Israeli minister sounds alarm over rise of antisemitism on the right

JERUSALEM — Israel’s minister in charge of combating anti-Semitism said extremist anti-Jew rhetoric on the American right is now more alarming than traditional hate from the far-left — and he’s calling on Washington to wake up before it’s too late.

“When I started this role three years ago, I thought anti-Semitism on the right was marginal — small groups of neo-Nazis, not a real force,” Minister of Diaspora Affairs and Combating Antisemitism Amichai Chikli told The Post. “Today, it’s a completely different story. I’m far more concerned about anti-Semitism on the right than on the left — and I say this as a conservative, myself.”

Chikli, who oversees Israel’s global fight against Jewish hate, said the shift has been fueled by a toxic blend of online influencers, conspiracy peddlers and foreign-backed disinformation campaigns — all amplified by America’s culture wars.

He pointed to high-profile conservative voices — including podcast hosts and figures connected to Tucker Carlson, who recently platformed Holocaust deniers and fringe conspiracy theorists.

“One of the worst moments was when a popular conservative broadcaster called one of the most vile Holocaust deniers in America ‘one of the most honest historians.’ That legitimizes hate — it normalizes it,” Chikli said, referring to Carlson.

The minister said such rhetoric is spreading fast among young Americans online, both on the left and right.

“Anti-Semitism has become fashionable for Gen Z,” Chikli warned. “They listen to podcasts, not professors. When people like Nick Fuentes or Darryl Cooper are treated as thought leaders, that’s dangerous. These are neo-Nazis.”

He added that the phenomenon is so new that it can’t be organic — suggesting there may be coordinated funding behind the rise of anti-Israel and anti-Jewish sentiment on social media.

“It’s visible,” Chikli said. “The same messages, the same phrases, showing up on hundreds of accounts at the same time. It’s unnatural. Someone’s paying for this.”

Pressed on who might be bankrolling the hate, he pointed to possible foreign involvement.

“We think there’s foreign money involved — maybe from hostile regimes,” Chikli said. “That’s for the FBI to investigate.”

The minister also warned of an ideological pipeline linking some corners of the right-wing isolationist movement to extremist circles.

“We can debate whether America should send money abroad,” Chikli said. “But isolationism has been hijacked — it’s being weaponized by anti-Semites and white supremacists. That’s what’s new and so troubling.”

The minister drew a sharp line between legitimate foreign-policy skepticism and hate-driven politics.

“We can work with isolationists. We cannot work with neo-Nazis,” Chikli said. “When you see someone obsessed with Israel — posting about it 24/7 — that’s not policy. That’s hate.”

He also raised concerns about growing Islamist influence backed by Qatar and Turkey, arguing the two countries are “working hand in hand with the Muslim Brotherhood” to shape narratives in the West.

“They’re winning ground — in media, in academia, even in US politics,” Chikli said. “And too many people in Washington still don’t see it.”

Despite the grim picture, the minister said he remains optimistic about Israel’s alliance with the United States.

“The bond is strong — built on shared values,” Chikli said. “But we can’t be naïve. Anti-Semitism is rising fast, and it’s wearing new clothes. We’ve seen how these things start in history. We can’t let it happen again.”

Looking ahead, he said the fight against anti-Semitism must move from reactive to proactive — especially online.

“There’s no greater power than the truth,” he said. “But the truth needs defenders.”