The government in Tehran understands that many people are susceptible to the absurd belief that Israel is at the root of the world’s problems. With this in mind, the Islamic Republic has played an active role in the explosion of online anti-Semitism since October 7. Emily Blout writes:
Iran’s leaders know the power of prejudice and likely see the war as an opportunity to color the way people around the world see the conflict, and critically, the way they see Iran. That’s why we shouldn’t pass off Iran’s anti-Semitic social- and traditional-media activities solely as an expression of Jew hatred or a denial of Israel’s right to exist. We need to look deeper and see how Tehran uses anti-Semitism to advance its strategic interests.
The Iranian supreme leader Ali Khamenei . . . has, for decades, used thinly veiled anti-Semitic tropes to appeal to the so-called “Arab Street” and bridge the historical and religious divides between Arabs and Persians, Sunnis and Shiites, in a larger bid to establish Iran’s predominance in the Middle East and leadership of the greater Muslim world.
And Iran isn’t the only one playing this game:
There are signs that China is using social media in a similar way: the algorithms of TikTok, for instance, which is used by 67 percent of American teens, have created echo chambers of hate and put fabricated accounts of Israeli atrocities into heavy circulation. . . . Chinese media outlets have been trafficking in anti-Semitism for years now, a practice that has drawn scrutiny during the current war. Indeed, Beijing may aim to bridge the culture gap with Arab populations and generate positive public opinion by expressing unwavering support for Palestinians and demonizing Jews.
Read more on Liberal Patriot: https://www.liberalpatriot.com/p/the-disturbing-rise-of-strategic