Abe Foxman, former Anti-Defamation League chief, dies at 86
Abe Foxman, longtime Anti-Defamation League director, dies at 86. His fierce defense of Israel drew praise from leaders and criticism from rights advocates.
ADL confirms death
The Anti-Defamation League confirmed on Sunday, May 10, 2026, that Abraham “Abe” Foxman has died at the age of 86. The organisation described him as an “outspoken, passionate, and tireless advocate for the Jewish people and Israel,” in a statement released with immediate effect.
ADL Board Chair Nicole Munchnik paid tribute to Foxman’s influence, calling him a builder of the “modern liberal era of America” and noting his long role as an adviser to US presidents and other world leaders. Munchnik remembered Foxman as both a spirited antagonist and a warm friend to those who worked with him.
Four decades at the Anti-Defamation League
Foxman began his career with the ADL in 1965 and served as the organisation’s national director from 1987 until 2015. Under his leadership the ADL expanded its profile and became a fixture in debates over hate speech, discrimination, and the boundaries of acceptable public discourse.
During his tenure the ADL broadened its monitoring of antisemitism while also moving into policy advocacy and public education campaigns. Colleagues say Foxman’s tenure reshaped the ADL into one of the most influential Jewish advocacy organisations in the United States.
Positions on Israel and recent conflicts
A Holocaust survivor who made the defence of Israel a central theme of his public life, Foxman remained an outspoken supporter of Israeli government policies in recent years. He publicly rejected characterisations that labelled Israel’s actions in Gaza as genocide, saying in July 2025 that while the situation was tragic and civilian harm must be minimised, it did not meet the legal definition of genocide.
Weeks before his death Foxman expressed support for US and Israeli military action against Iran, posting a message of gratitude to President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on February 28, 2026, after hostilities began. His statements reflected a continued belief in a robust security partnership between Israel and the United States.
Criticism from Palestinian rights advocates
Throughout his career, and especially during the recent conflicts, Foxman and the ADL faced sustained criticism from Palestinian rights advocates and some civil liberties groups. Critics accused the ADL of conflating criticism of Israeli policy with antisemitism and of seeking to silence pro-Palestine activism.
Under Foxman’s successor, Jonathan Greenblatt, the ADL intensified public campaigns against critics of Israel, a strategy that deepened tensions with progressive activists. Greenblatt’s comment last year likening the Palestinian keffiyeh to a Nazi symbol drew particular ire and highlighted the polarising tenor of the debate.
Political influence and media disputes
Foxman was widely viewed as an influential voice in American public affairs, regularly weighing in on television and in print and meeting with senior policymakers. He warned in recent years about waning public support for Israel in the United States, urging more effective public diplomacy to counter narratives he described as hostile to Israel.
In 2021 he notably cancelled his New York Times subscription following the newspaper’s front-page publication of photographs of Palestinian children killed in Gaza, calling the placement a “blood libel” against Israel and the Jewish people. His public disputes with major media outlets underscored ongoing fights over how the Israeli–Palestinian conflict is covered.
Tributes from Israeli and American leaders
Tributes poured in from Israel and the United States following the ADL announcement. Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar said he was “deeply saddened,” praising Foxman as a towering voice against antisemitism and a defender of Jewish communities worldwide. President Isaac Herzog described him as a “legendary leader of the Jewish people,” calling Foxman a passionate Zionist and a humane, outspoken friend.
In the US, leaders across the political spectrum acknowledged Foxman’s decades of advocacy and his role in shaping discourse on antisemitism. While responses reflected the deep controversies that marked parts of his career, many of his peers emphasised his lifelong commitment to Jewish life and memory.
Abe Foxman’s passing marks the end of a prominent chapter in American Jewish activism, leaving a complex legacy that includes the expansion of the ADL’s reach, passionate defence of Israel, and persistent disputes over civil liberties and the boundaries of legitimate criticism.
