Why the World Turns Against Israel: Exposing the Roots of Antisemitism
By Erika Grey
The Twist News
I am honored to have on the broadcast today Rabbi Dr. Elie Abadie, one of the great Jewish sages of our time, to discuss the geopolitical, historical, and spiritual dimensions of antisemitism.
Transatlantic Realities: Europe vs. The United States
Erika Grey:
You are actually the second guest during this series who has noted the deep history within the European Union and how that history still carries over to the Jewish people today. You don't view the European Union merely in its present state—you view it through their historical persecution of the Jews, which continues today.
Rabbi Dr. Elie Abadie:
Yeah, absolutely. You cannot detach our present without knowing about the past and the baggage that the past carries until today. We don't live in a vacuum. So no question that Europe still carries that baggage and carries that history with them when it comes to relevancy and antisemitism. I don't know how much you can change from that.
Erika Grey:
Would you say antisemitism is worse in Europe or in the United States?
Rabbi Dr. Elie Abadie:
No, it's definitely worse in Europe. But I'm afraid that we are trying to catch up here in the United States. A major factor is that the United States government is against antisemitism and has made strong pronouncements and established commissions against antisemitism. When the population hears their leader against or pro something, the population tends to follow.
The European leaders have not said or done much against antisemitism, and the population follows suit. We saw this in the U.S. when leadership hesitated to speak out strongly—horrible protests erupted across university campuses, maligning Israel and attacking Jewish students. Conversely, when leadership actively condemns it and the Department of Justice holds institutions accountable, the population follows. How many of those protests are happening now compared to before? Very few.
That is what is happening in Europe. When you have leaders like Sánchez in Spain spewing pure hate against Jews and Israel, the population feels free and encouraged to demonstrate against Israel and attack Jewish institutions. When Macron in France gives lip service without substantial action, people feel they have a license to attack Jews and demonize Israel because the leadership permits it.
The Psychological & Historical Evolution of Antisemitism
Erika Grey:
What is the reason for this antisemitism? As a Gentile, I see that there is nothing like it—it is everywhere and deeply geopolitical. People have accepted this treatment of Israel as a "substandard" nation or a sub-nation. I've always found it shocking that European officials like Josep Borrell talk about "granting" Israel the right to defend itself—a right that every sovereign nation inherently possesses. Why is this hostility so widespread, and what is the underlying reason for it throughout history?
Rabbi Dr. Elie Abadie:
First, the psychological reason: there is no rational reason. Antisemitism is so deeply embedded in civilization that no matter what Jews do or don't do, people rise against them.
Throughout history, the face of antisemitism has constantly mutated:
The Theological Accusation: 2,000 years ago, it began with the false accusation of deocide and the rejection of Jesus.
Economic Scapegoating: As Jewish communities flourished in places like Spain and contributed significantly to civilization, jealousy arose, giving birth to tropes about controlling wealth and banking.
The "No Country" Era: In the 17th, 18th, and 19th centuries, the trope became: "Jews have no country; go back to your country."
Racial & Genetic Tropes: In the 20th century, Hitler framed antisemitism around race and genetics.
Anti-Zionism Today: Once Jews returned to their ancestral homeland, the argument flipped: "Now we want you out of there because that is not your land."
So from deocide to economic prosperity, to race, to not having a country, to having a country—the shifting reasons prove that in reality, there is no logical reason.
The Spiritual Root: Jealousy and Resilience
Rabbi Dr. Elie Abadie:
Spiritually, consider an analogy in a family: when a father gives the firstborn special privileges, the rest of the brothers become jealous. As long as the older brother is strong, they respect it; the moment he is distracted, the younger brothers turn on him, wanting that status for themselves.
There is deep-seated jealousy—jealousy of being called the "chosen people," and jealousy of Israel's unprecedented success. In less than 80 years, Israel became a super-nation, excelling across every field of human endeavor. That success breeds subconscious jealousy, and to perpetuate that animosity, critics resort to falsehoods, fake news, and incitement.
Erika Grey:
The atrocities of October 7th were mind-boggling in their level of evil, yet immediately afterward, we saw a global wave of anti-Israel sentiment while the real stories were buried. Your people have suffered greatly. As someone who personally experienced fleeing homelands as a child, how do you reflect on this suffering?
Rabbi Dr. Elie Abadie:
The Jewish people have suffered for a long time, but we do not live on our suffering. We look ahead. We have faith in God and in the covenant made with our forefathers. We don't dwell on the negative; that faith gives us our resilience to keep living, thriving, developing, and contributing to the world.
Unlike those who dwell in past grievances and seek to destroy their neighbors, Israel focuses on building. Look at Gaza: in 2005, Israel completely withdrew, dismantling over 20 synagogues, moving cemeteries, and leaving agricultural infrastructure intact for the local economy. Instead of building a Dubai or a French Riviera with the billions poured in by international donors, Hamas turned Gaza into an oppressive, genocidal regime—using civilians as human shields and hiding weapons in hospitals, mosques, and schools.
The Reality of the Two-State Framework
Erika Grey:
There are so many layers to this revictimization in public opinion. It takes incredible strength and resilience to face this.
Rabbi Dr. Elie Abadie:
Our faith tells us that we have a future and that Israel has true friends whose loyalty is genuine.
However, the Gaza experiment demonstrated that a two-state solution is non-viable because the opposing leadership does not want two states—they want total control and the elimination of Israel.
Despite this, we continue living and thriving. No other nation in history has been exiled for over 2,000 years, returned to its ancestral land, re-established sovereignty, and grown into one of the most powerful nations in the world.
Erika Grey:
I learned a great deal during this interview, and I hope you did as well. Be sure to subscribe for more geopolitical analysis, and I'm Erika Grey—we'll see you in the next report.
0 Comments