Study: Conspiracy theories are 'bridge' Between Jew-hatred, anti-Israel beliefs

A new study published in American Psychologist finds a "substantial" Relationship between antisemitism and hostility toward Israel, with researchers presenting empirical evidence that the two are closely connected.

The research analyzed three preregistered surveys of more than 1,100 U.S. Adults conducted between November 2023 and June 2024. Antisemitism not only correlated with anti-Israel attitudes but also predicted them over time, according to the findings. Anti-Israel and anti-Zionist conspiracy theories served as a key link between the two.

Kent Harber, a psychology professor at Rutgers University-Newark and one of the study's four co-authors, said the research was designed to address "very adamant, strong voices" Claiming little to no connection between anti-Jewish and anti-Israel sentiments. "For those who are saying there is no connection, that those who are claiming that there is a connection are only making the claim as a ruse to silence Israel's critics, those assertions are not supported by our research," Harber said.

While previous research identified correlation between antisemitism and anti-Israel attitudes, Harber said this study is the first to show that antisemitism "predicts anti-Israelism at a future time and that that connection is mediated by conspiracy beliefs."

Researchers measured endorsement of classic antisemitic stereotypes, anti-Israel attitudes including the belief that Israel is primarily responsible for Middle East problems, and conspiracy theories involving Jews, Israel and Zionism. These included claims that "Israel instituted COVID-19 policies designed to harm Palestinians" And that "pro-Israel Jews wield undue power in government, finance and the media to groom attitudes and foist policies favorable to Israel."

The study identified anti-Israel and anti-Zionist conspiracy theories as the "bridge" Between antisemitism and hostility toward Israel. "This animosity toward Jews connects to these fears and beliefs about all the sinister ways that Israel could be behaving," Harber said. "This readiness to implicate Jews in the most exotic kinds of conspiracies has been an endemic quality of antisemitism."

The researchers found partisan differences, with Republicans more likely to endorse traditional antisemitic stereotypes and Democrats more likely to express anti-Israel attitudes and endorse anti-Israel or anti-Zionist conspiracy theories.

The authors noted that criticism of Israel is not inherently antisemitic, stating that "even inaccurate and unfair criticisms of Israel can reflect ignorance." Harber said: "People can be critical of Israel for all kinds of reasons. They can be without any taint of antisemitism. But a meaningful quantum of anti-Israel sentiment seems to be informed by old-time antisemitism."

The study did not establish causation. "We cannot confidently declare that antisemitism causes anti-Israelism, or that anti-Israelism causes antisemitism, or something else causes both to arise," Harber said. "We can just say the two are very strongly associated."