Speaking via video message to the Global Forum for Combating Anti-Semitism at the opening ceremony in Jerusalem on Monday, Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu said that hatred against the Jewish people worldwide indicates that anti-Semitism is once again “fashionable.”

“There were two myths about antisemitism. The first was that after the Holocaust antisemitism would disappear. And the second was that with the creation of the Jewish state, antisemitism would disappear. That didn’t happen,” said Prime Minister Netanyahu. “Neither one of them. In fact, the antisemites took a respite after the Holocaust, but that’s all it was. It was a brief intermission.”

“And what was unfashionable is now becoming fashionable again. After the rise of Israel, what is fashionable today is to say, ‘Well, I don’t hate Jews, I just don’t think they should have a state.” Or, effectively, that their state is an illegitimate one that doesn’t have the right to exist…’”

“You have a lot of tasks before you and I hope you’re up to it. I’m sure that you believe there is only one remedy for the slander, and that’s the truth. And I encourage you to fight and win the battle of truth,” Netanyahu said, addressing the crowd.