In observance of Veterans Day on Friday November 10, FCAS is releasing an early version of the From the Command Center Newsletter.

November 7 marked one month since the Hamas terrorist attack which killed over 1,400 Israelis and kidnapped 240 people into the Gaza Strip. Since the attacks, antisemitic incidents have increased by 388% in the United States, according to the ADL. Similarly, FCAS’ Command Center has tracked over 80 million mentions in conversation of antisemitism and related topics in online conversations, which amounted to an over 1,800% increase when compared to the month before. The volume of discussion online this past month is more than all conversations around antisemitism between January 2022 and October 6 2023; 81.6 million mentions compared to 78.3 million mentions respectively. Discussions of antisemitism and related topics since October 7 have also amassed over 723 billion impressions, equal to the amount of impressions since May 2021. 

The average daily mentions of topics related to antisemitism have sustained throughout the last month. FCAS’ Command Center shows that the second most discussed topic around the broader issue of antisemitism during this time period was focused on the rise in antisemitism as a result of the war, specifically on college campuses in the United States, which have become hotbeds for antisemitism. Another common theme of conversation has been around the various protests that have taken place across the country and across the globe. These conversations explore the antisemitic rhetoric that is being shared in many pro-Palestinian protests through the chants and posters featured in these rallies.

FCAS’ Command Center has also been tracking how conversations have been evolving throughout the month. There have been three notable spikes and shifts in conversation, as demonstrated by the graph above.

The graph on the left shows the top emojis, hashtags, and phrases used since October 7. The graph on the right is a topic wheel that shows categories of online conversation since October 7.

The House of Representatives voted to censure Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.) for “promoting false narratives” around the October 7 Hamas terrorist attack and for “calling for the destruction of the State of Israel.” The censure came after Tlaib posted a video of pro-Palestine protestors chanting “from the river to the sea, Palestine will be free” and defending the phrase as “an aspirational call for freedom, human rights and peaceful coexistence.” 

 

The phrase calls for the establishment of a Palestinian state from the Jordan River to the Mediterranean Sea, essentially eliminating the state of Israel and its people. Talib's post faced severe bipartisan backlash from members of Congress and supporters of Israel on social media, who said her comments supported Hamas and promoted terrorism. 

Yet, despite the backlash, the explanations of the meaning of the phrase, and actions taken by members of Congress, many other social media users defended Tlaib, including Rep. Debbie Dingell (D-Mich.), who argued the phrase means “different things for different people.” 

The rising antisemitism in America since the October 7 massacre is resulting in violent acts against the Jewish community. Tragically, an elderly Jewish man, Paul Kessler, died after being struck in the head by a pro-Palestinian protester in Los Angeles. Social media users remembered his life and his lifelong activism. Unfortunately, this is not the sole incident of this nature that has taken place in Los Angeles recently. A man broke into the home of a Jewish family and threatened to kill them because they are Jewish. After he was arrested by the police he was filmed shouting “kill Jewish people and free Palestine.”

 

Antisemitic violence is also occurring across the globe. In Lyon, France, a Jewish woman was stabbed in her home, and the assailant spray-painted a swastika on her front door, according to police reports. In Montreal, multiple Jewish institutions have been targeted with firebombings since the Hamas terrorist attacks. 

 

Conversations online express horror at the drastic increase in violent incidents targeting the Jewish community.

 

Since October 7, many Americans in cities across the country have hung posters of the missing and captive Israelis taken hostage by Hamas to spread awareness and drive conversation. However, countless anti-Israel individuals have been caught on camera ripping these posters down. 

 

This week, multiple incidents in New York received significant online traction. A Brooklyn woman was filmed cutting down posters with a knife and threatening a Jewish man who confronted her. The woman pepper-sprayed and wielded her knife at him, and was later arrested and charged with assault. Another incident involved two women in New York City tearing down posters because they “could make people believe that Hamas is a terrorist organization.”

 

Conversation online involves widespread condemnation of these anti-Israel actors. Several anti-Israel accounts criticized the use of hostage posters as “propaganda.”

 

Thousands of pro-Palestinian protesters gathered in Washington, D.C. on Saturday to demand a ceasefire and call for the end of the Jewish state. Many chants during the rally contained antisemitic language, like “long live the Intifada” and “from the river to the sea.” One protest sign gained traction on social media because it equated the Star of David with a swastika. Attendees vandalized the White House gates and other historical monuments at the National Mall. 

 

Many social media users were quick to condemn the antisemitic slogans and signs at the march, and called out the disgraceful vandalism on such important monuments. Supporters of the pro-Palestinian cause celebrated the rally on social media, with some claiming that the rally was the largest anti-war protest in recent memory.

 

Brandeis University became the first private university in the country to de-charter their Students for Justice in Palestine campus chapter on Monday. University President Ron Liebowitz stated that although free speech is important on college campuses, calls for the destruction of Israel are not allowed under the Brandeis Code of Conduct. 

 

Supporters on social media applauded President Liebowitz for taking such a strong stance against Hamas apologists and encouraged other universities to follow suit. Several critics voiced their concerns that the university was suppressing free speech and overall campus opposition to Israel.

 

 

FCAS Founder Robert Kraft spoke on CNN This Morning, Monday to discuss the recent rise of antisemitism in America since the October 7 terrorist attacks and emphasized the need to unite against hate and the spreading misinformation online. Kraft highlighted the work of FCAS and the recent ad campaign to mobilize Americans to #StandUpToJewishHate and wear the Blue Square. To view the full interview, click here.

 

 

 

 

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