American Jewish Committee

You’ve probably seen it online: “Zio.” It’s not slang and it’s not harmless. It’s an antisemitic slur popularized by David Duke, a former Grand Wizard of the KKK and used to target Jews while evading content moderation. As Election Day approaches, expect to see more of it. Election seasons fuel conspiracy theories, many of which recycle centuries-old antisemitic tropes about Jewish power and control. @AlyssaRosenheck breaks down how “Zio” repackages those conspiracies as political critique and why recognizing coded language matters. Stopping antisemitism starts with understanding how it hides.

Three things you need to know about Israeli elections: (SPOILER ALERT) - Democracy is alive and well - The road to a government is complex - Outside threats to Israel remain central Watch for AJC Jerusalem Director Avital Leibovich's take:

Eight years ago, a far-right terrorist murdered eleven Jews during a Shabbat service at the Tree of Life synagogue in Pittsburgh in the deadliest antisemitic attack in U.S. history. We will never forget the innocent souls taken. May their memories be a blessing.

We are grateful to Pontifex Leo XIV for welcoming AJC CEO @TedDeutch, President Bobby Lapin, and Director of Interreligious Affairs Rabbi Noam Marans, alongside dozens of AJC leaders, to the Vatican. During the papal audience, the delegation presented the Pope with artwork celebrating the historic bond between the Jewish people and the Catholic Church, including the landmark 1965 Nostra Aetate declaration, which transformed Catholic-Jewish relations. As a longtime leader in Catholic-Jewish relations, AJC is proud to continue building understanding and strengthening ties between our communities. We thank Pope Leo for his friendship and support for Jewish communities around the world, and wish him a speedy recovery and good health.

Since its founding, Hezbollah has enjoyed the support of large parts of Lebanon's Shia Muslim community, roughly a third of the country's population. Now, according to a recent survey from Statistics Lebanon Ltd., that support is reportedly beginning to wane. According to the survey, more Lebanese Shia than ever want Hezbollah disarmed, favor some form of agreement with Israel, and, critically, identify more strongly as Lebanese than along sectarian or party lines. Swipe to learn more.

@JFederations, @ADL_national, @AJC.Global, @Conferenceofpresidents and @PrizmahCJDS are appalled that a planned professional development trip of early childhood educators affiliated with Jewish institutions to the Reggio Children, Loris Malaguzzi International Center in Reggio Emilia, Italy was met with political litmus tests and antisemitic rhetoric. Click the link in our bio for our full statement.

When Jewish communities are under threat, democracy is under threat, too. Across Europe, antisemitism, political extremism, and Iran’s proxy networks are converging. @ansoseb, AJC’s Vice President of Europe, explains what’s happening and how AJC is responding: pushing for the EU to list Iran’s IRGC as a terrorist organization, tackling antisemitism in France, protecting historical truth in Poland, and warning about the dangers posed by Germany’s far-right AfD.

Speaking at the October 7 commemoration in Dublin, Ireland, AJC’s Dr. Alexandra Herzog reflected on her family’s deep Irish roots and warned that antisemitism is not only a danger to Jews, but a warning sign for democracy itself. Political disagreement must never become permission to demonize a people. We must confront hatred and live openly and proudly as Jews. We will remember. We will live. We will celebrate. We will continue to choose life.

AJC celebrates today’s historic inauguration of Colombia’s embassy in Jerusalem, making Colombia the 10th country to establish its diplomatic mission in Israel’s capital. The inauguration comes during Colombian Foreign Minister Omar Bula’s visit to Israel. We commend President Abelardo de la Espriella for his leadership in restoring and strengthening Colombia-Israel ties, including the recent reinstatement of the bilateral free trade agreement. This important step reflects a renewed commitment to strengthening ties between Colombia and Israel. We encourage other countries to follow Colombia’s lead and look forward to an even stronger Colombia-Israel partnership in the years ahead.

The region is under strain, but the work of peace-building continues. Despite tensions, the Abraham Accords and Israel’s peace treaties with Jordan and Egypt have endured. Countries that have ties with Israel still see the value in economic partnerships, practical cooperation, and open channels of communication. Anne Dreazen, Vice President of AJC’s Center for a New Middle East, explains how AJC is sustaining those relationships: through its presence in Abu Dhabi, its programs bringing Arab and Israeli business leaders together, and its fellowship connecting emerging leaders from Israel and Morocco.

Antisemitism is not only a threat to Jews. It can be used to divide societies, manipulate democratic debate, and weaken institutions. When governments understand how antisemitism operates, they are better equipped to protect society as a whole. At the Warsaw Human Dimension Conference, AJC’s Director of Antisemitism Policy Holly Huffnagle challenged OSCE members to take the “Warsaw Test” by answering five critical questions: - Who in your government sees the whole picture, connecting antisemitic threats with outside actors? - Could your government detect if a foreign actor were artificially shaping domestic debate? - Can your citizens tell whether online influence is authentic or where it comes from? - Are you prepared for AI-enabled influence operations? - Do you treat rising antisemitism as a threat to Jews alone, or a warning about the security of your democracy? Preventing antisemitism is an investment in national security, democratic resilience, and social cohesion—and helps make Europe safer for everyone.

As Jewish Americans gather to observe Yom Kippur, they must be able to worship without fear. I’m grateful so many Jewish organizations are joining me in urging Congress to pass the Right to Worship Act.

Asia is changing and the implications for Israel are significant. A growing anti-Israel climate is making it harder for governments and institutions across the region to engage openly with Israel, even when shared interests remain strong. Shira Loewenberg, Director of AJC’s Asia Pacific Institute, explains how AJC is working across the region to protect and strengthen the partnerships that matter.