Narcissistic abuse, a term often associated with manipulation in interpersonal relationships, can also be applied to larger societal and geopolitical dynamics. The Jewish people and the State of Israel have long been subjected to a unique form of collective abuse that mirrors the same psychological tactics used by narcissists to control and harm their victims. These manipulative strategies—rooted in gaslighting, blame-shifting, devaluation, and isolation—are employed to delegitimize Jewish identity, erode Israel’s sovereignty, and justify violence and discrimination.
In the wake of escalating antisemitism and anti-Israel rhetoric, it’s critical to recognize how these tactics are weaponized on a global scale. They are not just tools for influencing perception but also for undermining Jewish rights, sowing division, and fostering hostility. By exposing these abusive strategies, we can better understand the challenges faced by Jews and Israel, and work toward countering the widespread misinformation and hatred that perpetuate them.
1. Gaslighting
Gaslighting against Jews and Israel is a calculated tactic used to distort reality and rewrite history in a way that delegitimizes their experiences and claims. It begins with outright denial of historical facts, such as Holocaust denial, which not only minimizes the systematic murder of six million Jews but also serves to invalidate the trauma and lessons of that genocide. By denying this history, antisemites aim to sever the connection between past atrocities and ongoing threats to Jewish survival. Similarly, the Jewish people’s ancient and unbroken ties to Israel are often reframed as a colonial fabrication, with claims that modern Israelis are “European colonizers” who displaced an indigenous population. This argument completely disregards archaeological, religious, and historical records that document a continuous Jewish presence in the land for over 3,000 years, including through periods of exile and persecution.
Another layer of gaslighting involves questioning the legitimacy of Jewish and Israeli experiences today. For example, efforts to portray Jews as oppressors, rather than survivors of millennia of oppression, invert reality to suit anti-Israel narratives. When Jews or Israelis raise concerns about antisemitism or the existential threats posed by groups like Hamas or Hezbollah, their fears are often dismissed as overblown or fabricated. This tactic fosters self-doubt among Jews and Israelis and creates a hostile environment in which they are forced to constantly defend their right to exist.
By reframing the history and experiences of Jews and Israel, gaslighting seeks to destabilize their sense of identity and erode international support for their cause. It also justifies violence and hostility against them by perpetuating false narratives that shift blame onto the victims rather than the aggressors. This psychological manipulation is not just an attack on truth—it’s an attack on the very foundation of Jewish and Israeli identity.
2. Blame-Shifting
Blame-shifting is a classic narcissistic tactic that manifests on a geopolitical scale when Jews and Israel are held responsible for the hatred, violence, and instability directed at them. Instead of addressing the root causes of antisemitism or the actions of terrorist organizations like Hamas and Hezbollah, blame is redirected toward the victims. For example, when synagogues are attacked or Jewish individuals are targeted in hate crimes, it is often rationalized as a response to Israel’s policies—implying that Jews worldwide are responsible for the actions of a sovereign nation trying to defend itself. This narrative not only absolves perpetrators of antisemitism but also serves to normalize hatred against Jews as “justified.”
On the global stage, this tactic is most visible in the way Israel is consistently blamed for the failure of peace processes, regional instability, and even the actions of its enemies. For instance, terrorist organizations like Hamas launch rockets at Israeli civilians, but international condemnation often focuses disproportionately on Israel’s defensive measures. Critics accuse Israel of “escalating violence” or “provoking” its enemies, while ignoring that Hamas’s stated goal is the destruction of the Jewish state. This type of blame-shifting absolves groups like Hamas of accountability for their war crimes, including the intentional targeting of civilians and the use of human shields, while portraying Israel as the aggressor for defending its people.
Blame-shifting also involves projecting the faults of Israel’s enemies onto Israel itself. For example, countries that persecute minorities, suppress dissent, and restrict human rights frequently accuse Israel of being an “apartheid state” or an “oppressor.” This hypocritical narrative distracts from their own abuses and weaponizes human rights language to isolate Israel on the world stage. By constantly shifting blame to Jews and Israel, these tactics attempt to delegitimize their right to self-defense and perpetuate the narrative that they are the source of their own suffering.
3. Control and Manipulation
Control and manipulation are central tactics used to undermine Jews and Israel, targeting their autonomy, culture, and sovereignty. One of the most prominent examples is the global Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) movement, which seeks to economically cripple Israel under the guise of promoting “human rights.” These campaigns are not only hypocritical—ignoring the atrocities of actual oppressive regimes—but are designed to manipulate Israel into making unilateral concessions that jeopardize its security. By pressuring companies, artists, and governments to cut ties with Israel, these efforts aim to weaken the nation’s economy and isolate it from the international community.
Cultural manipulation is another insidious form of control, where Jewish history, traditions, and identity are systematically undermined. This includes attempts to delegitimize Hebrew as the language of the Jewish people or to deny the Jewish connection to significant cultural and religious landmarks, such as Jerusalem and the Temple Mount. For example, UNESCO resolutions have referred to Jewish holy sites exclusively by their Islamic names, effectively erasing centuries of Jewish history. These efforts are not merely symbolic—they are calculated attempts to strip Jews of their heritage and sever their ties to their ancestral homeland.
Political interference is another means of manipulation, where external actors attempt to control Israel’s internal affairs to serve their own agendas. Foreign governments and organizations fund anti-Israel NGOs, lobby against pro-Israel policies, and pressure Israeli leaders to adopt policies that compromise the country’s security. This interference is often framed as advocacy for peace, but in reality, it forces Israel into a position of vulnerability, as seen in past demands for unilateral withdrawals from territories that later became launching pads for terrorist attacks.
Through economic, cultural, and political manipulation, these tactics aim to weaken Israel’s sovereignty, erode Jewish identity, and control the narrative surrounding their right to exist. Such efforts not only harm Israel but also embolden those who seek its destruction.
4. Devaluation
Devaluation is a powerful tactic used to diminish the worth of Jews and Israel by portraying them as inherently malevolent, immoral, or undeserving of support. This strategy manifests in the use of demeaning rhetoric, such as branding Israel an “apartheid state” or accusing it of “ethnic cleansing,” despite the fact that Israel is the only democracy in the Middle East, with equal rights for all its citizens, including Arabs, Muslims, Christians, and Druze. These inflammatory labels are not rooted in reality but are designed to strip Israel of its moral legitimacy and rally international condemnation against it.
Another aspect of devaluation is the erasure or dismissal of Jewish and Israeli achievements. Israel’s significant contributions to global science, technology, medicine, and humanitarian efforts are often ignored or downplayed. For instance, Israeli advancements in water conservation, agriculture, and life-saving medical technologies have benefited millions worldwide, yet these achievements are overshadowed by relentless efforts to tarnish the country’s reputation. Even when Israel provides humanitarian aid to nations struck by disasters, such as earthquakes or tsunamis, this goodwill is frequently overlooked or framed as self-serving.
Stereotyping is another weapon of devaluation, with terms like “colonizers,” “occupiers,” or “oppressors” used to delegitimize Jews and their connection to Israel. These labels paint Jews and Israelis as villains while ignoring the centuries of persecution they endured and the reality of their legal and historical ties to the land. This rhetoric not only dehumanizes Jews but also justifies acts of violence against them, including the October 7, 2023, massacre, when Hamas brutally slaughtered over 1,200 Israeli civilians, including women and children. By using language that portrays Jews as inherently guilty or Israel as undeserving of its statehood, the tactic of devaluation seeks to erode global support and sympathy for their cause.
Through constant devaluation, enemies of Jews and Israel attempt to delegitimize their struggles, tarnish their image, and foster an environment where discrimination and violence against them are normalized.
5. Triangulation
Triangulation, a hallmark of narcissistic abuse, is used on the geopolitical stage to pit nations, groups, or individuals against Jews and Israel. This tactic is designed to create division, weaken alliances, and isolate Israel while giving its enemies more leverage. A common example is how Israel’s adversaries exploit tensions between Israel and its allies or neighbors, framing Israel as the sole obstacle to peace in the region. Countries like Iran, which openly support terrorist groups such as Hamas and Hezbollah, frequently paint Israel as the aggressor, using this narrative to rally other nations—particularly in the Muslim world—against the Jewish state.
On a broader level, this tactic includes leveraging the global community to apply disproportionate pressure on Israel. The United Nations is a glaring example of this, with Israel consistently singled out for condemnation. Despite ongoing human rights abuses in countries like China, Iran, North Korea, and Syria, Israel is often the subject of the majority of UN resolutions. This serves to isolate Israel diplomatically and create a false sense of consensus against its policies, making it harder for its supporters to defend its legitimacy.
Triangulation is also used within Israel itself by funding or promoting specific factions to create internal discord. External actors often provide financial and political backing to groups within Israel that oppose the government’s policies, aiming to exacerbate divisions between secular and religious communities, left- and right-wing factions, or Jewish and Arab citizens. This undermines Israel’s unity, making it easier for its enemies to exploit these divisions for their own gain.
By pitting nations, groups, and even Israelis against one another, triangulation is a deliberate attempt to weaken Israel’s alliances, destabilize its society, and leave it more vulnerable to attack. This tactic fuels division and isolation, ensuring that Israel is constantly on the defensive, both internally and externally.
6. Exploitation
Exploitation is another narcissistic abuse tactic employed against Jews and Israel, whereby their resources, concessions, or efforts are taken advantage of without fair reciprocity or acknowledgment. This can be seen in how the global community often demands disproportionate sacrifices from Israel while ignoring the blatant hostility of its enemies. For instance, Israel is regularly pressured to relinquish land in the name of peace, such as in Gaza in 2005. Despite Israel’s withdrawal and the evacuation of thousands of its own citizens, the territory was subsequently turned into a launchpad for Hamas terrorism, including rocket attacks on Israeli civilians. Instead of being commended for its concessions, Israel was vilified even further, while Hamas faced little to no accountability for its war crimes.
Exploitation also extends to humanitarian issues. Israel is expected to provide medical aid, electricity, and other resources to Gaza, even as Hamas diverts those resources to build terror tunnels and rockets aimed at Israeli civilians. In many cases, Israel is criticized for responding to these attacks, despite being the victim of unprovoked aggression. This exploitation creates a no-win situation, where Israel is condemned whether it shows restraint or defends itself.
On a broader level, the global exploitation of Jewish history is another example of this tactic. The Holocaust is sometimes cynically weaponized to criticize Israel by claiming that Jews should “know better” than to engage in self-defense, as if their own historical suffering makes them morally obligated to sacrifice their security for others. This manipulative rhetoric distorts Jewish history and turns it into a tool to delegitimize their right to a safe and secure homeland.
By demanding concessions, erasing sacrifices, and manipulating history, exploitation forces Jews and Israel into an impossible position—one where they are expected to endure hostility while receiving little in return. This tactic reinforces the imbalance of power and further enables those who seek to harm them.
7. Isolation
Isolation is a classic narcissistic abuse tactic that is actively weaponized against Jews and Israel on a global scale. The goal is to sever their connections to allies, marginalize their voices, and leave them defenseless against those who seek to harm them. This can be seen in diplomatic efforts to exclude Israel from international forums or to pressure nations to sever ties with the Jewish state. For example, the Arab League and other blocs have long sought to isolate Israel diplomatically by refusing to recognize its existence or engaging in boycotts. Countries that establish relations with Israel, such as the Abraham Accords signatories, are often vilified and pressured by anti-Israel factions to reverse course.
The media plays a significant role in isolating Israel by promoting biased narratives that frame it as a pariah state. Stories about Israel’s self-defense actions are frequently distorted, with disproportionate attention paid to Palestinian casualties while ignoring the terrorist activity that provoked Israel’s response. This selective reporting fuels global outrage, creating a perception that Israel is uniquely aggressive or oppressive, even when its actions are entirely defensive. Such narratives discourage other nations or organizations from openly supporting Israel out of fear of backlash.
Isolation is also achieved through efforts to stigmatize pro-Israel voices, especially in academia and politics. Supporters of Israel are often labeled as enablers of “oppression” or “apartheid,” leading to their exclusion from mainstream discourse. This silencing of dissenting opinions reinforces the idea that standing with Israel is taboo, further isolating it from global allies. Jewish students on university campuses face rampant antisemitism, often under the guise of anti-Zionism, leaving them alienated and fearful to express their identity or support for Israel.
By isolating Israel diplomatically, politically, and culturally, its enemies seek to weaken its influence and leave it vulnerable. This tactic emboldens terror groups and hostile nations by signaling that Israel is standing alone, without sufficient international support to deter aggression.
8. Intimidation and Fear
Intimidation and fear are central tactics used against Jews and Israel to suppress resistance and create a constant sense of vulnerability. These tactics are most evident in the explicit threats and violent actions of terror groups like Hamas, Hezbollah, and Iran’s proxy forces. Hamas, for example, consistently uses psychological warfare to terrorize Israeli civilians, launching rockets indiscriminately at population centers and creating a climate of fear. The October 7, 2023, massacre is one of the most horrific examples of this tactic—Hamas terrorists brutally murdered over 1,400 Israelis, including families, children, and the elderly, with the explicit goal of instilling terror and breaking the will of the Jewish state. This barbarism wasn’t just about killing; it was designed to traumatize and intimidate the entire Jewish population.
Iran, a key supporter of terror groups, frequently escalates these fears with its open calls for the destruction of Israel. The regime not only funds and arms terrorist organizations but also uses its nuclear ambitions as a constant threat to intimidate Israel and its allies. The mere possibility of a nuclear-armed Iran is meant to destabilize the region and pressure Israel into a defensive posture, forcing it to divert resources and attention to survival rather than growth and progress.
Propaganda and incitement are also critical tools of intimidation. Groups like Hamas and Hezbollah spread hate-filled messages through media, schools, and mosques, encouraging violence against Jews worldwide. This incitement doesn’t just target Israelis—it creates an environment where Jewish communities in the diaspora feel unsafe. For example, after conflicts involving Israel, Jews around the world often experience spikes in antisemitic attacks, including vandalism of synagogues and physical assaults on individuals. This globalized climate of fear aims to isolate Jews and make them feel like perpetual targets, whether in Israel or the diaspora.
Through violent threats, propaganda, and incitement, intimidation serves to weaken the resolve of Jews and Israel. The goal is to erode their sense of security and sow the seeds of doubt and fear, forcing them into a position of constant defensiveness.
9. Hoovering
Hoovering, a tactic of false reconciliation and manipulation, is frequently used against Jews and Israel to extract concessions while maintaining a hostile agenda. This strategy is named after the vacuum cleaner’s ability to “suck” victims back into harmful dynamics, and it plays out on the geopolitical stage when hostile actors pretend to seek peace or cooperation with Israel, only to exploit the situation for their own gain.
One example is the repeated cycle of ceasefires and peace talks with groups like Hamas or the Palestinian Authority. These negotiations are often initiated under the pretense of finding a path to coexistence, but they rarely result in meaningful progress. Instead, these actors use the process to regroup, rearm, and strengthen their positions while demanding further concessions from Israel. For instance, after agreeing to ceasefires, Hamas has routinely resumed rocket attacks on Israeli civilians, demonstrating that these negotiations were never sincere. The goal is to manipulate Israel into making unilateral compromises, such as releasing convicted terrorists or easing border restrictions, which are then exploited to advance anti-Israel agendas.
Another example of hoovering is the use of international aid and support. Many countries and organizations offer economic or humanitarian assistance to the Palestinian territories under the guise of goodwill. However, much of this aid is misused by groups like Hamas, which diverts funds to build terror tunnels and weapons instead of addressing the needs of the Palestinian people. Meanwhile, Israel’s gestures of goodwill—such as providing medical treatment to Palestinians or supplying electricity and water to Gaza—are often ignored or downplayed, with no reciprocal goodwill shown in return.
Even on the global diplomatic stage, hoovering plays out in the form of token gestures. For example, nations or international bodies that perpetually condemn Israel might occasionally issue statements of limited praise, not out of genuine acknowledgment but to appear balanced and keep Israel engaged. These superficial acts of goodwill are designed to distract from ongoing hostile policies, like supporting anti-Israel resolutions or funding anti-Zionist NGOs.
The essence of hoovering is the illusion of reconciliation or progress while maintaining destructive intentions. This tactic not only manipulates Israel into weakening its defenses but also reinforces the imbalance of power, where its enemies gain more leverage while offering nothing in return.
10. Identity Suppression
Identity suppression is a pernicious tactic used to deny Jews and Israel their right to self-expression, religious freedom, and national identity. This suppression often manifests as attempts to delegitimize Jewish heritage, erase Jewish history, and censor pro-Israel voices. One of the most glaring examples is the denial of Jewish ties to Jerusalem, the holiest city in Judaism and the historic capital of the Jewish people. Efforts to frame Jews as “foreign colonizers” in their ancestral homeland are an outright denial of thousands of years of Jewish history. Resolutions by international bodies, such as UNESCO, that refer to Jewish holy sites like the Temple Mount solely by their Islamic names are clear attempts to erase Jewish identity and suppress their historical connection to the land.
This suppression also takes the form of censorship and silencing Jewish voices in the public arena. On college campuses around the world, Jewish students who express support for Israel are often ostracized, harassed, or shouted down. Events that celebrate Jewish culture or discuss Israel’s achievements are frequently disrupted or boycotted under the guise of “anti-Zionism,” leaving Jewish students fearful of expressing their identities. The “intersectional” framework, which positions Jews as privileged oppressors, further marginalizes them in social justice movements, denying them the right to speak on their own oppression and experiences.
Forced assimilation and suppression of Jewish traditions have also been used historically and persist today. In some Muslim-majority countries, Jews are prohibited from openly practicing their religion, wearing religious symbols, or observing holidays. In the Palestinian territories, the few remaining Jewish holy sites are frequently desecrated or destroyed, further erasing their presence and heritage. This is part of a larger campaign to deny Jews the right to live freely and visibly as Jews, both in their homeland and abroad.
Identity suppression isn’t limited to the physical erasure of history—it also extends to psychological manipulation. By portraying Jewish identity and Zionism as inherently immoral or racist, opponents attempt to make Jews feel ashamed of their own culture and beliefs. The labeling of Zionism—a movement of Jewish self-determination—as a form of colonialism or apartheid is a prime example of this gaslighting. It forces Jews to choose between their support for Israel and their place in global society, alienating them from their own heritage.
The ultimate goal of identity suppression is to erase the Jewish people’s unique history, culture, and connection to their homeland, leaving them vulnerable and isolated. By denying their right to express their identity, these tactics seek to undermine Jewish unity and weaken their resolve to resist antisemitism and attacks on Israel.
What can we take form this?
The tactics of narcissistic abuse—gaslighting, blame-shifting, control and manipulation, devaluation, triangulation, exploitation, isolation, intimidation, hoovering, and identity suppression—are not only tools used in personal relationships but also form a disturbing pattern of collective abuse directed at Jews and Israel. These manipulative strategies, employed by terrorist organizations, hostile nations, anti-Israel activists, and complicit media outlets, aim to erode Jewish identity, delegitimize Israel’s existence, and isolate both from the global community.
Gaslighting denies Jewish history and Israel’s legitimacy, while blame-shifting seeks to hold Jews and Israel responsible for the aggression and instability caused by their enemies. Control and manipulation undermine Israel’s sovereignty and economic strength, while devaluation spreads malicious lies that paint Israel as an apartheid state and ignore its contributions to the world. Triangulation pits nations and groups against Israel, weakening alliances, while exploitation takes advantage of Israel’s concessions and humanitarian efforts, giving nothing in return. Isolation cuts off Israel from allies and silences Jewish voices, while intimidation spreads fear through violence, propaganda, and threats. Hoovering uses false gestures of goodwill to manipulate Israel into making further sacrifices, and identity suppression works to erase Jewish heritage and delegitimize Zionism entirely.
Together, these tactics form a comprehensive campaign of psychological and geopolitical abuse designed to weaken Israel, delegitimize its right to self-defense, and normalize antisemitism. Yet, recognizing these tactics for what they are is the first step toward combating them. By exposing these manipulative strategies and standing firmly against false narratives, Jews and Israel can resist this abuse, assert their rights, and foster truth and justice in the face of ongoing hostility.
It is crucial for allies, leaders, and advocates to not only call out these abusive tactics but also to actively support Jewish people and Israel in the fight against antisemitism and terrorism. Only by shining a light on these patterns and standing united against hatred can the Jewish people and the State of Israel continue to thrive and preserve their rightful place in history and the world.
