On Monday, there was a very disturbing segment on The O'Reilly Factor about the rise of anti-Semitism. Bill O'Reilly and FoxNews need to be applauded for taking this topic on, as it is critically important that the media pay attention to what is happening in the world today as anti-Semitism spreads.

But O'Reilly, through his own ignorance, actually did more harm than good in his coverage. His guest, Dr. Steven Bucci from the Heritage Foundation, was not much better. After opening the segment with coverage of what is happening on the ground all over Europe and the world today, they discussed the origins of anti-Semitism.

O'Reilly stated, "historically, in Europe, many of the people who controlled the land and the banks were Jewish” and "there was resentment by those who didn't have money or land." I am sure O'Reilly was not intending to toss out one of the many libels used against Jews, but this one is so egregious, not to mention, dangerous, that it boggles the mind. In fact, for much of European history, Jews were not allowed to own land!

As for banking, while Jews had been involved in banking and finance over the centuries, they never, at any period, "controlled" the banks. This canard that O'Reilly so lazily tosses out is, in fact, ironically, one the great seeds of anti-Semitism, the supposed purpose of having this segment air.

When O'Reilly then asked his guest for help in explaining why anti-Semitism exists, his "expert" guest, Dr. Bucci, went on about how the far right and Nazis thought Jews were subhuman. He continued that even though many Jews started the Communist movement, Stalin then turned against them. Nothing more?

If it were only so easy.

How about blood libels, centuries of preaching of "Christ killers," Islam's own quite uniquely virulent and historical anti-Semitism, the libel of "control" of banks and money? Not to mention the greatest reason, the great sin that befalls mankind: envy.

There are many reasons for the causes of this great disease known as anti-Semitism. To eradicate the disease, yes, we must discuss it and examine it, but let's make certain the discussions are educated and thoughtful.

Michael Finch is the COO of the David Horowitz Freedom Center