Headlines

Ontario Synagogue Shooting on Yom Kippur Eve Investigated as Potential Terrorism
German Election Sees Far-Left Victory Amid Antisemitism Allegations
US Politicians Face Scrutiny Over Ties to Figures Accused of Promoting Antisemitism

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Transcript

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

Tonight, we begin with a deeply concerning incident unfolding on Yom Kippur eve in Ontario, Canada. A police officer and a civilian were wounded in an exchange of gunfire Sunday near the Sons of Jacob Synagogue in Belleville. The province's Special Investigations Unit has indicated the incident was likely premeditated and could be considered an act of terrorism. As congregants gathered for the holiest day of the Jewish calendar, the gunman, identified as 29-year-old Sean Ward, fired a shotgun at an officer stationed outside the synagogue. According to witness accounts reported by the Belleville police, bullets struck nearby buildings and windows, narrowly missing congregants. The injured officer, Const. Jeff Smith, is in critical but stable condition, while the suspect is hospitalized in life-threatening condition. Prime Minister Mark Carney condemned the violence, stating that Jewish people must be able to worship safely, and Premier Doug Ford called the shooting 'disgusting.' The incident follows a pattern of violence targeting synagogues previously noted by Prime Minister Carney.

Across the United States, several other incidents underscore ongoing threats. In Surfside, Florida, a man was arrested and charged with hate crimes after allegedly making antisemitic remarks, punching, and threatening to kill a Jewish individual. Police stated Jorden Stephen Perozo approached the couple on August 16th, directing profanity at them and the Jewish community. In New York, the NYPD released footage of two suspects who allegedly threw bags of motor oil at two Orthodox synagogues in Queens on July 16th, causing property damage. Separately, in New Jersey, a man named Austin Gaekler was arrested for spray-painting a swastika and 'SS' on a building, and for a second vandalism incident, facing charges of criminal mischief and bias intimidation. Two brothers in Hornell, New York, Cormac Thomas Banco and Declan Peter Banco, were charged with hate crimes after allegedly stealing an Israeli flag from a business and burning it. And federal officials reported a woman, Jessica Bowie, was charged with providing support to a terror group for allegedly plotting an ISIS-inspired attack on the New York State Capitol. This plot was identified within reporting that also detailed various antisemitic incidents.

In Germany, the far-left Die Linke party, led by Elif Eralp, has made history by winning the 2026 Berlin state election, positioning Eralp to potentially become mayor. However, this victory comes amid pressure from potential coalition partners, the Social Democrats and Greens, who are urging Eralp to address allegations of antisemitism within parts of her party. Some reporting argues these accusations are politically motivated distractions aimed at delegitimizing the party, rather than evidence of systemic antisemitism. Eralp has pledged to ensure all residents, including Jewish people, can feel safe. This development is being compared to Zohran Mamdani's 2025 New York City mayoral campaign, with both focusing on affordability issues.

We also look at political associations in the United States. An article critiques Vice President J.D. Vance for defending his friendship with Tucker Carlson, who is described as a 'country's highest-profile promoter of anti-Semitism' due to his rhetoric including Holocaust denial and demonization of Jewish people. Vance stated he does not believe in 'guilt-by-association.' Meanwhile, Marshall Rawson, a Republican candidate for Florida House District 10, faces scrutiny for attending the 2017 'Unite the Right' rally and for his ties to the League of the South, a group labeled white supremacist by the Southern Poverty Law Center. On the religious front, leading US Reform rabbi Ammiel Hirsch warned in a Yom Kippur sermon that 'unhinged, obsessive loathing of Israel is corrupting US values' and that America will pay a price if Jew-hatred spreads. He urged Jewish voters to support politicians who 'support us.'

Finally, we turn to rhetoric related to the Israel-Palestine conflict that meets IHRA's criteria for antisemitism. Musician Macklemore was dropped from Ed Sheeran's tour and prevented from performing at Gillette Stadium due to his comments. Letters to the editor in response described his stance as 'anti-Israel hate speech' and, in one instance, an 'anti-Semitic rant.' The commentary argued that phrases like 'Free Palestine' can mask an anti-Israel agenda and suggested provocations by Hamas.

I'm Rachel Adler, thank you for joining us on 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:
- Times of Israel (Telegram): https://t.me/TheTimesOfIsrael2022/9185
- cbsnews.com: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/synagogue-shooting-belleville-ontario-yom-kippur/
- unpublished.ca: https://unpublished.ca/news-feed-item/2026-09-21/jewish-people-must-be-able-to-worship-safely-carney-poilievre-and-others
- thestar.com: https://www.thestar.com/news/canada/belleville-synagogue-shooting-live-exchange-of-gunfire-between-man-armed-with-rifle-and-officer-siu-to-provide-update/article_fbbe9578-0300-4cca-a09c-36c9fbc829db.html
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- Times of Israel (Telegram): https://t.me/TheTimesOfIsrael2022/9187
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- theatlantic.com: https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/2026/09/vance-sayed-piker-carlson-friendships/688657/
- alligator.org: https://www.alligator.org/article/2026/09/florida-house-10-candidate-s-past-ties-to-extremist-groups-draw-criticism
- commondreams.org: https://www.commondreams.org/news/left-party-berlin-election
- youtube.com: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hEPn8JfWgKk
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- nypost.com: https://nypost.com/2026/09/21/opinion/macklemores-anti-israel-rant-letters/