Headlines

Belgian Intel Links Tehran to Attacks on Jewish Sites
Springfield March Features Swastika Flags from White Supremacist Group
Duquesne University Faces Civil Rights Charge Over Alleged Antisemitic Harassment

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Transcript

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

We begin with serious allegations from Belgium. According to Belgian intelligence, attacks on Jewish sites in Liège and Antwerp have been attributed to Tehran. Reports indicate a main suspect in an Iranian-run network was recently arrested in Turkey, highlighting the threat Tehran poses to Europe, according to reporting reviewed for this episode. This development points to potential state-sponsored actions targeting Jewish communities.

In domestic news, masked participants carrying black flags with white swastikas marched through downtown Springfield, Ohio, on a Saturday afternoon, according to a 2 NEWS viewer. The group is identified as being associated with "The Blood Tribe," which the city of Springfield previously sued for threats and intimidation, according to reporting. The Anti-Defamation League’s Center on Extremism notes that the Blood Tribe promotes a white ethnostate, according to reporting reviewed for this episode. Marjory Wentworth, a spokesperson for the faith-based immigration support organization G92, stated that "Racist hatred is alive and well," describing the display as a cowardly and cruel act.

On campus, Duquesne University faces a federal civil rights charge. The Louis D. Brandeis Center for Human Rights Under Law announced it filed a complaint with the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission on behalf of Dr. Alex Kranjec, an associate professor. The complaint alleges ongoing antisemitic harassment, a hostile work environment, and severe professional retaliation. According to the filing, hostility intensified after October 7th, with reports of departmental communications and graduate student social media activity invoking anti-Jewish stereotypes and excusing violence against Israelis. The complaint details how university administrators allegedly dismissed Dr. Kranjec’s concerns, with human resources advising that reported events did not meet the threshold for a hostile work environment, according to the filing. The filing also outlines alleged retaliation against Dr. Kranjec, including being removed from a Jewish graduate student’s exam committee and the creation of an alternative course section to allow students to avoid his class. This case raises significant questions about institutional accountability for antisemitism.

Turning to institutional responses, the Royal Commission into the Bondi terror attack is reportedly facing criticism. Investigators are accused of being reluctant to seriously investigate radical Islamic antisemitism, with some calling it the "elephant in the room" that is being ignored, according to reporting reviewed for this episode. This highlights concerns about whether all avenues of extremist motivation are being adequately explored by official inquiries.

In Germany, a city council decision has sparked concern over Holocaust remembrance. According to JTA, the city council of Heidenau voted to ban "stumbling stone" memorials to Nazi victims, citing them as disrespectful and proposing an alternative location. This motion was sponsored by the center-right Christian Democratic Union and the far-right Alternative for Germany party. Holocaust survivor and leader of the Jewish community of Munich, Charlotte Knobloch, described the move as a "transparent maneuver by the extremists of the AfD" aimed at suppressing Germany's remembrance culture, JTA reported. The AfD has a history of challenging the nation's Holocaust remembrance efforts.

Finally, in the debate surrounding criticism of Israel, Irish Prime Minister Micheál Martin has rejected claims that his country's sharp criticism of Israel's conduct in Gaza amounts to antisemitism, according to reports. Reports indicate this statement comes amidst tensions surrounding a politically charged soccer match between Israel and Ireland, where the Irish national team players held a last-minute vote over whether to boycott the game, with one player reportedly walking out in protest. This situation underscores the ongoing complex discourse surrounding Israeli policy and accusations of antisemitism.

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:
- wdtn.com: https://www.wdtn.com/news/springfield-spotlight/swastika-flags-flown-by-masked-men-in-springfield-march/amp/
- israeltoday.co.il: https://www.israeltoday.co.il/read/belgian-intel-chief-tehran-behind-attacks-on-jewish-sites-in-liege-antwerp/
- jpost.com: https://www.jpost.com/diaspora/antisemitism/article-909894
- thehill.com: https://thehill.com/opinion/immigration/6112891-iranian-minorities-awaiting-visa-relief/
- ground.news: https://ground.news/article/irish-pm-rejects-antisemitism-concerns-in-ireland-amid-dramatic-vote-over-boycotting-israel-game
- youtube.com: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nCTR4sV-iyo
- JTA: https://www.jta.org/2026/09/27/global/german-city-bans-stumbling-stone-memorials-to-nazi-victims