Strategies for National Governments and Diplomatic Officials: Understanding, Responding to, and Preventing Antisemitism

Understanding antisemitism is a core responsibility of governments and diplomats, because effective policy and good governance depend on accurately recognizing how antisemitism operates across ideologies and institutions. 

• Understand and define: In order to combat antisemitism, governments need tools to understand its various manifestations. The non-legally binding “International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) Working Definition of Antisemitism” is an important, internationally recognized instrument used by over 40 U.N. member states since its adoption in 2016. In addition, hundreds of sub-national public authorities, universities, sports bodies, NGOs, and corporations rely on it.
• Understand antisemitism as a national security and foreign influence risk: Recognize that antisemitism is increasingly used by state and non-state actors to destabilize societies, undermine democratic institutions, and fuel political violence. Monitoring antisemitic narratives should be integrated into national security, counter-extremism, and foreign influence analysis. 
• Distinguish antisemitism from criticism of Israel: Legitimate policy debate differs from holding Jews collectively responsible or questioning loyalty – such rhetoric can contribute to harassment, exclusion, or intimidation. Consider how efforts such as boycotts or labeling initiatives can result in the targeting of Jewish individuals, businesses, institutions, or communal life.
• Strengthen education: Education is vital for identifying and countering antisemitism, including Holocaust remembrance and countering Holocaust denial and distortion, an especially pernicious form of antisemitism. It has also proven effective in sensitizing law enforcement. 
• Collect and utilize data: Policies should be in place to support the uniform collection of data documenting incidents of antisemitism as well as the perceptions of antisemitism among Jewish communities and the broader public. Such information, drawn from community-based sources, when possible, allows for evidence-based understanding of trends and sources.

• Map and monitor transnational antisemitic networks: Track funding streams, organizational ties, and online ecosystems that support antisemitic movements across borders, working with intelligence, financial, and law enforcement partners to identify emerging threats. 

Responding to antisemitism requires visible leadership, consistent enforcement of the law, and coordinated action across governments and international partners. 

• Speak out: Governments and political leaders should denounce antisemitism swiftly, clearly, and unequivocally, whenever and wherever it occurs. This applies to the domestic and international arenas, including regional and international organizations.
• Use diplomatic and economic tools to respond to antisemitism: Consider diplomatic engagement, conditional assistance, sanctions, or public accountability measures when foreign actors promote or tolerate antisemitism, particularly when it incites violence or undermines democratic institutions. 



Best Practices in Condemnation of Antisemitism:

Public condemnation matters. Leaders calling out antisemitism pushes back against the normalization of hate, reinforces trust, and can spark action. 

Effective condemnation hinges on: 

1. Speed: Condemnation within hours, not days
2. Clarity: Explicitly naming antisemitism (not vague “all forms of hatred”)
3. Authority level: Statements from top political leadership, not only agencies
4. Moral framing: Linking antisemitism to democratic values and rule of law
5. Consistency: Same standard applied regardless of political context or source of incident

Condemnation efforts are weakened when they: 

• Are delayed or overly cautious (usually with regard to politically sensitive cases)
• Use overly generalized language (“hate has no place”) without naming antisemitism
• Are inconsistent or there is fragmented messaging between national and local leaders



• Strengthen enforcement: Enforcement of hate crime and anti-discrimination laws is critical and should take place within legal frameworks that protect civil liberties and human rights, such as freedom of expression. Enforcement conveys the broader message that antisemitism is unacceptable, has consequences, and cannot be tolerated.
• Engage Jewish communities directly during incidents: Communicate promptly with Jewish community leaders following antisemitic incidents, offer visible support, and coordinate with appropriate governments to reinforce safety and public confidence. 
• Protect Jews and Jewish institutions: There are few roles more central for governments than the security and welfare of their populations. Jewish communities are targets of physical threats and attacks from both foreign and domestic sources. Governments, working together with Jewish communities, should provide appropriate protection and security enhancements that safeguard and sustain Jewish communal life. Religious freedom and protection also encompass safeguarding unhindered religious practice.
• Strengthen international collaboration: Coalition-building and international cooperation are paramount to effectively monitor and counter antisemitism. In an interconnected world where hate respects no borders, transnational cooperation can identify threats, raise awareness, broaden the use of best practices, and more effectively and proactively coordinate responses.
  • During incidents, governments should align public communication across diplomatic missions to ensure consistent, timely, and accurate messaging that prevents misinformation and reinforces democratic norms. 

Prevention is the most effective form of protection, requiring governments to invest in education, security, and international cooperation to stop threats before they escalate and to strengthen institutions that protect all communities.

• Appoint and empower officials: Governments and international bodies should consider appointing national coordinators, special envoys, or designated officials. Such officials can proactively address antisemitism as a cross-cutting public policy challenge and should be provided with the necessary authority, empowerment, and resources to be effective.

• Avoid politicization: Antisemitism can appear across the political spectrum and should be rejected without political bias and regardless of its origin.
• Cultivate a whole-of-society commitment: Countering antisemitism requires a whole-of-society commitment that includes the active participation of civil society. Collaboration; bridge-building; nurturing trust among faith, civic, and cultural leaders; and fostering mutual understanding are essential, particularly since antisemitism is not solely a threat to Jews. It can endanger members of other minority groups, democratic values, and national security and stability.
• Embed antisemitism into counter-extremism strategies: Treat antisemitism as an early indicator of radicalization and political violence, integrating it into counter-terrorism, intelligence, and prevention programs. 
• Engage social media: Antisemitism, like other forms of group hatred and disinformation, is widespread and mutating online. It has real world consequences and can lead to radicalization to violence. Stakeholders should oppose antisemitism online, stay educated on evolving trends, increase transparency about antisemitic content, assess impacts on vulnerable communities, and find solutions, within the context of existing legal frameworks.
• Use public diplomacy to elevate Jewish history, culture, and contributions, and to counter antisemitic narratives in public-facing programming.
• Institutionalize public reporting on antisemitism: Governments should publish regular, transparent reports on antisemitic incidents, trends, and policy responses to strengthen accountability, inform decision-making, and build public trust. 
• Provide mandatory training for diplomatic personnel: Foreign service officers and embassy staff should receive training on recognizing antisemitism, engaging Jewish communities, and responding to incidents.
• Engage Jewish communities in the United States: Diplomatic missions based in the U.S. should build relationships with Jewish organizations, visit Jewish institutions, and consult community leaders to understand how antisemitism affects Jewish life in America and globally.
• Support implementation of the United Nations' strategy to combat antisemitism: During engagements with senior United Nations officials, encourage the continued implementation of the UN's Strategy and Plan of Action on Antisemitism. Ask for updates, inquire about participation by UN personnel in the UN's antisemitism training course, and encourage the UN to monitor and evaluate internal progress by individual departments and agencies. Regular engagement by Member States helps reinforce accountability and ensures that commitments to combat antisemitism are translated into institutional practice.
• Adopt and implement national strategies: Governments and international bodies should adopt and implement strategies and action plans that engage all relevant ministries and public authorities at all levels of governance. This should be done in consultation with Jewish communities, civil society, field researchers, and other relevant stakeholders. Such policies should be assessed periodically and updated as needed.

Educational Resources

• AJC’s Translate Hate, a visual glossary of words and symbols that are antisemitic or can become antisemitic in context
• AJC’s State of Antisemitism in America Reports
• AJC’s 10 Tough Questions on Antisemitism Explained
• Global Guidelines for Countering Antisemitism
• AJC’s A Short Guide to Jewish Religion, Culture, Holiday Observances and 5-Year Calendar

Practical Resources

• AJC’s The State of Antisemitism in America: Findings and Recommendations for Major Digital Platforms
• ISD, B’nai B’rith International, and UNESCO’s Online Antisemitism: A Toolkit for Civil Society