READ CAREFULLY: AI Overview The surge in global antisemitism following the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack on Israel has functioned as a "cause-effect-cause" cycle: it was triggered by Middle East conflict, resulted in the exposure of hidden anti-Jewish sentiment, and is now acting as a catalyst for a unprecedented, proactive, and mobilized response from Jews and their allies. Here is a breakdown of the causal chain: 1. Cause: The Middle East Conflict (October 7, 2023–Present) The Spark: The Hamas attack and subsequent Israel-Hamas war acted as a direct catalyst, causing global antisemitic incidents to surge by over 1,000% in some areas in the immediate aftermath. The Mechanism: Regional conflict was used to justify, and often disguise, attacks on Jews worldwide. This included violence against individuals, harassment on campuses, and attacks on synagogues, which spiked 235% in the final months of 2023. Contextual Shift: The conflict acted as a "wildfire," breaking previous trends by causing antisemitism to become more normalized in mainstream discourse and on social media, often blurring the lines between legitimate criticism of Israel and blatant anti-Jewish hatred. 2. Effect: Exposure of What Was Hidden (The "Masks Off" Moment) Normalization of Hate: The surge exposed a deep, often "hidden" level of antisemitism that was previously considered taboo or latent in Western society, including within academia and progressive movements. Redefining "Allies": Many Jewish communities expressed shock at the rapid spread of these sentiments and the silence or participation of previous allies. The "New" Antisemitism: The conflict served to mask traditional anti-Jewish tropes as anti-Zionism, with studies showing 96.4% of far-left incidents in 2024 were linked to this conflation. Unveiling Danger: It revealed that what often starts as anti-Israel rhetoric quickly turns into direct threats against Jewish students and community members, as seen on college campuses. 3. Final Cause: Mobilization Against Antisemites (The Catalyst for Action) Proactive Defense: This explosion of hate has forced a shift from passive, reactive community safety to proactive, high-level mobilization. Building Alliances: The crisis has sparked a new era of coalition-building, where Jewish organizations are reaching out to religious, ethnic, and civic leaders to form alliances to fight the rise of hatred. Legislative and Institutional Action: Governments and institutions are acting to implement strategies to counter antisemitism, including the U.S. National Strategy and the adoption of the IHRA definition on campuses and in legal settings. Empowerment and Visibility: Instead of hiding their identity, many in the Jewish community and their allies are now mobilizing through increased security, legal action against institutions failing to protect students, and public campaigns to educate and challenge antisemitic narratives. This cycle demonstrates that the overt nature of modern antisemitism has removed the "hidden" element, acting as a catalyst for a more robust and organized fight against it.