The US State Department has instructed its diplomatic missions to urge host governments to strengthen security measures to protect synagogues and Jewish institutions as Jewish holidays approach.
In a directive cable, he asked American diplomats to urge local authorities to deploy police forces, counter-terrorism units, and even military personnel when necessary, around synagogues and places of worship and events, extending protection to Jewish residential areas and routes taken by worshippers on foot, given that their movements occur at predictable times and along predictable routes, and they may wear clothing that identifies them as Jewish.
The directive also included working with local authorities to ensure security coordination with Jewish institutions, security organizations, and businesses before the holidays. In an unusual move, the cable called for the creation of a mechanism to deliver immediate threat alerts during the Sabbath and Jewish holidays to religious Jews who do not use electronic devices, according to informed sources, noting that a similar directive was issued ahead of Passover.
This move comes at a time when FBI data for 2025 showed a continued rise in anti-Semitic hate crimes, with Jews, despite being about 2% of the population, being the target of about 63% of religiously motivated hate crimes in the United States. In some states, the percentage reached 90% or more, making 2025 the third consecutive year with record numbers for this type of crime, after 2023 and 2024, according to an analysis by the Anti-Defamation League, which tracked 1,528 anti-Semitic incidents, constituting 63% of a total of 2,408 religious crimes. Jews also accounted for 14% of all reported hate crimes in America.
