Israeli President Isaac Herzog issued a stern warning about the global spread of antisemitism in an exclusive interview with Fox News Digital at his Jerusalem residence on August 5, 2026.

"Antisemitism is an age-old plague which should be dealt with by everybody, by all societies. It's not an Israeli issue or only a Jewish issue," Herzog said. "It's a contamination of societies that starts with the Jew — never ends with them. It's the most dangerous phenomena that has to be dealt with aggressively, with no mercy, with full adjudication, and most importantly, with education."

Herzog's remarks come as newly released data from the New York City Police Department (NYPD) show that anti-Jewish incidents accounted for 56.9% of all confirmed hate crimes in the city since the start of 2026, despite Jewish New Yorkers comprising only about 10% of the population.

The president also referenced a recent stabbing in New York where a victim was targeted solely for dressing as an Orthodox Jew, emphasizing that such acts "cannot be accepted in New York, which is a city that is dear to our heart, dear to Israelis, and dear to me personally."

More broadly, a report released last month by the J7 Large Communities' Task Force Against Antisemitism found that 20 people were killed in antisemitic attacks across seven countries outside Israel in 2025. This marked the deadliest year for such violence in the Jewish diaspora since 1994. The report recorded over 23,000 antisemitic incidents across these countries last year, representing a 97% increase in violent attacks and a 136% rise in overall incidents compared with 2022.

"Of course, Israel is doing its best, but it has to be an effort with governments all over the world, law enforcement agencies, educational systems and Jewish communities, which we care about a lot," Herzog said, underscoring the need for a global response to confront antisemitism.

Additionally, a suspect was arrested in New York City after allegedly yelling "Allahu Akbar" and stabbing two men in an attack, highlighting ongoing concerns about hate crimes in the city.

Sources