ADL Head Warns Extremism on Both Sides Fueling Antisemitism Rise

Conference in Tempe to explore roots of hatred against Jews and strategies to combat it

Published on Feb. 26, 2026

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Jonathan Greenblatt, CEO of the Anti-Defamation League, says an alarming rise in antisemitism across the United States is being fueled by extremism on both the political right and the left. Greenblatt will be speaking at a conference in Tempe, Arizona on February 27th that aims to understand the roots of antisemitism and develop strategies to combat hatred against Jews.

Why it matters

Antisemitism has been spreading as cynicism and distrust have led to the mainstreaming of conspiracy theories that scapegoat Jews. Social media has also served as a "super-spreader" of Jewish hatred, reaching everywhere including Arizona. The ADL documented over 120 incidents of antisemitism in Arizona in 2024, including harassment, vandalism, and assaults.

The details

Greenblatt says extremists have been emboldened on both the far right and far left, leading to a polarized society where intolerance is spreading. Antisemitic incidents have included the 2025 fatal shooting of two Israeli embassy staffers in Washington D.C., a fatal firebombing of a pro-Israel rally in Colorado, and a mass shooting at a Hanukkah celebration in Sydney that killed 15 people. Greenblatt also expressed alarm at incidents of immigration enforcement agents targeting people based on appearance as part of the Trump administration's mass deportation campaign.

  • The ADL documented 122 incidents of antisemitism in Arizona in 2024.
  • Antisemitism incidents in Arizona skyrocketed from 53 in 2022 to 163 in 2023 before dropping to 122 in 2022.
  • The conference in Tempe will take place on February 27, 2026.

The players

Jonathan Greenblatt

The CEO of the Anti-Defamation League who will be speaking at the conference in Tempe.

Michael Crow

The President of Arizona State University, which is hosting the conference in collaboration with the Anti-Defamation League.

Kati Hobbs

The Governor of Arizona who is scheduled to speak at the conference.

Kate Gallego

The Mayor of Phoenix who is scheduled to speak at the conference.

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What they’re saying

“We're living in a polarized society, as we all know, where extremists have been emboldened. You see it on the far right, you see it in the far left, for different reasons due to our sort of political system.”

— Jonathan Greenblatt, CEO, Anti-Defamation League (azcentral.com)

“What we need to acknowledge is that it happens on both sides. I mean, neither end of the political spectrum is exempt from intolerance.”

— Jonathan Greenblatt, CEO, Anti-Defamation League (azcentral.com)

What’s next

The conference in Tempe will explore legal strategies, the role of education, and ways to build bridges to combat antisemitism and hatred.

The takeaway

This rise in antisemitism, fueled by extremism on both the political right and left, highlights the need for a comprehensive, bipartisan approach to addressing intolerance and scapegoating in our polarized society.