The Koret Foundation has created an initiative to address the growth of anti-Semitic and anti-Israel activities in the Bay Area and around the world. The Initiative to Combat Anti-Semitism is backed by nearly $5 million in Koret’s past grants directed to Israel advocacy.

The past two years have shown a marked increase in direct and indirect acts of anti-Semitism, according to Koret.

These include activities hostile to Jewish students and academics on California college campuses; Israel boycott, divestment and sanction campaigns; and acts by businesses and political bodies — ranging from grocery-store boycotts of Israeli products to sanctions at the United Nations’ Durban conferences.

“There is an urgent need to confront the rising tide of global anti-Israel activities that often serve as a cover for anti-Semitism,” said Tad Taube, Koret Foundation president. “We’re working and collaborating with other proactive groups to address this issue through a variety of programs.”

The new initiative will focus on five program areas: on-campus advocacy, pro-Israel thought leadership, legal and policy strategies, media monitoring, and Israeli successes and contributions.

Bay Area grantees include BlueStar; Institute for Jewish Community Research; Berkeley Institute for Jewish Law and Israeli Law, Economy and Society; and StandWithUs Bay Area.

International grantees include the Israel Project, the Middle East Research Institute, and the Association for the Study of the Middle East and Africa.