Toronto (March 25, 2020) – A report released this week by Israel’s Ministry of Strategic Affairs underlines the global explosion of antisemitic blood libels that have accompanied the spread of coronavirus.

According to the report, the coronavirus epidemic has provided "fertile ground" for a new wave of antisemitic tropes and conspiracy theories accusing Jews of manufacturing and profiting from the global crisis.

Among the many examples cited, the report highlights an article in an Iranian publication that accuses Israel of engineering the coronavirus and actively trying to spread it throughout Iran. The report also notes a statement by a Turkish politician who claims the pandemic “serves Zionism's goals of decreasing the number of people and preventing it from increasing.”

This week, ABC news also reported the FBI was engaged in an active investigation after a plot by American white supremacist groups to infect members of the Jewish community with the coronavirus was revealed.

“There are people in both the far right and in the antisemitic BDS movement who are capitalizing on the coronavirus crisis by spreading hatred and lies about the Jewish community,” said Avi Benlolo, President and CEO of FSWC. “Unfortunately, we have seen before how antisemitism can flourish in moments of fear and uncertainty, and it is critical now more than ever to stand united in our effort to contain both the coronavirus and the epidemic of antisemitism.”