Antisemitism is a chronic human disease comparable to latent tuberculosis. Hundreds of millions may carry its latent form without openly expressing it. Yet, just as latent tuberculosis can develop into an active, deadly disease if left untreated, latent antisemitism can evolve into horrific crimes like the Holocaust and the atrocities of October 7. As an Iranian observing the shifting geopolitical landscape, it is clear to me that the modern obsessive hostility toward Israel is not a product of its policies, but rather the latest manifestation of this historical, deeply rooted pathology. It is a rage triggered by one intolerable reality: Israeli success.
This psychological projection of hatred has a long, documented history. In 1896, Theodor Herzl, the visionary father of modern Zionism, recognised this reality in his seminal work, The Jewish State (Der Judenstaat). Herzl understood that antisemitism was not a passing phase or a misunderstanding that could be cured by cultural assimilation; it was a deeply structural feature of European society. He foresaw that no matter how much Jewish communities contributed to the economic, scientific, or cultural fabric of Europe, their very distinctiveness and success would always be weaponised against them. His call for a sovereign Jewish homeland was born out of the absolute necessity for self-reliance in the face of this persistent malice.
The historical proof of this extraordinary Jewish success is undeniable. While the Jewish people make up a mere 0.2 per cent of the global population, they have received roughly 22 per cent of the Nobel Prizes awarded. In a rational world, this staggering achievement would be celebrated as a triumph of culture, education, and meritocracy. Instead, this disproportionate excellence has historically triggered an intense, toxic resentment among surrounding societies.
Decades after Herzl, European far-left extremists sought to intellectually legitimise this hatred by framing it as a crusade against the socio-economic order. Left-wing radicals, exemplified by figures such as Ulrike Meinhof, the notorious co-founder of Germany’s Red Army Faction, attempted to reduce the world’s oldest hatred to a mere political byproduct, arguing that “antisemitism is really a hatred of capitalism”. Marxist-leaning ideologues, who traditionally oppose meritocracy and see capitalism as an enemy, attempted to repackage raw bigotry as an act of revolutionary social justice.
Today, this toxic inversion is being recycled by the political left and Islamists. They mask their ancient bias under the guise of “antizionism,” yet their core grievance remains identical to that of Meinhof’s era. They cannot stomach that a tiny nation, under constant existential threat since its birth in 1948, has transformed into an economic, military, and technological powerhouse. This resentment manifests in absurd boycotts, such as the performative and heavily political demands by radical European leftists to ban Israel from cultural stages like the Eurovision Song Contest.
This resentment is particularly evident in Europe’s current reaction to Israel’s economic resilience. Even now in 2026, while fighting a complex, multi-front war against the Iranian-backed “Axis of Evil”, Israel’s economy is projected to grow by an impressive 3.5 per cent, more than double the growth rate of the EU and the UK. Instead of recognising this as a miracle of institutional resilience and democratic strength, it provokes bitter resentment. Much of the European left’s support for Palestinian factions is not born out of genuine humanitarian concern, but out of a deep-seated spite toward Israeli development, meritocracy, and power.
Historically, this European hostility stands in stark contrast to the cultural tradition of Iranian tolerance. During the darkest hours of World War II, while European governments and local collaborators participated in or turned a blind eye to the Holocaust, a young Iranian diplomat in Paris, Abdol Hossein Sardari, chose a different path. By deploying clever legal arguments to Nazi authorities and issuing passport protections, Sardari saved hundreds of Jewish lives.
Long before the horrors of October 7, a visionary leader foresaw the gathering storm. In 2023, Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi made a historic and unprecedented visit to Israel. He sent a powerful message: the only effective response to the Islamist-leftist alliance is a steadfast defence of our shared Judeo-Christian and Judeo-Persian heritage. He made clear that hostility toward Israel is inseparable from antisemitism, and that the true spirit of Iran stands in direct opposition to the regime in Tehran٫ the world’s leading state sponsor of antisemitism.
The post-October 7 world is rapidly reorganising itself around a clear civilisational divide. While the left and Islamists align themselves against Judeo-Christian values, a growing global coalition of patriots and conservative leaders, stretching from Argentina to India, are recognising Israel’s true value. They see a reliable, courageous ally that stands by its partners when others hesitate, offering battlefield-tested technology and unwavering resolve.
The obsessive hatred aimed at Israel today is essentially a resentment toward its excellence. The world’s oldest hatred has simply found a new target: the sovereign Jewish state. For Israel, the path forward remains exactly what it has been since 1948: to ignore the bitter resentment of declining European circles, to continue building its formidable strength, and to remain an indispensable anchor of civilisational success.
Tina Ghazimorad is communications director to Prince Reza Pahlavi and an Iranian journalist who previously served as editor-in-chief of News at Manoto TV, a UK-based Persian-language television network
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