Incidents of anti-Semitism are increasing. Individual Jews and Jewish communities are being targeted with violence. Anti-Semitism is also playing a more visible political role in many places around the world.

A parallel development is the growing global right and the role anti-Semitism plays in that growth. Right-wing governments are in power in Russia, Turkey, India, Israel, Hungary, Poland, the United States, and now Great Britain.

Most recently, Jeremy Corbyn and the English Labor Party were defeated by Boris Johnson and the Conservative Party in a national election. Corbyn and the Labor Party were accused of anti-Semitism, and this seems to have played a significant role in the Conservative Party’s victory. It’s important to note that Corbyn’s politics differ significantly from Boris Johnson’s. Corbyn identifies as a Democratic Socialist.

I was in England a week before the British election. When I got off the plane I was almost immediately confronted by newspaper headlines showing a large photo of England’s chief orthodox rabbi attacking Corbyn for anti-Semitism and for “making Britain unsafe for Jews.”

Some Corbyn supporters are saying that the accusations were intended to demonize Corbyn and Labor in order to defeat them and their more radical policies. At the same time, some Corbyn supporters thought there actually was a problem with anti-Semitism in the Labor Party, although nothing like the anti-Semitism that has existed historically in the Conservative Party.

In the end, the allegations of anti-Semitism had a big effect on both Jews and Gentiles and played a role in the election. The attacks on Corbyn have also circulated in Jewish circles in the United States, and the British election is being used to discourage people from supporting U.S. presidential candidates Elizabeth Warren and Bernie Sanders and more radical solutions to today’s problems.

There has been a big move toward the right in regard to Jewish and Israel-related issues. The Trump administration moved the U.S. Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, pulled out of the Iran nuclear deal, and recognized Israeli sovereignty over the Golan Heights. President Trump also issued an executive order targeting anti-Semitic and anti-Israel speech on college campuses. The order is ambiguous as to whether Jews are a distinct nationality or a “minority race.” (It’s important to note that Jews are not a race.)

All the above has been done in the name of being pro-Israel and pro-Jewish. But instead of actually supporting Israel, these policies, which are also supported by right-wing leaders in Israel, have led to greater isolation for Israel. They have also increased the racist targeting of Palestinians and brought more division on college campuses in discussions about the Israel/Palestinian conflict. The policies strengthen Israel’s role as oppressor and middle agent and make it more visible. They also divert attention away from racism, global economic disparities, and climate change. We can remember that anti-Semitism is always used to distract attention from a country’s major problems.

It needs to be said that Israel has become a country dominated by the right. In recent years Israel has also been supported by right-wing populist governments around the world.

There are hopeful developments. For example, in Israel there is the growing strength of the Arab List, a political alliance of the main Arab-majority political parties. In the United States, progressives increasingly understand that anti-Semitism needs to be faced and openly addressed.

There is much here to face and work on. Discharge, discharge, discharge! What early distresses do we need to face? What makes them hard to face? What are the challenges ahead of us? How do we challenge our isolation from each other during these difficult times? How do we communicate what we know from RC? We have much information, including in the pamphlet Anti-Semitism: Why Is It Everyone’s Concern? about the historical and present role of anti-Semitism. What stands need to be taken in the wide world by Jews and allies?