A Rise In Antisemitism and Islamophobia

As the conflict between Israel and Hamas grows worse, there has been arise in incidents of Antisemitism and Islamophobia in the U.S. and around the world.

One can deplore Hamas's terrorist attacks against innocent Israelis while at the same time opposing the Netanyahu government's policies towards the West Bank and Gaza.

According to many articles, Netanyahu and his right wing allies have for years propped up Hamas to divide power between Gaza and the West Bank to prevent Palestinians from uniting and establishing a Palestinian state. Hamas meanwhile is an extremist group that suppresses dissent in Gaza, enforces anti-gay policies, and forces women to conform to restrictive gender roles.

According to Reuters (https://www.reuters.com/world/us/us-antisemitic-incidents-up-about-400-…), there has been a 388% rise in antisemitic incidents in the U.S. between October 7 and October 23 over the prior year. The Anti-Defamation League Center on Extremism said preliminary data showed 312 reported U.S. antisemitic incidents from October 7 to October 23, including harassment, vandalism and assault.

According to ABC Eye Witness News (https://abc7.com/israel-hamas-conflict-muslim-americans-bullying/140052…), the California Counsel on American Islamic Relations, also known as CAIR, has recorded almost 800 incidents of incidents targeting Muslims, Palestinians and Arabs across the U.S. over the last three and half weeks. CAIR also reported that 46% of Muslim American students between the ages of 11 and 18 years old reported being bullied because of their identity.