Antisemitism is prejudice against or hatred of Jews. It is the worlds oldest hatred against Jews, dating back thousands of years, and it is a form of racism. Antisemitism can be expressed as hatred toward Jews, and it can be directed toward Jewish or non-Jewish individuals and/or their property, Jewish community institutions, and religious facilities. Antisemitism frequently charges Jews with conspiring to harm humanity, and it is often used to blame Jews for "why things go wrong". Antisemitism can be expressed in speech, writing, visual forms, and action, and it employs sinister stereotypes and negative character traits. Criticism of Israel similar to that leveled against any other country cannot be regarded as antisemitic. Antisemitic acts are criminal when they are so defined by law, for example, denial of the Holocaust or distribution of antisemitic materials in some countries.