Diaspora Jews worry election results will worsen global anti-Semitism

Jewish leaders across three continents say they are watching the upcoming Israeli election with anxiety, fearing the outcome will intensify the connection between Israeli politics and Jewish life abroad. They report that media and political rhetoric are increasingly conflating the Israeli government with Jews worldwide, leaving diaspora communities to absorb the fallout of decisions they did not make.

Robert Hercz, head of B'nai B'rith Norway, described his fear of how the election will affect Jewry globally. He noted that European politicians often use Israel as a focal point to appeal to their voter bases. Hercz argued that if Benjamin Netanyahu remains in office, relations between Norway and Israel are unlikely to improve. He believes the Norwegian government is too invested in anti-Netanyahu rhetoric to shift its policy until he leaves office.

In the United States, Mark Freedman, a 43-year veteran of Jewish communal work, said the political ground has shifted. He pointed to a renewed form of anti-Semitism that treats North American Jews as collectively responsible for Israeli actions. Freedman cited local municipal resolutions criticizing Israel as examples of how domestic Israeli politics are now being felt at the community level. He added that a new government aligned with traditional values could lead to an incremental positive shift in American perceptions.

Arielle Shturman Waiss, a physician in Mexico City, described Netanyahu’s international image as a permanent flashpoint. She argued that his potential re-election imposes a presumption of consensus on diaspora Jews, assuming they endorse his leadership style by choice. Shturman Waiss stressed that a parliamentary vote is not a mandate over the identity of an entire people, yet the ability to distinguish between Israeli state policy and Jewish identity continues to erode in public debate.

Deborah Apeloig, founder of Tikun Talks in Venezuela, said the intensity of this connection increased after October 8, 2023. She noted that events in Israel quickly turn into judgments about Jews everywhere, often through simplified social media narratives. Apeloig said she receives messages from both supportive non-Jews and critics who use inflammatory statements by Israeli figures to condemn the diaspora. She concluded that while the decision belongs to Israeli citizens, its impact reaches far beyond the country's borders.