Introducing Our Report on the Blood Libel: A Historical Legacy and Its Modern-Day Manifestations
At We Believe in Israel (WBII), we have long understood the corrosive and persistent nature of antisemitism in all its forms. While it takes many guises, the blood libel remains one of the most insidious and enduring. It is a myth that has been used for centuries to demonise Jews, stoke hatred, and justify violence against them. Today, in the age of social media and political warfare, this ancient lie has found new life, evolving into a tool to delegitimise the state of Israel and paint its people as monstrous villains. This is the subject of our latest report, The Blood Libel: A Historical Legacy and Its Modern-Day Manifestations.
The blood libel originated in medieval Europe, with horrific accusations that Jews killed Christian children to use their blood in religious rituals. These allegations, wholly unfounded, were weaponised to incite violence, plunder Jewish communities, and justify their expulsion from various European states. The myth became not just a weapon of choice for antisemitic mobs but also for powerful institutions like the Church, which, far from denouncing these lies, perpetuated them. By canonising the “martyr” Simon of Trent, the Church itself endorsed the blood libel, embedding it into the cultural consciousness for centuries.
In our report, we highlight the far-reaching consequences of this toxic narrative, one that has survived to this day. Yet what is perhaps more alarming now is how these accusations have evolved in the 21st century. What was once a claim of Jewish ritual murder has morphed into accusations against the state of Israel—accusations that Israeli soldiers harvest organs, deliberately target children, or engage in other monstrous acts. These modern versions of the blood libel, often propagated through state-run media in parts of the Arab world, echo the same vicious stereotypes and tropes that once fuelled violent pogroms across Europe. Only now, the weapon is not just the mob with torches but the instantaneous reach of social media, where these baseless accusations can spread far and wide, poisoning minds and galvanising violence.
This resurgence is not just a matter of historical interest; it is an urgent issue. The myths that have always justified hatred against Jews and Israel are being peddled once again in public discourse, and the consequences are immediate and deadly. What’s more, they are increasingly being presented as a legitimate form of political critique, which makes them all the more dangerous. We have witnessed how such rhetoric has emboldened violent attacks on Jews and Israelis alike, from the streets of Europe to the Middle East. The blood libel, once confined to the annals of history, is now actively shaping modern geopolitics.
This report seeks to uncover the roots of these myths, expose their continuing spread, and confront them with truth. By tracing the blood libel’s evolution—from its medieval origins to its current form in the realm of antizionism—we aim to arm those who seek to challenge these falsehoods with the knowledge and historical context needed to expose them for what they are: lies designed to destroy lives and delegitimise Israel.
We urge you to read this report in full. Understand the historical significance of the blood libel and recognise its modern-day adaptations. We are not simply fighting a historical battle; we are standing at the front lines of a cultural and political war in which truth and justice are on the line.
At WBII, we remain committed to defending Israel’s right to exist as a sovereign state, free from the baseless hatred that has plagued the Jewish people for centuries. We know that confronting the blood libel with clarity and resolve is the only way forward. We ask you to stand with us, to reject these falsehoods, and to defend the principles of truth, justice, and peace.
