Antisemitism Watch

Syrian Forces Chant Genocidal Threats Against Jews
Missouri Mandates IHRA Definition for Antisemitism, Facing Rights Concerns
Report Challenges Pro-Palestinian Activist's Narrative Amid Deportation Case

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Antisemitism Watch

Antisemitism Watch is a daily monitoring and analysis program tracking antisemitism worldwide — incidents, rhetoric, policy, and institutional responses — r

📝 Transcript

You're listening to Antisemitism Watch, I'm Rachel Adler. Today we're tracking unsettling rhetoric from state actors, significant policy shifts on campuses, and ongoing debates around political speech.

We begin with disturbing reports from Syria, where antisemitic and anti-Israel incitement is deeply embedded within the nation's armed forces and government-affiliated groups, according to documentation by the ADL. Chants heard at military ceremonies, government operations, and public demonstrations include genocidal threats such as 'Khaybar, Khaybar, O Jews! The army of Muhammad will return!' This chant invokes a historical defeat of a Jewish community and is used as a genocidal threat. Similar rhetoric was reportedly heard during official military parades, including one attended by Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa, where soldiers chanted calls for 'blood to flow in rivers.' Government-affiliated forces and even medical graduates have reportedly repeated such chants, illustrating how antisemitic incitement is being normalized within various sectors, despite the Syrian government's moderate international messaging.

On the campus front, researchers David Collier and Rachel Feldman have released a comprehensive 101-page investigative report challenging the narrative of pro-Palestinian activist Mohsen Mahdawi, a Columbia University graduate student currently facing deportation. The report, titled 'Mohsen Mahdawi: A Timeline of Support for Terrorism,' aggregates years of social media posts and public records. Collier and Feldman argue that Mahdawi's digital footprint contradicts his public persona as a peaceful advocate. They cite alleged Facebook posts from before his arrival in the U.S. in 2014, including statements like 'Soon, very soon, we will annihilate the Jews' and referring to his rifle as his 'beloved.' The report also questions the veracity of his personal origin story and details chronological flaws in his account, according to reporting reviewed for this episode.

In institutional policy, a new law in Missouri, House Bill 2061, now mandates that public schools and universities define antisemitic behavior using the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance's working definition, including its contemporary examples. The law requires educational institutions to treat antisemitic harassment or discrimination identically to that motivated by race. However, legal experts and advocacy groups have raised significant concerns, suggesting the law may infringe on First Amendment rights and could 'chill speech.' Critics argue that the bill's clauses, including one stating that 'criticism of Israel that is similar to criticism toward any other country shall not be construed to be antisemitic,' may still be applied in ways that restrict legitimate protest. Some experts also note that calling Israel's actions 'genocide' could be deemed antisemitic under the law, according to reporting from St. Louis Public Radio and the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.

Turning to accountability, a woman in Toronto has received jail time and probation for making antisemitic threats against a Crown attorney, as reported by Jacques Gallant for the Courts and Justice Reporter. In Oakland, the Jerusalem Coffee House has closed its doors following antisemitism lawsuits, indicating a significant consequence tied to alleged discrimination, according to reporting reviewed for this episode.

On the campus of Haverford College in Pennsylvania, a federal civil rights settlement will bring new antisemitism prevention courses to all levels of the institution. This resolves claims that the college illegally allowed Jewish students to be bullied over issues related to Zionism and the Israel-Hamas war. The California-based Center for Combating Antisemitism, alongside The Deborah Project, will provide training. As the CCA's executive director Peggy Shapiro stated, 'Recognizing antisemitism is the first step to defeating it,' adding that 'antisemitism is a hatred that mutates.' The college acknowledged past 'unforced errors' such as praising a professor who denounced Jewish community advocates, but also took action against individuals disrupting events with antisemitic slogans, according to The Algemeiner.

In politics and media, Vice President JD Vance is facing scrutiny over his associations and rhetoric regarding Israel. Nikki Haley publicly urged Vance to 'choose a side' between supporting Israel and aligning with the 'Tucker Carlson wing of the country,' following Vance's defense of Carlson, whose platform has faced accusations of amplifying antisemitic sentiments. Vance himself met with the Republican Jewish Coalition, where he sought to assuage skepticism. While he avoided disavowing Carlson, describing podcast appearances as ways to reach people, some attendees expressed continued discomfort. According to Haaretz, Vance's remarks at the RJC reportedly failed to demonstrate a clear understanding of antisemitism, drawing criticism and questioning his stance. Vance has a long-standing relationship with Carlson, who has amplified figures accused of antisemitism.

In watchdog reporting, B'nai Brith is lobbying Saskatchewan's government for new policies to protect Jewish students and prevent antisemitism on campuses and in schools. Their proposed policies, PCAC and PCAS, call on institutions to prohibit events and narratives that platform antisemitic content. Notably, B'nai Brith defines 'undue criticism of the State of Israel,' holding it to a standard not expected of other nations, and opposition to Zionism as contemporary forms of antisemitism. This approach has drawn criticism from groups like Students for Justice and Peace at the University of Saskatchewan, who worry these definitions could stifle legitimate activism and criticism of Israeli policy, according to reporting reviewed for this episode.

Separately, Bend the Arc: A Jewish Partnership for Justice is offering a training session on how to discuss AIPAC's tactics and influence without fueling antisemitism. Bend the Arc states there is a 'real hunger for this training,' particularly with election season and the 2026 midterms approaching. The organization aims to equip Jews and allies with the skills to critique AIPAC's methods without resorting to or amplifying antisemitic tropes, as noted in their communications.

We close today with a positive development: Over 180 Jewish figures in media and entertainment have signed an open letter defending actor Mark Ruffalo. This comes after Ruffalo faced accusations of antisemitism for remarks criticizing the Paramount Skydance-Warner Bros. Discovery merger and linking the Gaza war to 'genocide.' The signatories, including figures like Jonathan Glazer and Tony Kushner, described the accusations as a 'dangerous weaponization of charges of antisemitism' and a 'smear campaign.' Their letter argues that recognizing the connections between events in Gaza and 'our liberties at home' is 'the very essence of Jewish ethical duty,' and that spurious charges of antisemitism should not be used to defend 'war, oligarchy, and AI domination,' according to reporting by Variety.

That's all for this edition of Antisemitism Watch. I'm Rachel Adler. Thank you for listening.

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

📚 Sources

Sources:
- Algemeiner: https://www.algemeiner.com/2026/09/02/center-combating-antisemitism-train-haverford-college-awareness-recognition-hatred-that-mutates/
- jpost.com: https://www.jpost.com/diaspora/antisemitism/article-907333
- aol.com: https://www.aol.com/articles/nikki-haley-demands-jd-vance-150300000.html
- cruxnow.com: https://cruxnow.com/church-in-the-usa/2026/09/vance-privately-addresses-republican-jewish-coalition-during-tension-over-israel-and-antisemitism
- haaretz.com: https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/haaretz-today/2026-09-02/ty-article/.highlight/vance-doesnt-know-what-the-blood-libel-is-does-he-know-what-antisemitism-is/000001a0-6241-d822-a3b8-725fd5a10000
- haaretz.com: https://www.haaretz.com/us-news/2026-09-02/ty-article/.premium/jewish-public-figures-decry-weaponization-of-antisemitism-against-mark-ruffalo/000001a0-61e7-d43a-affe-7ff7cc010000
- ADL: https://www.adl.org/resources/article/antisemitic-and-anti-israel-chants-expose-troubling-reality-syria
- jewishrhody.com: https://www.jewishrhody.com/stories/new-missouri-law-forcing-schools-to-target-anti-semitism-sparks-intense-first-amendment-concerns,172759
- jpost.com: https://www.jpost.com/diaspora/antisemitism/article-907359
- bendthearc.us: https://www.bendthearc.us/lets_talk_about_aipac_join_us_on_september_15
- niagarafallsreview.ca: https://www.niagarafallsreview.ca/news/canada/group-wants-tighter-rules-on-sask-campus-activism-criticism-of-israel/article_39bdd3bd-70f1-5eae-816d-7411362e387a.html
- jewishinsider.com: https://jewishinsider.com/2026/09/jerusalem-coffee-house-closes-antisemitism-lawsuits/
- reddit.com: https://www.reddit.com/r/CrimeInTheGta/comments/1w590db/woman_gets_one_more_day_in_jail_probation_for/
- Algemeiner: https://www.algemeiner.com/2026/09/02/more-than-180-jewish-figures-defend-mark-ruffalo-after-hes-accused-antisemitism/