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Filmmaker Pierre Rehov Links Historical Episodes of Anti-Semitism & the Oct 7th Massacre in New Documentary, “Pogroms”
Edited by: Fern Sidman
The tragic events of October 7, 2023, when Hamas launched a brutal and unprovoked assault on southern Israel, marked one of the darkest days in Israeli history. But, as horrifying as the initial attack was, many argue that what followed the next day—the tepid response from much of the international community, the irrational condemnation of Israel, and the eruption of coordinated anti-Israel and anti-Semitic protests—was even more chilling. This indifference and hostility have left many asking how such hatred for Jews and Israel can persist in the modern world, and what historical forces have shaped this disturbing trend.
Documentary filmmaker Pierre Rehov seeks to answer these questions in his latest film, Pogrom(s). In the film, Rehov connects the dots between historical episodes of anti-Semitism and contemporary events, exposing the long-standing and deeply rooted alliances that have fueled a global movement of hatred against the Jewish people. The film will be available from October 7 on all the standard platforms. The trailer is available at www.pogroms.info.
With a career spanning three decades, Rehov is no stranger to the complex dynamics of the Middle East, and his work has often focused on the psychology of terrorists and the cultural underpinnings of Jew-hatred. In Pogrom(s), Rehov presents a compelling case that the attacks on Israel, and the rising tide of anti-Semitism, are part of a well-coordinated disinformation campaign that traces its origins back to alliances between Islamists, Nazis, and later, the Soviet Union’s KGB.
In the immediate aftermath of the October 7th Hamas attack, Israel, reeling from the loss of over 1200 lives and the kidnapping of 250 civilians, found itself condemned by segments of the international community. Rather than unequivocal support for a nation under siege, there were calls for restraint from Israel, even as it defended itself against further aggression. Moreover, demonstrations against Israel—often veering into outright anti-Semitism—erupted across elite university campuses and in major cities around the world. These protests, far from being spontaneous reactions, were well-organized and coordinated, revealing a disturbing undercurrent of global anti-Israel sentiment that has been decades in the making.
Rehov’s film sheds light on the historical context behind these demonstrations. According to Rehov, the roots of modern anti-Semitism lie in strategic alliances forged over the last century, alliances aimed at the eradication of the Jewish people and the destruction of Israel. These alliances, which began during World War II and were later strengthened during the Cold War, have shaped a disinformation campaign that permeates today’s pro-Hamas movement, the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) campaign, and the growing trend of anti-Israel rhetoric in academia and media.
One of the most striking aspects of Pogrom(s) is Rehov’s exploration of the historical alliance between Adolf Hitler and the Grand Mufti of Jerusalem, Haj Amin al-Husseini. During World War II, al-Husseini fled to Nazi Germany, where he became a close ally of Hitler, advocating for the genocide of Jews and playing a key role in encouraging the extermination of European Jewry. Al-Husseini’s collaboration with the Nazis, and his influence on Arab nationalist movements, laid the foundation for the virulent anti-Semitism that still exists in parts of the Arab world today.
Rehov argues that this Nazi-Islamist connection is often overlooked in discussions about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The Grand Mufti’s ties to Hitler were not just a footnote in history; they had far-reaching consequences for the Middle East, as al-Husseini helped to popularize the anti-Semitic propaganda that would later fuel movements such as the Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO) and, eventually, Hamas.
Rehov’s documentary also delves into the role of the Soviet Union in shaping the modern narrative surrounding Israel. After World War II, the KGB played a key role in training and supporting Yasser Arafat, the leader of the PLO, and Mahmoud Abbas, who would later succeed Arafat. According to Rehov, the Soviets were instrumental in creating a sophisticated disinformation campaign that portrayed Israel as a colonial aggressor and framed the Palestinian cause as a liberation struggle against Western imperialism.
This Cold War-era propaganda, which aligned with Soviet geopolitical interests, continues to resonate today. The BDS movement and other pro-Palestinian campaigns, Rehov argues, are direct descendants of this KGB-led effort to delegitimize Israel on the world stage. The widespread use of terms such as “apartheid” and “settler-colonialism” in reference to Israel can be traced back to Soviet propaganda, which sought to frame the Jewish state as an illegitimate entity imposed by Western powers.
For Rehov, the October 7th Hamas attack on Israel is not an isolated event. It is part of a broader historical pattern of violence against Jews that stretches back centuries. The same forces that orchestrated pogroms in Europe and the Middle East, he argues, are now working to fuel anti-Semitism globally. The difference today is that this hatred is being masked as legitimate criticism of Israel, when in reality, it seeks the destruction of the Jewish state and the eradication of Jews from the region.
“What happened on October 7th in Israel foreshadows what will happen in America and Europe if we don’t wake up,” Rehov warns. He draws a direct parallel between the attacks on Israel and the threats facing the West from radical Islamist groups, such as the Iranian-backed Hezbollah and Hamas. Iran’s leadership, which has long promised “Death to America” and “Death to Israel,” is, in Rehov’s view, a key driver of the anti-Semitic violence seen today. The same forces that targeted Israel on October 7th, he argues, are actively working to destabilize the West.
Rehov points to the 1979 Iranian hostage crisis, when 53 Americans were held captive for 444 days at the U.S. Embassy in Tehran, as a stark reminder of the dangers posed by radical Islamist regimes. “Iran’s leaders have repeatedly promised ‘Death to America, the Great Satan,’ and they mean it,” Rehov says. His film serves as a warning that the hatred directed at Israel today could easily spill over into Europe and the United States if left unchecked.
Recent revelations have exposed a troubling pattern of foreign nations funneling vast sums of money into American universities in an effort to control the way history, politics, and current affairs are taught to young and impressionable students. This financial influence has contributed to a profound shift in how many universities present key geopolitical issues, often resulting in distorted perspectives that undermine democratic values and promote narratives sympathetic to terrorist organizations such as Hamas, Hezbollah, and Iran.
The consequences of this covert influence have become painfully clear in recent years, as college campuses across the United States have seen an alarming rise in student movements that support not only pro-Palestinian causes but also terrorist groups. This “brainwashing” has led to a situation where ideologies once considered extreme are now being normalized, particularly within academic institutions that should be championing critical thinking and balanced perspectives.
Rehov’s film seeks to provide the historical context and facts that many academic institutions have neglected or outright distorted. It is, however, more than just a documentary about the October 7th attack. It is a sobering reminder of the deep historical and ideological roots of modern anti-Semitism. Rehov argues that the hatred unleashed against Israel in the wake of the attack is not just about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, but is part of a global strategy that seeks to undermine Western democracies and eliminate the Jewish people.
As anti-Semitic demonstrations continue to erupt in major cities and on university campuses around the world, Rehov’s film calls on viewers to recognize the broader threat posed by these movements. The alliances formed between Nazis, Islamists, and Soviet operatives in the 20th century have left a legacy of disinformation that persists to this day, fueling both anti-Israel sentiment and global anti-Semitism.
