Antisemitism Watch

Toronto Demo Features Blood Libels, Calls for Violence
Campus Antisemitism Reports Highlight Hostile Environments; Universities Investigated
Political and Media Figures Draw Criticism for Rhetoric and Statements

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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.

An antisemitic demonstration occurred in Toronto on July 26, 2026, featuring blood libels and calls for violence against Jews, according to the Jerusalem Post. The procession was reportedly led by an academic and lecturer who used a sound system to deliver chants of 'Khazir Khazir al-Yahud' – a direct call for violence against Jews. An author, chairperson of World WIZO, described the event as a "shop window displaying the world as a whole," questioning the lack of police intervention and noting that antisemitism is being openly shouted in cities worldwide, often met with what they called a "sympathetic local public and government policies." This event, as detailed in reporting, exemplifies how antisemitic rhetoric, including blood libels and calls for murder, has become increasingly legitimate in public discourse. In related security assessments, Israel's National Security Council has warned of sharply increased motivation by Iran, Hamas, and other jihadist organizations to target Israelis and Jewish communities abroad, particularly for the upcoming holiday period, citing intensifying threat environments and operational activity among Iran-backed networks and global jihadist groups, according to reporting reviewed for this episode.

On university campuses, a Holocaust survivor and lifelong educator described the intimidation and isolation experienced by Jewish students in the aftermath of October 7, 2023. They noted that many Jewish students are returning to campuses with fears, some wondering whether to conceal their Jewish identity or remain silent. B'nai Brith Canada has launched its Canadian Campus Climate Report Card, assessing conditions for Jewish students and universities' responses to antisemitism. The pilot report covered York, Toronto, Queen's, and McGill universities, with students at these institutions reporting a particularly hostile social environment. B'nai Brith Canada's assessment found that McGill, York, and the University of Toronto received unsatisfactory or critical ratings for their handling of harassment, event disruptions, and transparency in reporting antisemitic incidents, according to the report by B'nai Brith Canada. Meanwhile, the Trump administration has been investigating dozens of major universities for allegedly fostering antisemitism, reportedly attempting to compel schools to adopt "anti-woke" policies in exchange for federal grant money, according to reporting reviewed for this episode.

In Israel, police are investigating vandalism and a break-in at the Shvilim school in Pardes Hanna-Karkur, where swastikas were found graffitied on classroom property. The Pardes Hanna-Karkur Local Council condemned the incident as an "expression of racism, hate and violence" and vowed to maintain a safe educational space. Separately, in Winnipeg, the Hate Crimes Unit is investigating hateful symbols, including a swastika and racist threats, found on a transit sign that targeted the Jewish community, according to reporting from the Winnipeg Hate Crimes Unit.

In political and media commentary, Vice President JD Vance referred to podcaster Tucker Carlson, who has hosted Holocaust deniers and promoted antisemitic theories, as "a friend," according to reporting reviewed for this episode. Separately, Elon Musk made statements on X regarding Jewish identity that critics found insidious, appearing to suggest identity is determined by appearance rather than lineage or affiliation, a line of reasoning that echoes themes sometimes used by white supremacists, according to reporting reviewed for this episode. Palestinian journalist Rula Jebreal faced condemnation from the Congressional Black Caucus for calling House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries an "AIPAC monkey" and "errand boy." The caucus stated there is "no non-racist way" to use such language towards a Black man. Jonathan Chait, writing for The Atlantic, argued that the comment implies a Black Speaker is a puppet of Jews, carrying an antisemitic implication. In other news, Kid Cudi defended his decision to perform with Kanye West, citing Ye's reported mental health improvements and a "sincere" apology for his past antisemitic remarks and actions.

In the realm of IHRA-qualifying rhetoric, the Council on American-Islamic Relations Los Angeles, or CAIR-LA, named Cenk Uygur as a keynote speaker for an upcoming gala, following his public claim that Israel controls Congress. This statement falls under the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance's working definition, which classifies such claims as antisemitism, according to the article's sourcing. Oscar-winning actress Susan Sarandon stated at the Venice Film Festival that her criticism of Israel and subsequent remarks dismissing antisemitism have resulted in her being blacklisted from major Hollywood roles, blaming "Zionists" within the industry for limiting her opportunities. Sarandon said her apology for remarks made after the October 7 massacre was viewed as half-hearted, according to World Israel News. Separately, the Israeli-American Council is calling for rapper Macklemore to be removed from Ed Sheeran's U.S. tour for chanting "Free Palestine" and accusing Israel of apartheid and genocide during his performances at MetLife Stadium, according to JTA. Macklemore addressed the Jewish community directly during his appearances, stating that "criticism of Israel, criticism of apartheid, being against genocide in no way is criticism of you," as reported by JTA.

In the United States, the House of Representatives has passed a bill aimed at cutting funding for antisemitic boycotts, according to reporting on the legislation. In European news, a ban on a soccer match between Belgian and Israeli teams has been described as an "expression of antisemitism," according to reporting reviewed for this episode.

I'm Rachel Adler, thank you for joining us 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:
- buttondown.com: https://buttondown.com/antisemitismwatch/archive/antisemitism-watch-september-6-2026-05-pm-eastern/
- buttondown.com: https://buttondown.com/antisemitismwatch/archive/antisemitism-watch-september-6-2026-01-pm-eastern/
- jpost.com: https://www.jpost.com/opinion/article-907456
- worldisraelnews.com: https://worldisraelnews.com/actress-susan-sarandon-blames-hollywood-zionists-for-her-lack-of-major-roles/
- jta.org: https://www.jta.org/2026/09/06/antisemitism/israel-american-council-urges-ed-sheeran-to-toss-macklemore-from-tour-after-criticizing-israel-onstage
- ynetnews.com: https://www.ynetnews.com/jewish-world/article/bklm2nsozl