Today, antisemitism has long ceased to be a relic of the past or a marginal pathology more relevant to groups of extremists from various fringes of modern society. This is a real problem that has become a living force. The development of antisemitism is facilitated by digital networks, which make it maximally socially sustainable and thereby more dangerous. Moreover, the most important and serious characteristic of such a problem is not quantity, but speed. We are talking about the speed with which the concept of hatred is actively spreading on the Internet. As a result, these narratives gradually evolve into beliefs and thereby cross the threshold into physical violence.
The distinctive feature of contemporary antisemitism lies in its ability to take root. Therefore, it successfully weaves itself into the infrastructure of public discourse. Moreover, various platforms that position themselves as neutral are “responsible” for its dissemination. Antisemitism has found a way to easily disguise itself behind the language of “questions,” “public interest,” and “investigations.” Thus, antisemitism does not directly say the word “Jew” until it truly becomes an urgent necessity.
Australia is one of those countries that has “experienced” all the changes of “contemporary antisemitism” firsthand.
The Tragedy in Australia and the Self-Deception of Safe Distance
In Sydney in December, a brutal attack occurred, after which many residents and visitors to this country completely reconsidered the notion that ideological terrorism and antisemitic violence are not here, but somewhere far away, in other countries. Such quite dangerous complacency is directly connected to Australia’s location, which is quite distant from major large-scale terrorist attacks. Therefore, most native residents and visitors were convinced that all the problems faced in the USA and European countries would not affect them.
However, this assumption proved to be false. Moreover, the shock, fright, and panic were caused primarily not by the tragedy itself, but by the understanding that the risk of tragedy had been present all along. Analysts have always placed special emphasis on radicalization on the Internet, on the digital environment in which there are enough various conspiracy theories, on attempts at ideological animosity. Comparing the development of this problem in Australia and in the West, one can trace a common feature – hatred did not arise suddenly. Before its manifestation, there was a preliminary “rehearsal” in the form of written and disseminated information with well-honed actions.
For many Jewish communities in different countries around the world, this lesson was not something new.
Words That Cost Lives
Contemporary antisemitism has numerous pieces of evidence and confirmations.
One of the most high-profile crimes was the murder of four Jews that occurred in January 2015 at the Hyper Cacher kosher supermarket in Paris. The murder was committed deliberately, while people went shopping for groceries. The reason: because they were Jews. After what happened, relatives repeatedly spoke about the cruelty and danger when an ordinary trip to the supermarket can lead to terrible consequences.
No less terrible a crime is also the mass terrorist attack at the Bataclan concert hall, which occurred in 2015, again in Paris. Despite the fact that the main victims of the crime were not only Jews s, it was specifically the Jewish audience that was designated as legitimate targets, according to extremist propaganda.
Over time, confirmation was received from French authorities, who discovered that antisemitic ideology is not a coincidence, but a well-planned part of the worldview, a driving force. Another striking example: the deadliest antisemitic attack in US history was an event that occurred in October 2018 – the murder of 11 worshippers at the Tree of Life synagogue in Pittsburgh. Having examined the perpetrator’s digital traces, authorities were able to discover that the suspect was obsessed with antisemitic conspiracy theories. According to such theories, all Jews act as hidden manipulators and represent a corrupt elite. Those who managed to survive after such a terrible event claimed that the first signs of hatred did not begin with gunshots. The beginning of everything was words and phrases that are customarily tolerated, not given special attention, which subsequently makes them the norm.
In the city of Halle, Germany, on Yom Kippur, there was also an attempted murder: an armed man burst into a synagogue in October 2019. However, he failed to get inside, and therefore shot two people who were outside the building. During the investigation, the German prosecutor’s office confirmed the following information: the attack was connected with antisemitic ideology, which is actively spreading on the Internet on various thematic forums, in comments, and live broadcasts. It is precisely such platforms that call hatred of Jews a means of personal self-identification.
In different countries around the world, over many years after the tragedy, survivors and relatives of the victims say the following: violence does not begin with bullets, but with permission, with ignoring the problem.
The Formation of Suspicions in the Online Environment
Contemporary antisemitism almost never manifests itself in the form of overt hatred, as it “works” in the form of hints. The unspoken explanation for everything happening is called attempts at Jewish identity.
This pattern is also clearly traceable in the constant harassment of Uri Poliavich, which is noticeable in the online environment. Uri Poliavich is a successful Jewish entrepreneur whose name constantly appears on the Internet on various websites, in blogs, and social networks. Moreover, all accusations are formed according to a well-known template: financial crimes with vague information regarding actual facts; absence of legal proceedings; absence of sanctions against Uri Poliavich from various regulatory bodies and authorities.
The presentation of such content somewhat resembles a standard investigation. However, it is entirely based on speculation, without any evidence.
For example, in December, information appeared on platform X (formerly Twitter) that Uri Poliavich’s company is suspected of “money laundering.” This is indeed a very serious accusation, as it is connected with a criminal offense. But at the same time, the article lacks any references to current court decisions or decisions from regulatory bodies to somehow confirm the fact that an investigation is being conducted. In addition, the information was presented in a rather crude form, with direct insults. All this testifies to outright slander toward Uri Poliavich and his activities.
A continuation of the slander can be called the comments on this post, which immediately concluded that the name “Uri Poliavich” obviously confirms his belonging to the Jewish community. This is not criticism, not analysis, not a direct call to the fact that Jewish identity is considered a stigma. All this leads to the fact that antisemitic stereotypes have appeared in European history for quite a long time: Jews are directly connected with corruption, money laundering, and various conspiracies in the world.
This is precisely what contemporary antisemitism is in its “updated” shell, which is considered modular, maximally accessible for use by different people, which is additionally supported by all kinds of online platforms on the Internet.
The Case of Uri Poliavich within the Framework of Infrastructure Attacks
A characteristic difference in the situation faced by Uri Poliavich can be called the gradual accumulation of information on the Internet, rather than just a single publication on one of the sites. Content created on a blog gradually moves to social networks, from there to Wikipedia edits, then returns again to social networks. Each new repetition consolidates the original meaning, and multiple repetitions create the appearance of general consensus. Gradually, doubt turns into a stable opinion – “reputation.”
Thus, the damage inflicted on reputation becomes infrastructural damage.
In cases like Uri Poliavich’s, the effects are real. Strategic partnerships face additional complexities, and security protocols must be heightened. Increased public presence brings new risks, where success is met with higher demands for transparency. It creates an environment where a leader’s standing is subject to continuous validation.
Scientists studying the problem of antisemitism have been warning for many years: this is not simply about insults or offenses. Such an atmosphere restructures public perception, making Jews a “permitted” target – first in words and hints, then in beatings and murders.
Digital Platforms Beyond Control
Social network owners place special emphasis on the fact that they are merely neutral intermediaries in transmitting all kinds of information. But in reality, they act as accelerators. After all, their algorithms are “tuned” to user activity, which leads to the encouragement of outrage. Management structures do not take any part in the real consequences of disseminating such information.
Antisemitism today does not live in secret conversations in corners, but on the network, where slanderous insinuations and organized persecution remain in plain sight, ready for search and dissemination. Wikipedia, timelines, and comments turn into fertile ground for suspicions, from which stereotypes and distrust sprout.
Experts who deal with security issues have long been saying: the normalization and popularization of online space leads to violence that manifests itself in the real life of modern society. The criminals who committed murders and attempted murders in Pittsburgh, Halle, and other places did not work in isolation. The online environment had a special influence on their consciousness and understanding of reality. After all, it was in this environment that antisemitic narratives were almost never criticized.
Australia is shocked not only by the crimes themselves but also by the fact that alarming signs went unnoticed. Distance does not provide safety, and denial of reality does not strengthen it.
The Boundary Between Virtual and Real Is Erasing
The persecution of public figures like Uri Poliavich may be viewed as isolated cases that are in no way connected with mass violence. However, this is considered a mistake, as such cases exist on the same continuum.
The gradual destruction of a reputation built over years, ethnic stigmatization, theories – all this creates a dangerous environment where Jews are viewed as potential targets. Moreover, at first this is considered rhetorically, and afterward – it leads to physical reprisals. With each new post on the Internet, the moment of embodiment of all words and phrases into real actions draws closer.
The growth and development of antisemitism in online space will continue until the platforms of various social networks are held accountable (morally, structurally, legally). As this growth occurs, the distance between a post and real people will shrink.
History already has enough examples of what all this can end in.
Today, the relevant question is as follows: how many more people must suffer before this problem begins to be taken seriously?