more anti-Zionist tweets than antisemitic ones.
Antisemitic tropes within tweets reached their zenith surrounding events such as the January 6 insurrection at the US Capitol, the onset of COVID-19 and associated conspiracy theories, as well as the death of George Floyd and the ensuing Black Lives Matter protests. On the other hand, tweets incorporating anti-Zionist tropes surged during the 2021 conflict with Gaza, the killing of Palestinian journalist Shireen Abu Akleh, and the release of a 2022 Amnesty International report accusing Israel of apartheid.
The foundation’s report also indicated a correlation between these peak periods and real-life antisemitic attacks, both within and beyond educational institutions. However, specific examples were not provided.
Adam Sohn, CEO of NCRI, emphasized the striking similarity between anti-Zionism and antisemitism, stating, “Many people distinguish between anti-Zionism and antisemitism, but our research suggests that the tropes they use are nearly identical.” Sohn further added, “In the present, as well as in previous analyses we’ve conducted, we observed a correlation with real-world antisemitic incidents. The tropes of anti-Zionism are utilized to justify broader attacks against Jews globally, and we strongly urge appropriate measures to be taken against this phenomenon.”
