Headlines

French Court Dismisses Antisemitism Charges in Assault Case
Rosh Hashanah Egging: Worshippers Attacked at Jerusalem Synagogue
Sweden Expels Iranian Diplomat for Targeting Synagogue

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Transcript

You're listening to Antisemitism Watch, I'm Rachel Adler.

A French court has dismissed antisemitism-motivated charges against a woman convicted of assaulting three Jewish students in 2024. Algemeiner reported that the Correctional Tribunal of Strasbourg handed one defendant a four-month suspended prison sentence and ordered her to pay damages, but did not recognize antisemitism as an aggravating circumstance. The Union of French Jewish Students, or UEJF, called the ruling "scandalous" and questioned how antisemitic violence is treated by the French justice system, noting this follows other cases where sentences for antisemitic crimes have been overturned or reduced.

In Jerusalem, Jewish youths threw eggs at worshippers at a Reform synagogue on September 15, the second day of Rosh Hashanah, the JTA reported. The congregation described the incident as an escalation in attacks on Reform communities in Israel, noting it was the second attack on Kol HaNeshama within a month. Rabbi Debi Shoua-Haim told the Jewish Telegraphic Agency that the group had engaged in "homophobic and bordered on harassment" comments before the egging. The Reform movement stated, "This is violence against Jews for the way they choose to practice Judaism." According to the JTA, the congregation filed a police complaint and provided security footage. No injuries were reported.

In Kansas, a man was arrested for making death threats and antisemitic comments toward Ben Shapiro, according to reporting reviewed for this episode.

Sweden has expelled an Iranian diplomat for engaging in activities that pose security threats, including targeting a synagogue, according to reporting reviewed for this episode.

In New York City, a woman verbally assaulted a Jewish man at a gym, calling him a "racist" and "Zionist pig" without any prior confrontation, according to reporting reviewed for this episode.

New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft admitted to pressuring venue owners to drop artist Macklemore due to the rapper's pro-Palestinian comments, citing alleged antisemitic rhetoric, the Algemeiner reported. Kraft, along with Ed Sheeran, subsequently pledged two million dollars to the Middle East region. Kraft stated his stance was not intended to dismiss the struggle of Palestinian people or restrict Macklemore's advocacy.

Wall Street Journal editorial board member Elliot Kaufman spoke on September 15th about how media and public perceptions misrepresent the Israeli war by downplaying Hamas's role and promoting antisemitic narratives. Kaufman argued that this obscures the reality of urban warfare and promotes a narrative of "Jews murdering civilians."

Separately in Sweden, the center-left coalition narrowly won a general election, preventing a far-right party with neo-Nazi roots from joining the cabinet, according to the JTA. The election campaign itself was significantly shaped by accusations of antisemitism, with politicians on all sides seeking to position themselves as defenders against it, Aron Verständig, chair of the Official Council of Swedish Jewish Communities, told the Jewish Telegraphic Agency.

Public schools accused of antisemitism are signing private legal settlements that impose intrusive policies and curriculum changes, according to reporting reviewed for this episode.

In California, two lawsuits were filed demanding prominent museums return Nazi-looted artwork to heirs. One targets the Auschwitz-Birkenau Memorial and Museum for seven watercolor paintings by Holocaust survivor Dina Gottliebova Babbitt, who was forced to paint for Josef Mengele. A second lawsuit, filed by the Jewish Federation of Greater Los Angeles, targets the Norton Simon Museum for a pair of 16th-century masterpieces stolen by Hermann Göring, Algemeiner reported.

I'm Rachel Adler, thank you for listening to Antisemitism Watch.

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This report was generated with AI assistance and may contain inaccuracies. Please verify important details with primary sources.

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Sources:
- JTA: https://www.jta.org/2026/09/17/israel/jerusalem-reform-synagogue-egged-in-second-attack-in-a-month
- clevelandjewishnews.com: https://www.clevelandjewishnews.com/jta/jerusalem-reform-synagogue-egged-in-second-attack-in-a-month/article_0b099e56-c048-547b-9706-c7c6e89fb644.html
- worldisraelnews.com: https://worldisraelnews.com/watch-zionist-pig-antisemitic-woman-lashes-out-at-jewish-man-in-ny-gym/
- facebook.com: https://www.facebook.com/700club/videos/kansas-man-arrested-for-death-threats-and-antisemitic-comments-toward-ben-shapir/958550503440728/
- jweekly.com: https://jweekly.com/2026/09/17/out-of-court-settlements-can-be-wins-for-all-minority-students-including-jews/
- news.lee.net: https://news.lee.net/news/nation-world/patriots-owner-pledges-2m-to-palestinian-region-at-sheerans-request/article_1267492c-6074-554f-851f-a7a8f265101f.html
- clevelandjewishnews.com: https://www.clevelandjewishnews.com/jta/sweden-s-center-left-wins-tight-election-marred-by-antisemitism-accusations/article_24bf39a8-eff9-54d3-8c43-eb18e54af5cd.html
- hillsdalecollegian.com: https://hillsdalecollegian.com/2026/09/wsj-writer-speaks-on-israeli-war-antisemitism/
- Algemeiner: https://www.algemeiner.com/2026/09/17/new-holocaust-restitution-laws-prompt-two-lawsuits-demanding-return-nazi-looted-art/
- jewishpress.com: https://jewishpress.com/sweden-expels-iranian-diplomat-for-targeting-jews/
- JTA: https://www.jta.org/2026/09/17/global/swedens-center-left-wins-tight-election-marred-by-antisemitism-accusations
- Algemeiner: https://www.algemeiner.com/2026/09/17/french-court-drops-antisemitism-charges-assault-three-jewish-students-sparking-outrage/