Watchdog tracks over 1,300 posts blaming Jews, Israel for France riots
According to the study, the posts included conspiracy theories alongside calls for physical violence, expulsion, and extermination against Jews.
A recent wave of unrest in France was marred by antisemitic rhetoric and conspiracy theories on social media, according to a report released by the Combat Antisemitism Movement (CAM). The CAM's Antisemitism Research Center (ARC) analyzed posts on X (formerly Twitter) from October 16 to 18 and found 1,384 messages blaming Israel, Mossad, or Jews for the country's recent riots. These posts often included calls for violence, expulsion, and extermination.
The report highlighted how prominent accounts on X amplified the antisemitic content, which included claims that Mossad was "burning France" and described the riots as a "civil war orchestrated by Jewish elites." Some accounts even linked French President Emmanuel Macron to the Rothschild family, while far-right users urged followers to "don't let them do it to America."
This is the fourth time in less than three months that CAM has documented such a pattern of antisemitic conspiracy theories spreading in response to major news events.
The study also revealed that some verified X accounts were spreading the most extreme messages, receiving millions of views and benefiting from the platform's amplification mechanisms. CAM CEO Sacha Roytman warned of the dangerous connection between online incitement and physical violence, emphasizing that hatred of Jews and Israel is being used as an automatic explanation for every national crisis.
Roytman called on French authorities and social media companies to take immediate action against the violence and incitement, warning that lives could be lost if the issue is not addressed.
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