Antisemitism Watch

US House Passes Bill Targeting University Boycotts of Israel
Novelist Flanagan Denies Bondi Attack Was Antisemitic; VP Vance Won't Disavow Tucker Carlson
Analysis: Jewish Defense of Actor Echoes Antisemitic Tropes; Incidents Rise in Spain

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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.

In Washington, the US House of Representatives has passed the Protect Economic and Academic Freedom Act, a bill that would cut federal funding to universities engaged in boycotts of Israel. The legislation, which passed by a vote of 237 to 169, aims to counter the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions movement and what proponents call tangible campaigns of antisemitism. The bill's sponsors, Republican Representative Virginia Foxx and Democrat Josh Gottheimer, stated that taxpayer money should not go to institutions that discriminate against Israel. However, opponents like Democrat Jerrold Nadler and Bobby Scott raised concerns about protecting free expression and noted that no US college has fully embraced the BDS movement, warning the bill risks inflaming antisemitism. The bill now moves to the Senate, with AIPAC backing the legislation and J Street opposing it.

Across the globe, Australian novelist Richard Flanagan has sparked controversy by asserting that the deadly Islamist terrorist attack at Bondi Beach in 2025, which targeted Jewish Australians, was not an antisemitic act. According to reporting, Flanagan described claims of rising Australian antisemitism as a “destructive myth” and accused the “Israel lobby” of politicizing the tragedy. He further suggested that some incidents following the October 7th attacks should be viewed as legitimate protests rather than antisemitism.

In US politics, Vice President JD Vance stated he will not disavow his friend Tucker Carlson, the former Fox News personality known for spreading antisemitic conspiracy theories. Vance acknowledged political disagreements with Carlson but defended their friendship, stating he would not “play the game where I throw friends under the bus.” Vance’s refusal to distance himself from Carlson drew criticism from some members of the Republican Jewish Coalition, who had previously expressed unease with his close relationship to Carlson. Vance argued that maintaining friendships across political disagreements is essential for discourse.

Meanwhile, an analysis of a letter signed by over 170 Jewish artists, writers, academics, and faith leaders defending actor Mark Ruffalo against antisemitism accusations has highlighted how the defense inadvertently employed historical antisemitic tropes. The article argues that descriptions of a proposed business deal, using terms like “oligarchic control” and linking figures to broader systems of media ownership and political influence, echo classic antisemitic stereotypes of Jewish control. The signatories aimed to argue Ruffalo’s comments were not antisemitic, but the analysis suggests the language used to defend him risked invoking these tropes.

Turning to international incidents, reports from Spain indicate that antisemitic incidents there have risen by 14.5 percent, with Jewish groups warning that hatred is becoming normalized.

In the political sphere, U.S. Representative Michael Baumgartner, who serves on the House committee on Education and the Workforce, has criticized what he calls “woke stuff” in higher education, such as gender and ethnic studies, advocating instead for degrees with “actual value” and “true academic inquiry.” Baumgartner also mentioned that Congress has held hearings on antisemitism on college campuses and the experiences of Jewish students.

On the broader landscape of combating antisemitism, ADL CEO Jonathan Greenblatt described the organization as being at a “moment of reckoning” due to surging antisemitism. Greenblatt stated that the ADL is now “fighting ‘petrol-funded heavyweights’” and is “turning to AI for reinforcements.”

Finally, Israeli President Herzog has reportedly warned New York City Mayor Mamdani against antisemitic rhetoric, with local Jewish leaders having blamed such rhetoric for issues related to Israel.

I'm Rachel Adler, thank you for joining me 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.

📚 Sources

Sources:
- facebook.com: https://www.facebook.com/KATVChannel7/posts/some-local-jewish-leaders-have-blamed-mamdanis-rhetoric-against-israel-including/1575456091276782/
- israelnationalnews.com: https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/432704
- dailyevergreen.com: https://dailyevergreen.com/198537/uncategorized/baumgartner-aims-to-push-out-woke-stuff-from-higher-education/
- organiser.org: https://organiser.org/2026/09/04/378694/world/australia-leftist-novelist-dismisses-bondi-beach-islamist-massacre-as-anti-semitic-attack-blames-israel-lobby/
- newsweek.com: https://www.newsweek.com/mark-ruffalo-defense-antisemitic-trope-12401554
- themedialine.org: https://themedialine.org/headlines/us-house-passes-bill-to-cut-funding-to-universities-boycotting-israel/
- presstv.co.uk: https://www.presstv.co.uk/Detail/2026/09/03/775623/US-House-passes-bill-to-punish-universities-over-Israel-boycotts
- youtube.com: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=krd2C1CSVsc
- insidehighered.com: https://www.insidehighered.com/news/quick-takes/2026/09/04/house-passes-bill-blocking-aid-colleges-boycott-israel
- Times of Israel (Telegram): https://t.me/TheTimesOfIsrael2022/9024
- thej.ca: https://thej.ca/2026/09/04/antisemitic-incidents-in-spain-rise-14-5-as-jewish-groups-warn-hatred-is-becoming-normalized/