Scoop: State Dept. accuses top U.S. foes of weaponized antisemitism
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Illustration: Aïda Amer/Axios
A new State Department report accuses Iran, Russia and China of incorporating antisemitic narratives, threats and attacks into operations in both the physical and cyber domains.
Why it matters: The report, which was transmitted to Congress on May 26, is likely to increase pressure on the Trump administration to treat attacks on Jewish communities as part of a broader foreign interference challenge rather than isolated incidents of extremism.
- "Iran, Russia, China and affiliated non-state actors employed antisemitic symbols, graffiti, threats and online propaganda across physical and cyber domains," the report says.
- "The deliberate targeting of Jewish institutions, memorial sites and religious symbols is intended to provoke fear and outrage, polarize societies and erode public trust."
What they are saying: "We don't comment on congressional reports or correspondence," a State Department spokesperson said.
- Emails seeking comment from the Chinese and Russian embassies and the Iranian Interests Section in Washington were not returned.
Zoom out: Republican and Democratic lawmakers have expanded investigations, hearings and legislation aimed at countering foreign influence operations.
- With the rise of social media, there is growing concern that Russia, China and Iran are exploiting social divisions to weaken democratic societies from within.
- The report was required by Congress in the State Department's annual appropriations bill.
The intrigue: The report relies largely on public sources to support its claims, citing media reports in its footnotes.
- But the State Department did not publicly release the report, which some congressional officials expected.
Zoom in: The report alleges that Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps leveraged social media bots to amplify antisemitic narratives.
- It also details threats in the physical world, including an IRGC plot to assassinate a rabbi in Azerbaijan.
- On China, the report cites a post by China's consul general in Osaka, Japan, comparing Israel to Nazi Germany.
