The Blood Libel: An Ancient Lie in Modern Guise

There are myths, and then there are monstrous myths. Among the latter lies the blood libel, a vile and persistent accusation that has stalked Jewish communities for centuries, like a grotesque shadow from the depths of history. For those unfamiliar with this malevolent fiction, it began as a medieval conspiracy theory: Jews, it was alleged, murdered Christian children to use their blood in religious rituals. No evidence ever existed for such an atrocity, but evidence has never been the currency of bigots.

This pernicious falsehood has left an indelible stain on European history, igniting pogroms, expulsions, and massacres. From Norwich in 1144 to Trent in 1475, the blood libel served as a grotesque justification for violence, sustained by ignorance and prejudice. One might have hoped that such an absurd and transparently hateful idea would have been confined to the annals of history, alongside other barbarisms. Yet, here we are in the 21st century, grappling with its modern incarnations.

Yes, the blood libel persists. Today, it does not arrive cloaked in tales of ritual murder, but it has evolved into subtler and more insidious forms. In the age of anti-Zionism (and let us be clear, this is distinct from legitimate criticism of Israeli policies), the myth re-emerges with alarming frequency, dressed up in the language of human rights or social justice. The old calumnies have been reworked, not to target individuals or communities directly, but to cast the modern state of Israel as the inheritor of those ancient accusations.

Consider, for example, the all-too-familiar allegations that Israel deliberately murders Palestinian children, a claim that resurfaces with tragic predictability during every conflict. The language may have changed, the targets shifted, but the essence is the same: the portrayal of Jews—now collectively represented by their nation-state—as bloodthirsty villains who thrive on the suffering of the innocent.

Let us not mince words. Such accusations are not simply criticisms of Israeli policy; they echo the same hateful tropes that have caused untold suffering throughout history. When activists and commentators reach for these images, they are not engaging in legitimate political discourse. They are perpetuating a monstrous narrative that demonizes an entire people.

Then there is the curious claim, favored by some in certain academic and activist circles, that “Jesus was a Palestinian.” A harmless bit of rhetorical flair? Hardly. This statement, often touted as fact, seeks to sever Jesus from his Jewish identity, erasing history in one fell swoop. It reduces the Jews of the past—and by extension, the Jews of today—to impostors in their own story. The motive is clear: to delegitimize the Jewish connection to their homeland, to paint them as interlopers rather than indigenous inhabitants.

This is not a matter of pedantry or religious quibbling; it is part of a broader pattern of historical revisionism that serves to justify the delegitimization of Israel and the Jewish people. The truth, as ever, is an inconvenience for those who cling to such myths.

What makes all this so deeply troubling is that it is no longer confined to the fringes of society. These ideas, clothed in the respectability of modern activism, are seeping into mainstream discourse. Universities, political movements, even parts of the media, have become arenas where such narratives are given oxygen. The rhetoric is not always overt; often it is couched in ambiguity, leaving just enough room for plausible deniability.

But let us not allow nuance to obscure reality. Whether it is the medieval blood libel or its modern anti-Zionist equivalent, the underlying message is the same: Jews—or the Jewish state—are uniquely malevolent, uniquely deserving of suspicion and scorn.

What can be done? For a start, we must educate ourselves and others about the history of these myths and their consequences. Ignorance is the soil in which such hatred grows. We must also call out these narratives wherever they arise, refusing to let them masquerade as legitimate criticism or intellectual inquiry.

And finally, we must remember the human cost of these lies. The blood libel has never been an abstract theory; it has always been a weapon, wielded to justify real harm. Today, as in centuries past, it endangers lives and corrodes the very fabric of truth and justice.

Let us consign this ancient lie to the dustbin of history, where it belongs. For if we fail to do so, we risk allowing its modern guises to fester and spread, perpetuating a cycle of hatred that has already done far too much damage.