Netanyahu and Zelensky Meeting Sparks Antisemitic Conspiracy Theories Online

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky met face-to-face for the first time in nearly three years during the funeral of U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham in Washington. A brief video of their interaction quickly went viral on social media, but instead of focusing on the political significance, it triggered a wave of antisemitic conspiracy theories. Online commentators falsely claimed that the two leaders were plotting a "third world war" or acting as part of a "global Jewish conspiracy." Some posts included derogatory remarks about Israel and Ukraine being "Jewish-Zionist regimes" allegedly funded by Americans.

This meeting took place amid escalating tensions between Ukraine and Iran. Earlier in the week, Ukrainian forces reportedly attacked Iranian vessels in the Caspian Sea, prompting Tehran to accuse Kyiv of acting on Israel's behalf and threaten ballistic missile retaliation. The viral footage and ensuing conspiracy theories highlight the persistent spread of antisemitic narratives in the context of current geopolitical conflicts involving Israel and Ukraine.