The long-standing conflict between Israel and Palestine is escalating into extreme violence on American soil.
This time, a hate crime terror related to Israel occurred in Colorado. It was just ten days after two employees of the Israeli embassy were shot dead in Washington, D.C. on the 21st of last month.
On the 1st (local time), the Colorado Department of Justice reported that a man threw a flammable object, believed to be a Molotov cocktail, at participants peacefully marching in the Boulder Pearl Street Mall in the afternoon, resulting in serious burns and injuries to at least five people.
According to CBS, the victims were participating in the event "Run for Their Lives", which aims for the swift release of Israeli hostages detained in Gaza.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) characterized the incident not as a simple act of violence but as a "targeted terror attack" and immediately launched an investigation.
Phil Weiser, the Attorney General of Colorado, noted, "According to what we know, this attack appears to be a hate crime," acknowledging it as terrorism based on anti-Semitism.
Boulder police arrested the suspect at the scene and are investigating the exact motive behind the crime.
Reuters reported that the fire terror in Boulder has brought deep shock and significant anxiety to the Jewish community in the United States. Anti-Semitic incidents have been on the rise across the U.S.
According to the Anti-Defamation League (ADL), there were a total of 8,873 anti-Semitic incidents in the U.S. last year, a 140% increase compared to 2022. This is the highest number since the ADL began tracking relevant statistics in 1979.
As widely known, the Jewish community in American society wields significant influence. The Christian evangelical forces leading the U.S. also traditionally exhibit pro-Israel tendencies.
However, in recent times, the pro-Palestinian voices advocating for human rights and justice have begun to gain momentum.
The Pew Research Center reported that as of last year, 53% of Americans hold negative views of Israel, an increase of 11 percentage points from 42% in 2022.
The change in perception based on specific political orientations is even more dramatic. The proportion of Democratic supporters who sympathize with Israel has plummeted from 51% in 2001 to 21% as of 2025. Meanwhile, the proportion of Democratic supporters sympathizing with Palestine has surged from 16% to 59% during the same period.
Experts criticized that the Israel-Palestine issue is emerging as a sharp political issue in the U.S., leading to severe divisions within the country. In particular, as the conflict in Gaza prolongs, tensions between the Chin Young factions are escalating.
Moreover, the spread of fake news and incendiary information through social media is further fueling these conflicts.
The conservative think tank Capital Research Center raised concerns in a report last month that some pro-Palestinian organizations are disguising themselves as charities on American soil while fomenting anti-Semitic and anti-American sentiments.
According to the report, these organizations label Israel as an "imperialist invader" and the U.S. as "Israel's accomplice" while shouting violent and incendiary slogans on university campuses and the streets.
Conversely, for the Palestinian side, they seem to spread messages advocating sympathy and the extreme military actions of terrorist organizations like Hamas, along with hate crimes targeting indiscriminate individuals.
The Center analyzed thousands of social media posts from 496 pro-Palestinian activists and organizations, revealing a 3,000% increase in posts related to inciting violence following Hamas's airstrikes on Israel in 2023.
The Capital Research Center pointed out in its report that "many of these organizations are registered as legitimate charities and even benefit from tax reductions, but their activities undermine the values and alliances that America holds dear."
Jewish organizations are strongly demanding enhanced security in light of the repeated hate crimes. There are also growing calls for stronger education against anti-Semitism and increased penalties for hate crimes.