Sentence:  If anti-Semitism <WSD>was</WSD> on trial in Jerusalem , why was it not identified , and with enough emphasis to capture the notice of the world press , in its connection with the activities of Eichmann 's Department of Jewish Affairs , as exemplified by the betrayal and murder of Jews by non police and non-party anti-Semites in Germany , as well as in Poland , Czechoslovakia , Hungary ? 
Meaning of the word marked with <WSD> tags:  have the quality of being; (copula, used with an adjective or a predicate noun)