Antisemitism Watch

House Passes Bill Targeting Israel Boycotts
California Sees Surge in Anti-Jewish Hate Crimes
VP Vance Defends Tucker Carlson Amidst Antisemitism Concerns

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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

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

The U.S. House of Representatives has passed a bill aimed at combating academic and commercial boycotts against Israel. According to reporting from The Washington Times and JTA, the Protect Economic and Academic Freedom Act passed with a vote of 237 to 169. The legislation would prohibit universities from receiving federal student aid if they engage in such boycotts, requiring institutions to certify they are not participating in boycotts of Israel or unreasonably obstructing academic programs there. The bill, sponsored by Rep. Josh Gottheimer and Rep. Virginia Foxx, aims to counter the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions movement. Critics, however, including Rep. Jerrold Nadler, have raised concerns that the bill infringes upon First Amendment rights and academic freedom.

In California, antisemitism remains a significant concern, with 289 anti-Jewish hate crimes recorded in 2025, according to Times of San Diego. This figure comprised nearly 74% of all religion-based hate crimes in the state. In San Diego specifically, 91 antisemitic incidents were documented last year, with nearly one in four targeting Jewish institutions. The report also notes concerning rhetoric from political groups, where the term 'Zionist' is reportedly used as shorthand for 'Jew,' making engagement with Jewish organizations a disqualifying offense for endorsement.

Vice President JD Vance defended his close relationship with Tucker Carlson this week, calling him a "friend" and dismissing criticism about Carlson's history of platforming antisemites. In a White House briefing, Vance stated, "I’m not going to play the game where I throw friends under the bus because I have political disagreements with them." This defense comes as Carlson has a documented history of promoting white nationalist talking points and granting interviews to notorious antisemites, as detailed by Media Matters. Critics argue Vance's response is disingenuous, eliding Carlson's significant role in Vance's political career and his platform's impact.

The Anti-Defamation League has released a set of "Five Asks" for hospitals and healthcare institutions, urging them to take concrete steps to prevent and address antisemitism. ADL's recommendations, detailed in their September 4th release, call on institutions to explicitly name antisemitism, including anti-Zionist harassment, in their policies. They also advocate for accessible, confidential reporting systems for patients and staff, mandatory training on antisemitism for all personnel, support for Jewish employee resource groups, and robust religious accommodation policies.

The American Jewish Committee's 2025 report indicates a concerning rise in fear among American Jews, with 78% feeling less safe following the October 7th attacks, and over half changing their behavior out of fear. This heightened concern impacts how Jewish communities observe High Holidays, with security measures becoming a common feature. In response to these concerns, the FBI Baltimore Field Office is prioritizing investigations into hate crimes targeting the Jewish community and has partnered with local law enforcement on a robust security plan, according to the Baltimore Jewish Times.

On college campuses, a report notes that one in three students encountered problematic course content related to protests concerning Israel. Meanwhile, concerns are rising about the spread of antisemitic conspiracy theories on platforms like TikTok.

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.

📚 Sources

Sources:
- timesofsandiego.com: https://timesofsandiego.com/opinion/2026/09/04/san-diego-must-reject-demonization-jews-politics/
- universityaffairs.ca: https://universityaffairs.ca/opinion/rebuilding-jewish-students-trust-in-universities/
- mediamatters.org: https://www.mediamatters.org/jd-vance/jd-vances-wildly-disingenuous-response-his-tucker-carlson-problem
- youtube.com: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oLqxbBka1lQ
- blogs.timesofisrael.com: https://blogs.timesofisrael.com/vice-president-j-d-vances-evasion/
- mediamatters.org: https://www.mediamatters.org/media-matters-weekly-newsletter/media-matters-weekly-newsletter-september-4
- blogs.timesofisrael.com: https://blogs.timesofisrael.com/memory-is-not-a-vaccine-against-antisemitism/
- ADL: https://www.adl.org/resources/tools-and-strategies/top-five-asks-hospitals-and-healthcare-institutions
- washingtontimes.com: https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2026/sep/4/house-passes-bill-stripping-funding-universities-boycott-israel/
- jewishtimes.com: https://www.jewishtimes.com/us-house-passes-bill-stripping-federal-funds-from-universities-that-boycott-israel/
- en.yenisafak.com: https://en.yenisafak.com/world/us-house-passes-bill-to-penalize-israel-boycotts-by-universities-3722744
- AJC: https://www.ajc.org/news/taking-stock-of-rosh-hashanah-for-the-next-generation
- jewishtimes.com: https://www.jewishtimes.com/fbi-police-focus-on-jewish-community-safety/
- ADL: https://www.adl.org/resources/press-release/adl-releases-five-asks-hospitals-and-healthcare-institutions-address
- combatantisemitism.org: https://combatantisemitism.org/interview/holocaust-remembrance-means-little-if-we-fail-to-protect-living-jewish-communities-an-interview-with-spanish-mep-antonio-lopez-isturiz-white/