Headlines

Netanyahu, Mamdani Trade Accusations Amid Surging NY Antisemitism
Stanford Vandalism Charges Dropped; Jewish Groups Decry "Miscarriage of Justice"
ADL Report Details Deep-Seated Antisemitism in Online Extremist Networks

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Transcript

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

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has reignited a clash with New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, accusing the mayor of supporting Hamas and inciting violence against New York Jews. In a video message released ahead of his UN General Assembly visit, Netanyahu stated, "Shame on you Mr. Mamdani. Shame on you for supporting the Hamas terrorist monsters who butchered our people. Shame on you for inciting riots against New York Jews." Mayor Mamdani, who previously described Netanyahu as "an architect of a horrific genocide," responded during a news conference that the Prime Minister's claims were untrue. Mamdani reiterated his view that Netanyahu is "the architect of the horrific genocide against Palestinians." The exchange reignited their feud, following Mamdani's earlier vow to honor an International Criminal Court arrest warrant for Netanyahu, a move his administration acknowledged it could not legally enforce. Adding to the tension, New York City Council Speaker Julie Menin commented on the situation, telling NY1 that "Antisemitism is unfortunately surging in our city" and urged de-escalation. This reporting comes from Spectrum News.

In legal and campus news, state prosecutors are preparing to drop felony vandalism charges against five current and former Stanford University students. These charges stemmed from their involvement in the 2024 occupation of the university president’s office in protest against the war in Gaza. According to reporting by JTA, the students will complete 100 hours of community service and pay a combined $52,000 in restitution to the university as part of a deal with California Attorney General Rob Bonta’s office. The outcome drew strong criticism from two Bay Area Jewish groups, the Jewish Community Relations Council Bay Area and Jewish Silicon Valley, who called it a "miscarriage of justice" and noted the insensitivity of the court hearing being held on Yom Kippur. Stanford Hillel’s director, Rabbi Jessica Kirschner, also criticized the resolution, calling the students fortunate to receive a second chance. Separately, the University of Washington is preparing to dismiss charges against 33 defendants in a similar 2025 Gaza protest case if they complete community service and have no further legal violations.

The Anti-Defamation League's Center on Extremism has launched a new research and resource hub examining online communities that influence young people toward violence and extremism. According to the ADL, these digital spaces, which can include gore forums and sextortion networks, often glorify mass shooters and normalize violent content. The ADL reports that antisemitism is "deeply embedded" in the culture of networks such as "The Com" and its sub-group 764. This anti-Jewish hate manifests through online propaganda, screen names, swatting campaigns targeting Jewish institutions, and physical violence as members seek notoriety within these networks. Examples cited by the ADL include members livestreaming violent acts, swatting hoaxes at synagogues, and abusers forcing victims to carve swastikas into their skin. The ADL's findings were detailed in a report released by the organization.

Reporting reviewed for this episode also highlights a concerning narrative from the official Palestinian Authority daily newspaper, Al-Hayat Al-Jadida. According to Palestinian Media Watch, the paper downplayed a Palestinian terrorist's murder of Israeli father of six Netanel Shukrun, instead focusing on Israel's arrest of the injured perpetrator from a hospital as the "real crime." The report indicates the PA newspaper framed the arrest as an Israeli raid on a hospital.

Globally, a growing trend of anti-Zionist sentiment and Jew-hatred is causing Israelis and Jews to question or hide their identities while traveling abroad. JTA reported on instances including graffiti reading "Expel the Jews" in Portugal, alongside similar chants heard in street protests, as well as violence in England and New York, and threats against Israelis in Australia. A poll cited by JTA found that 52% of Israelis feel concern or fear about revealing their nationality abroad, with 41% having altered their travel behavior since October 7th, 2023.

On college campuses, student protestors demonstrated against two former Israeli Defense Force soldiers speaking at Cal Poly, citing allegations of genocide in Gaza and displaying signs reading "IDF kills." According to Mustang News, protest organizers criticized the university for not providing comparable support or "safe spaces" for Palestinian, Arab, and Muslim students, as it had for LGBTQ+ students during a past event. They argue the university's inaction amounts to complicity.

In Michigan, progressive rabbis and Jewish Democrats have asked Vice President Kamala Harris to press Democratic Senate nominee Dr. Abdul El-Sayed on Jewish issues and Israel's right to exist. According to Jerusalem News Syndicate, they accused El-Sayed of invoking antisemitic tropes and stated that "Jewish safety... is nonnegotiable" and "Our vote is our power, and it is earned, not owed."

Separately, family members of Cara Trager, a Jewish journalist killed in a Memorial Day crash, claim New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani declined their request for a meeting to discuss citywide antisemitism concerns. VINnews reported this claim, citing a New York Post opinion essay by family friend Bob Brody. The driver of the vehicle faces charges including second-degree manslaughter. While the crash itself has not been charged as a hate crime, the driver was separately accused of vandalizing a kosher shop with Israeli flags.

In West London, a Labour councillor, Sital Punja, has accused the local Conservative Party of using AI-generated caricatures containing what she described as racist and antisemitic tropes on social media. According to BBC London, Punja stated one cartoon depicting her controlling white male counterparts as puppets utilizes a motif with deep historical roots in antisemitic propaganda. The Hillingdon Conservative Group denied any antisemitic intent, calling the images "political satire" referring to Punja's past role as deputy leader. Dr. Ben Gidley, an academic at Birkbeck University's Institute for the Study of Antisemitism, commented that AI tools risk intensifying the use of such imagery.

And in Germany, potential coalition partners are demanding that the far-left Die Linke party confront antisemitism in its ranks, as reported by Haaretz.com. The excerpt notes that party leaders and some experts argue isolated incidents are being used to derail a left-led government.

Finally, survivors of antisemitic attacks are lobbying Congress for security aid. They are framing the issue as "life and death" and advocating for legislation like the Right to Worship Act, as noted by Temple Israel attack survivor Cassi Cohen.

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:
- mustangnews.net: https://mustangnews.net/students-oppose-idf-speakers/
- jns.org: https://www.jns.org/news/u-s-news/michigan-jews-ask-kamala-harris-to-press-el-sayed-on-antisemitism-israel
- ny1.com: https://ny1.com/nyc/all-boroughs/politics/2026/09/23/mamdani-netanyahu-feud-united-nations-general-assembly-
- haaretz.com: https://www.haaretz.com/world-news/europe/2026-09-23/ty-article-magazine/.premium/how-big-is-die-linkes-antisemitism-problem-and-could-it-cost-it-berlin/000001a0-ce97-d4d3-a1b0-efbf485f0000
- vinnews.com: https://vinnews.com/2026/09/22/family-of-jewish-journalist-killed-in-queens-crash-says-mayor-mamdani-declined-to-meet/
- bbc.co.uk: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c83v47q0165do
- Algemeiner: https://www.algemeiner.com/2026/09/23/palestinian-authority-attacks-israel-arresting-terrorist-who-killed-father-just-being-jewish/
- timesofisrael.com: https://www.timesofisrael.com/nyc-jews-israelis-anti-zionists-plan-protests-during-netanyahu-visit-to-un/
- jewishinsider.com: https://jewishinsider.com/2026/09/antisemitic-attack-survovrs-lobby-congress-security-aid/
- jpost.com: https://www.jpost.com/diaspora/antisemitism/article-909432
- JTA: https://www.jta.org/2026/09/23/ideas/im-a-lifelong-surfer-the-waves-dont-scare-me-but-traveling-as-a-jew-does
- forward.com: https://forward.com/fast-forward/851672/stanford-gaza-protesters-avoid-felony-charges-in-community-service-deal/