Thread by @VICENews

Neo-Nazis are showing up at pro-Palestine protests in an attempt to push anti-Jewish conspiracy theories and tropes into the mainstream. Here’s what you need to know about them. 🧵1/6

The presence of these groups, like the white nationalist and antisemitic National Justice Party, at protests shouldn’t be seen as an indication that there is some ideological kinship between them and the wider pro-Palestine movement. 🧵2/6

Neo-Nazis have used growing anger against the Israeli government as an opportunity to spew antisemitic and anti-immigrant conspiracy theories, launder them into the mainstream, and drive recruitment. 🧵3/6

Fringe extremist groups are opportunists, and will leap at any chance to insert themselves into popular movements. In 2020, the anti-government Boogaloos (including white supremacists) tried and failed to latch onto Black Lives Matter by claiming they shared similar goals. 🧵4/6

“They’re not pro-Palestine, they just hate Jews, and they see this moment as an opportunity to get attention,” said one extremism expert. “Nine out of ten of them would probably happily commit a hate crime against anyone [at the pro-Palestine protest].” 🧵5/6

Meanwhile, hate crimes targeting Jews, Muslims, and Arabs, which were already disturbingly high prior to the conflict, have since soared to an alarming degree around the world. Read more from @misstessowen 🧵6/6: vice.com/en/article/k7z…
vice.com/en/article/k7z…