53 Fall 2026 criticize the antisemitism of the Palestinian Authority and some other Arab regimes — evidently accommodating the desire of U.S. policymakers to maintain closer relations with them — likewise has weakened the effectiveness of the envoy. An unexpected consequence of the Lantos initiative is that other countries were inspired by the American example to name antisemitism envoys of their own. As of March 2026, 30 countries, as well as the European Union and the Organization of American States, each have a special envoy or coordinator to combat antisemitism. On the other hand, in February 2026 Canada abolished the post of antisemitism envoy as a standalone position. Both the work of the antisemitism envoy and that of Canada’s Special Representative on Combatting Islamophobia were absorbed by a new advisory council focusing more broadly on “rights, equality and inclusion,” a reflection of the ideological orientation of the country’s new prime minister.30 The heightened international interest in combating antisemitism now has its naysayers, too. Admirers of the October 7 invasion contend that calling for the mass murder of Israeli Jews is not antisemitic.31 Some supporters of the Palestinian Arab cause fear that focusing on antisemitism could undermine prospects for Palestinian statehood (by making the creation of a state conditional on ending the Palestinian Authority’s antisemitism). And critics of Israel who compare it to Nazi Germany contend that such analogies should not be regarded as antisemitic. These recent twists and turns in public discourse ensure that the envoys for combating antisemitism will have their work cut out for them in the years ahead.n Dr. Rafael Medoff is founding director of the David S. Wyman Institute for Holocaust Studies, and author of more than twenty books about the Holocaust, Zionism, and American Jewish history. 30. Jonathan Rothman, “Antisemitism and Islamophobia special envoys role to be axed, folded into new advisory council on equality and inclusion” (Feb. 4, 2026), available at https://thecjn.ca/news/antisemitism-and-islamophobia-specialenvoys-role-to-be-axed-folded-into-new-advisory-council-on-equality-and-inclusion/ 31. In a little-noticed tweet, President Biden cited “celebrating the 10/7 attack” as an example of recent “horrific acts of Antisemitism.” President Biden Archived (@POTUS46Archive), X (June 14, 2024), available at https://x.com/ POTUS46Archive/status/1801609649428349193. In July 2024, Vice President Kamala Harris wrote that the daubing of the words “Genocide” and “Jews hate Zionism” near the offices of a Jewish organization, and a Hamas symbol and “Jews4Palestine” on a nearby synagogue, constituted “antisemitism.” See Ron Kampeas, “Red Triangle, Symbol Associated with Hamas, Is Painted on Pittsburgh Synagogue Building” (July 29, 2024), available at https://www.jta. org/2024/07/29/united-states/red-triangle-symbol-associated-with-hamas-is-painted-on-pittsburgh-synagogue-building
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