Part One:)

First, Destro is right in his assertion that European forms of antisemitism are a late addition to the Middle East, but they did come in decades before the foundation of Eretz Israel and I think have affected the conflict.

The “Protocols of the Elders of Zion,” was published in Damascus in approximately 1920-21, and like people everywhere, Middle Easterners assumed it was the truth and some still do.

Second, the British influence after the destruction of the Ottoman Empire included the importation of antisemitism, most of it rooted in Christian tradition but also, in the long history of abuse suffered by Jews in England, including blood libels, mass murder and expulsion. This was problematic in their administration of the Mandate.

Finally, there was Nazi propaganda which unfortunately has become commonplace in the Middle East, including the Arab world, Iran, and Turkey, where Mein Kampf has become a best seller.

Antisemitism did predate the 20th century though. It’s prevalent among Eastern Christians. Blood libels as noted above have caused attacks on Jews by Christians in the Middle East. When the Christians still ruled Jerusalem, Jews were not well treated, as indeed they had not been since Christianity became a powerful religion.

Within Islam, Jews are a protected people, along with Christians, but there is the fact of dhimmitude which was second class citizenship at best. This is both religious and political repression, but the severity of it has varied with time and place.