When Hatred Begins with One — It Never Ends with Only One

A deeper look at Europe’s institutional crisis, antisemitism, and the ideological currents reshaping the West

In recent months, the alarm raised by Jewish communities and observers has grown louder: antisemitism is escalating within Europe’s universities, political institutions, and cultural fabric. A key warning echoes: “It will not end with the Jews.” The forces now in motion threaten not only Jewish lives and identity but the stability of democracy and the rule of law across Europe and North America.

This article expands on that troubling testimony. It examines three interlinked phenomena: the resurgence of the Muslim Brotherhood’s influence in Europe; the rising antisemitism on campuses and in society; and how institutional responses are faltering. The stakes are high. Democratic societies must confront the challenge before it grows deeper, broader, and harder to reverse.

1. The Brotherhood’s Shadow: Ideological Entry and Institutional Erosion

One of the most significant yet underappreciated threats is the ideological penetration of Muslim Brotherhood–affiliated networks across Europe. While much media attention focuses on violent extremism, scholars and policy analysts emphasize a more subtle, long-term form of influence: entryism into civil society, educational institutions, and religious structures.

A 2025 policy analysis from Trends Research & Advisory noted that:

“While trendlines indicate the decline of the Muslim Brotherhood worldwide, it nevertheless maintains a substantial presence in Europe through its branches and affiliations. The Islamist goal of undermining the foundations of Western nations is still apparent … by exploiting the growing number of Muslim immigrants in Europe and employing ‘underground’ tactics aimed at shaking up the democratic order on an unprecedented scale” (Trends Research & Advisory, 2025).

Similarly, a French government-commissioned report described the Brotherhood’s presence as:

“…a real threat to national cohesion… The reality of this threat, even if it is long-term and does not involve violent action, highlights the risk of damage to the fabric of society and democratic institutions” (France 24, 2025).

Key features of this threat include:

• Establishing schools, charities, mosques, and educational programs under the guise of community involvement but with ideological networks aligned to Brotherhood principles (Rodan-Benzaquen, 2025).

• Funding and embedding organizations at municipal and regional levels, thereby gaining influence in local policy-making rather than through overt violence (Georges, 2025).

• Infiltrating discourse and identity politics: framing secularism, gender equality, and minority protections as “Western impositions” or incompatible with their worldview.

Why this matters for Jewish communities and democratic society:
The weakening of democratic institutions opens space for alternative systems that do not prioritize universal human rights. Organizations aligned with the Brotherhood have historically supported radical positions on Jews, Israel, women’s rights, and LGBT issues. The movement’s ideological proximity to Hamas is particularly concerning.

The testimony also points to a new generation of graduates from elite universities in Europe and North America who increasingly tolerate or embrace extremist ideologies. Institutional complacency becomes a vector for ideological shift.

In short, the Brotherhood-style strategy is less about bombs and more about books, buildings, and influence—making it far more durable and insidious. Democracy must defend itself not only from violent acts but from ideological infiltration.

2. Campus Crisis: Antisemitism Normalized in Universities

The second thread is the sharp rise of antisemitism on campuses. The quoted testimony warns: “We have graduates in Europe and North America … supporting and praising Hamas …” This aligns with empirical evidence of a worsening climate for Jewish students.

B’nai B’rith International’s 2025 report A Climate of Fear and Exclusion: Antisemitism at European Universities documents how, since Hamas’s October 7, 2023, terrorist attack on Israel, Jewish students and faculty across Europe have faced harassment, intimidation, and violence on campus (B’nai B’rith International, 2025). Universities have increasingly tolerated antisemitic rhetoric, Holocaust distortion, and open calls for Israel’s destruction—often under the guise of political expression.

In North America, the trend mirrors Europe’s. Protests at U.S. campuses during the Gaza conflict exposed how easily anti-Jewish tropes entered mainstream discourse. As one report observed:

“Some Jewish supporters of the pro-Palestinian protests report being called ‘kapos’—collaborators in Nazi concentration camps” (Beaumont, 2024).

Key implications:
Jewish students are increasingly asking, “Should we stay or should we go?” as the sense of safety and belonging erodes. Campus antisemitism feeds into a broader ideological ecosystem that undermines democratic values and civic pluralism. The testimony’s warning—“antisemitism may begin with the Jewish people, but it never ends with the Jewish people”—resonates deeply: when a society normalizes hatred of one group, the entire human-rights framework collapses.

3. Institutional Decline: Universities, Political Leadership, and Moral Authority

The third issue concerns the erosion of moral clarity within universities, political institutions, and religious bodies.

Universities

Policies against discrimination exist, but enforcement is inconsistent, particularly when protests present themselves as progressive or humanitarian. Administrators face pressures from donors, student groups, and political actors, compromising neutrality. Campuses risk becoming echo chambers for ideological radicalism instead of forums for democratic debate (B’nai B’rith International, 2025).

Political Leadership

The testimony highlights political and financial entanglement: “Our political leaders … take money and do the dance with the Qatari.” While individual claims may vary, the broader pattern of foreign influence through funding and ideological partnerships is well-documented (France 24, 2025; Trends Research & Advisory, 2025). When governments and universities accept funding tied to illiberal ideologies, they compromise their ability to defend democratic norms.

Moral Authority

Jewish communities feel increasingly alienated, perceived not as partners in civic life but as political burdens. Once minorities lose confidence in institutional protection, the social contract itself begins to erode. Democracies rely on inclusivity and trust to function; when those foundations weaken, extremism finds space to grow.

4. From Warning to Action: Safeguarding Democratic Society

Given the gravity of these trends, democratic societies must respond decisively.

Strengthen Institutional Safeguards

• Universities must adopt clear, enforceable policies on antisemitism, ensuring they distinguish legitimate criticism of Israel from hate speech targeting Jews (B’nai B’rith International, 2025).

• Governments should regulate and investigate foreign funding of organizations that propagate ideologies incompatible with democratic values.

Protect Jewish Communities and Civic Pluralism

• Democracies must affirm that antisemitism is a threat to all citizens, not just Jews.

• Jewish voices should be central in shaping the dialogue on civic responsibility, inclusion, and human rights.

Expose and Counter Ideological Entryism

• Governments and NGOs should map ideological networks promoting extremism under charitable or educational covers (Rodan-Benzaquen, 2025).

• Public education must emphasize critical thinking, civic ethics, and historical literacy to resist manipulation.

Reaffirm Democratic Values and Human Rights

This is ultimately a fight for the soul of the West—freedom, equality, and human dignity. Democracies must resist the illusion that diversity alone ensures justice; shared moral and institutional foundations are indispensable.

Engage the Next Generation

If universities produce graduates sympathetic to anti-democratic ideologies, then the educational system itself must be reformed. Civic literacy, history education, and open dialogue should be central to forming the next generation of democratic citizens.

5. A Cautionary Conclusion

The witness warns: “It will not end with the Jews. Europe is going to be ripped apart…” The imagery is stark, but the insight is prophetic. When antisemitism is normalized and democratic institutions are weakened from within, entire societies are endangered.

Reports of ideological infiltration, rising antisemitic incidents, and moral complacency reveal a mounting crisis. The central question for the democratic world is clear: Will its institutions remain vigilant guardians of justice and freedom—or will they erode from within?

The answer will determine whether the West continues to embody its founding ideals or succumbs to division and authoritarianism.

In the words of the speaker: “When this unleashing of Jew hatred … now normalized and morally required … runs deep in society,” the danger is universal. The fight against antisemitism is not merely a Jewish struggle—it is the frontline defense of democracy itself.

References

B’nai B’rith International. (2025). A climate of fear and exclusion: Antisemitism at European universities. B’nai B’rith International. https://www.bnaibrith.org/our-focus/israel/combating-anti-semitism/report-antisemitism-at-european-universities/

Beaumont, P. (2024, May 3). College Gaza protests reveal deep divisions on U.S. campuses. The Guardian. https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/article/2024/may/03/college-gaza-protests-antisemitism

France 24. (2025, May 21). Muslim Brotherhood movement poses threat to national cohesion, French government report says. France 24. https://www.france24.com/en/france/20250521-muslim-brotherhood-movement-poses-threat-to-national-cohesion-french-govt-report-says

Georges, S. (2025, June 14). Brothers in arms: Muslim Brotherhood and European politics. The Washington Examiner. https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/opinion/3472855/brothers-in-arms-muslim-brotherhood-european-union-france

Rodan-Benzaquen, S. (2025, June 3). How the Muslim Brotherhood is capturing Europe. The Free Press. https://www.thefp.com/p/how-the-muslim-brotherhood-is-capturing

Trends Research & Advisory. (2025). European policies toward the Muslim Brotherhood: Motivations and future implications. Trends Research & Advisory. https://trendsresearch.org/insight/european-policies-toward-the-muslim-brotherhood-motivations-and-future-implications