Deborah Lipstadt, appointed by the Biden administration as the special envoy to combat antisemitism abroad, began her tenure with visits to Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, aiming to engage Gulf leaders in addressing antisemitism among Muslims globally. She described these initial exchanges as promising.
However, the situation shifted dramatically following the Hamas-led attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, which marked the deadliest day for Jews since World War II. The subsequent Israeli military response resulted in significant casualties among Palestinians in Gaza, displacing nearly the entire population and causing widespread destruction.
Reflecting on her experiences, Dr. Lipstadt noted that the attack initiated a surge of antisemitism, with accusations against Israel of genocide emerging even as rescue efforts were underway. She observed that pro-Palestinian demonstrations, often with antisemitic undertones, proliferated in the wake of the conflict.
The Anti-Defamation League reported a record increase in antisemitic incidents in the United States, with a threefold rise in cases following the October attack. A survey conducted prior to the attack indicated that a significant majority of European Jews had encountered antisemitism online and offline.
Dr. Lipstadt characterized the rise in antisemitism post-October 7 as a normalization of hatred that had been simmering for years. She criticized the Biden administration for moments of silence amidst campus violence, despite President Biden's condemnations of antisemitism.
In response to the growing crisis, the Biden administration released the first U.S. National Strategy to Counter Antisemitism in 2023, advocating for a collaborative approach to combat hate. Additionally, in 2024, the U.S. led an international initiative to establish best practices for countering antisemitism.
Dr. Lipstadt returned to academia at Emory University after her term, choosing not to teach at Columbia University due to concerns over the administration's handling of anti-Israel protests. In her opinion piece, she expressed her desire not to be a "prop" in an environment she deemed unsafe for herself and her students.
During her tenure, Dr. Lipstadt emphasized the importance of distinguishing between legitimate criticism of Israel and antisemitism. She referenced a working definition of antisemitism adopted by the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance, which includes targeting Israel as a Jewish collective but does not encompass standard criticisms of the nation.
Dr. Lipstadt also addressed the ongoing debate regarding accusations of genocide against Israel, asserting that while the humanitarian crisis in Gaza is undeniable, the definition of genocide requires intent to annihilate a culture or people, which she argued does not apply to the situation.
As her term concluded, Dr. Lipstadt reflected on the complexities of addressing antisemitism in a rapidly changing global landscape, highlighting the need for continued dialogue and understanding.