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‘To keep the spirit of democracy, we need to fight antisemitism’

“It’s amazing to see the Jewish people all over the world stand for Israel," Jewish Agency head Doron Almog tells JNS.

Doron Almog attends an Internal Affairs committee meeting at the Knesset on Nov. 6, 2013. Photo by Flash 90.
Doron Almog attends an Internal Affairs committee meeting at the Knesset on Nov. 6, 2013. Photo by Flash 90.

“There is antisemitism all over the world, at both low and high levels. When we, the State of Israel, are targeted by our enemies in a surprise attack, a whirlwind of antisemitism is unleashed,” Israel Defense Forces Maj. Gen. (res.) Doron Almog, the chairman of the Jewish Agency, told JNS on Tuesday at the Yael Foundation conference on education in Limassol. 

A periodic report shared with Israeli President Isaac Herzog by the Jewish Agency and the World Zionist Organization noted a rise of 300% to 400% in antisemitism since Oct. 7, 2023. The increase is comparable to the wave of antisemitism Jewish communities experienced after the Yom Kippur war, when Egypt and Syria launched a surprise attack on Israel. 

“This is the biggest crisis experienced by the Jewish people since the Second World War,” said Almog.

“If we want to keep the spirit of democracy, we need to fight antisemitism. Human rights are Jewish rights. We need to take action with respect to education and law enforcement. These two steps are necessary to guarantee a better world,” he continued.

“I am very happy that the Trump administration decided to take some educational and law enforcement measures to combat antisemitism,” he added. 

To combat the rise of antisemitism, Almog said, the agency began by strengthening delegations of emissaries, sending more of them all over the world and by empowering the existing partnerships between Israel and Jewish communities abroad. 

“We have partnerships between overseas Jewish communities and Israeli communities. For instance, before the war, Chicago supported Kiryat Gat. After the war, they began supporting Kibbutz Nir Oz as well,” he said.

“We doubled those partnerships between Jewish communities overseas and Israeli kibbutzim in the south and the north,” he added. 

The organization also supports minorities such as Druze communities in Israel affected by the war. In late July, a Hezbollah missile hit the Golan Druze town of Majdal Shams, killing 12 children and wounding over 40 people.

“We have a terror victims’ fund. It gives every victim of terror 4,000 shekels [$1,122] immediately and 25,000 shekels [$7,015] over the course of three years, as well as mental support and mentoring. We did it also for the Druze minority in Israel,” he said. 

“Before the war, our fund, which started operating in 2002 during the Second Intifada, supported on average 200 beneficiaries annually. Since Oct. 7, it has jumped to more than 10,000 victims of terror. We continue supporting them,” he added. 

Almog also noted that the Jewish Agency had established new foundations, including Atzmaimnikim with 100 million shekels [$28.1 million] to support IDF reservists. The Jewish Agency also helps small businesses through low-interest loans and grants. It was the first, Almog said, to assist Israeli municipalities after the war started. 

“I was the first to call mayors and municipalities of Israel’s north and south and give them immediately 10 million shekels [$2.8 million], within 24 hours, because the mayors and the heads of regional municipalities were the ones to take care of the population, the wounded and those who were in shock,” he said. 

“We will continue doing it with all our power. It’s about mutual responsibility and unconditional love for the Jewish people and State of Israel, and the organization I’m heading is guided by these ideas to continue building the State of Israel and strengthening the Jewish people,” he added. 

Almog praised the some 35,000 immigrants who arrived to Israel after Oct. 7, many as soldiers; more than 100 new immigrants fell in battle. 

“It’s amazing to see the Jewish people all over the world stand for Israel. Donations reached more than $1 billion. Jewish communities stood tall for Israel with all their heart and resources,” said Almog.

“In this respect, what is done here is the continuation of this spirit. Understanding the moment, the tragedies and that we must do more to unify our forces and build Israel as an exemplary society,” he added.

From Oct. 7, 2023, to December 2024, a total of 22,029 Russians, 1,203 Ukrainians, 880 Belarussians,  2,379 French, 755 British, 198 Germans, 3,733 Americans, 435 Canadians, 531 Argentinians, 282 Brazilians and 206 Australians immigrated to Israel. 

“It’s an individual decision, a family decision and a community decision. The Jewish people are united by the commitment of the community and values. I am expecting that many will come, I believe one million will immigrate over the coming 10 years,” he said.

“Jews understand the importance of the State of Israel, and every Jew understands the State of Israel is a guarantee. If there was no state, Jews all over the world would be more subject to brutal antisemitism,” he continued.

“We must gather more forces and energy to stand together, fight together and continue building the only Jewish state in the world,” he concluded.

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