Headlines

Iran accused of orchestrating synagogue bombing, arson attacks in Belgium.
US government sues Ohio hospital for allegedly firing Jewish surgeon over religion.
German politician Elif Eralp files defamation suit against Interior Minister over antisemitism accusation.

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Transcript

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

Belgian intelligence has identified Iran as the source behind a bombing outside a synagogue in Liège and an arson attack in Antwerp’s Jewish quarter in March. Gert Vercauteren, head of Belgium’s Coordination Unit for Threat Analysis, told public broadcaster RTBF that the perpetrators “certainly” acted on Tehran’s orders, and that these attacks on Jewish sites were part of a coordinated campaign rather than isolated incidents. An explosive device was detonated outside the Synagogue de Liège on March 9, and that same week, a car was torched in Antwerp’s Jewish quarter. No one was hurt in either attack, according to reporting reviewed for this episode.

These Belgian incidents coincided with a string of plots in the Netherlands, including a foiled synagogue bombing. The Belgian security services have recorded no further attacks since. In response, Israeli Ambassador to Belgium and Luxembourg David Saranga called on European nations to change their policies toward Iran. This follows a pattern of concern over Tehran’s actions: last year, the United States and 13 European nations condemned attempts by Iranian intelligence services to kill, kidnap, and harass people, including Jewish citizens, in their territories. A joint statement noted that the regime is “increasingly collaborating with international criminal organizations to target journalists, dissidents, Jewish citizens and current and former officials.” Swedish intelligence agency SÄPO also stated in 2024 that Iran may have orchestrated terrorist attacks on Israeli targets in Scandinavia.

In the United States, the federal government is taking legal action over alleged workplace discrimination. The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, or EEOC, has filed a lawsuit against Mercy Health in Youngstown, Ohio. The lawsuit claims the hospital violated federal law by subjecting a Jewish orthopedic surgeon to unfavorable terms and conditions of employment and ultimately firing him because of his religion and race, shortly after the October 7th terrorist attacks in Israel. According to the lawsuit, the surgeon, who had a successful practice and met productivity goals, faced antisemitic remarks throughout his employment. EEOC Chair Andrea Lucas stated that after years of harassment, the surgeon faced workplace comments blaming “the Jews” for the October 7th attack. Lucas added that the surgeon was excluded from meetings and had his surgery time blocks reduced before his contract was terminated. She affirmed that the EEOC will not hesitate to litigate to protect Jewish workers, stating, “Antisemitism has no place in the American workplace.”

In Germany, a criminal complaint for defamation has been filed against Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt by Elif Eralp, a politician with the Left Party who is poised to become Berlin's next mayor following recent state elections. The complaint stems from an incident on the Maybrit Illner talk show where, according to reporting reviewed for this episode, the host initially misspoke calling Eralp an antisemite, before correcting herself. However, Dobrindt then replied, "Well, she is." Eralp's lawyer, Jasper Prigge, told the German Press Agency that Dobrindt endorsed the host's slip of the tongue, repeating the accusation on national television. Prigge stated that this constitutes defamation, is significantly damaging to reputation, and likely to impede Eralp’s public work.

In the Netherlands, masked protesters gathered outside the D66 party congress in Amsterdam. Reporting indicates they held a flag of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, or PFLP, alongside a banner declaring “WE SUPPORT HAMAS.” Shortly after, Dutch Prime Minister Rob Jetten was rushed off stage when pro-Palestinian protesters interrupted his address. Jetten later told local media that the activists had behaved in a “respectful way,” according to reports.

On American campuses, a student journalist is seeking interviews with students who have experienced antisemitism. This indicates an ongoing investigation into incidents and experiences affecting students in a university setting.

In a positive development for educational approaches to combating hatred, Clark University has become the first college to join a Project Shema and Ruderman Family Foundation program. This initiative aims to train psychologists to confront 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:
- ejpress.org: https://ejpress.org/belgian-intel-chief-tehran-behind-attacks-on-jewish-sites-in-liege-antwerp/amp/
- reddit.com: https://www.reddit.com/r/ucf/comments/1ws1b1u/student_journalist_looking_to_interview_students/
- en.yenisafak.com: https://en.yenisafak.com/world/german-lefts-eralp-files-complaint-over-antisemitism-slur-3723822
- aa.com.tr: https://www.aa.com.tr/en/europe/german-left-partys-elif-eralp-files-criminal-complaint-against-interior-minister-over-antisemitism-accusations/4071422
- Israel Today - Telegram Channel: https://t.me/ILtoday/20144
- jewishrhody.com: https://www.jewishrhody.com/stories/lithuanian-students-retrace-holocaust-history-on-memorial-day-confront-countrys-role-in-massacres,177777
- jpost.com: https://www.jpost.com/diaspora/antisemitism/article-909878