Antisemitism Watch

Rutgers Law Podcast Criticized for Downplaying Jewish Fears and Complaints
Israel Envoy Warns Germany: Confront Left-Wing Antisemitism Like the Right's
Canadian Candidate's "Zionists Must Be Locked Up" Rhetoric Sparks Outrage

🎧 Listen & Subscribe Here

Antisemitism Watch

Antisemitism Watch is a daily monitoring and analysis program tracking antisemitism worldwide — incidents, rhetoric, policy, and institutional responses — r

📝 Transcript

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

Today, we begin with concerning rhetoric emerging from academic institutions and political arenas, and examine calls for clearer accountability.

At Rutgers Law School, a podcast from its Center for Security, Race and Rights is drawing criticism. As reported by washingtonexaminer.com, an episode titled 'Presumptively Antisemitic: Islamophobic Tropes in the Palestine-Israel Discourse' featured discussions that, according to the report, largely explained away Jewish students' fears over antisemitic slogans. The center's executive director, Sahar Aziz, reportedly characterized complaints filed through federal civil rights law as 'lawfare' and an 'abuse,' designed to suppress political dissent. Concerns about the link between anti-Zionism and antisemitism were reportedly treated primarily as attempts to restrict criticism of Israel. The report notes a pattern of programming that, it argues, repeatedly frames Israel through critical language and gives less attention to arguments that challenge this perspective. This matters as it involves an academic center within a law school, where the expectation is rigorous examination of difficult questions, rather than, as critics suggest, pre-determined conclusions that downplay genuine fears of antisemitism.

Meanwhile, at Columbia University, reporting reviewed for this episode indicates a protest leader has blamed the Mossad following the emergence of antisemitic and pro-terror statements. Specific details of those statements were not elaborated upon in the provided reporting. This incident highlights continued tensions on campus, with a leader of protests making an unusual accusation.

Internationally, Israel's ambassador to Germany, Ron Prosor, issued a stark warning this week. Amidst significant electoral gains for the right-wing Alternative for Germany party, Prosor urged Germany not to be 'blind in its left eye,' calling for left-wing antisemitism to be confronted as forcefully as right-wing extremism. He stated on X that a firewall against antisemitism must not recognize any political direction, asserting that Jewish life and Israel's right to exist are red lines, whether attacked by right-wing extremists, left-wing extremists, or Islamists, demanding 'no blind spots, no excuses, no double standards.' Prosor cited an example of youth movement activists tied to the left-wing party Die Linke distributing stickers featuring an AK-47 and the Palestinian flag to students. This intervention by Ambassador Prosor is significant, directly addressing the need to monitor and condemn antisemitism across the political spectrum.

In New York, a significant exchange occurred involving Israeli Ambassador to the UN Gilad Erdan and political commentator Zohran Mamdani. Reporting indicates that Ambassador Erdan suggested Mamdani should be arrested. In response to accusations of fueling antisemitism, Mamdani is quoted as saying, 'We have to root out antisemitism from across the five boroughs.'

A critical analysis published on DW Opinion of media figures Jon Favreau and Jon Lovett, known as 'The Pod Bros,' argues their project suffers from a 'haughty mischaracterization' of the blood libel. According to the analysis, their discussion demonstrated a lack of understanding and a selective application of moral principles, using antisemitism as a political tool to attack enemies while tolerating it among friends. The piece criticizes their commentary on Vice President JD Vance's remarks and their apparent efforts to downplay or 'whitewash' figures like Tucker Carlson's antisemitism. This critique is important for its examination of how antisemitic tropes are discussed and sometimes weaponized within media circles.

In Canada, a candidate for Windsor city council, Rasha Zaid, has made alarming public statements. Video footage shared online shows Zaid stating, 'Every person that announces they are a Zionist must be locked up! They are terrorists' and 'We are not free until they’re not among us.' She also reportedly chanted, 'All the Zionists are racists! All the Zionists are the terrorists!' Screenshots ascribed to Zaid’s social media accounts reportedly claimed antisemitism is staged and that 'there is no such thing as antisemitic.' While Zaid said in a statement to The Jerusalem Post that her words are directed at actions and crimes, not identity, and that context is lost when only parts of her speeches are shared, concerns have been raised about this fitting an emerging pattern of anti-Israel rhetoric from candidates. These remarks, especially from a political candidate, raise serious concerns under the IHRA definition, particularly regarding demonization and the potential for inciting harm.

Meanwhile, a diplomatic spat erupted between the UK and the US. Downing Street has rejected accusations of 'Jew hate' made by Mike Huckabee, an ally of Donald Trump and America's ambassador to Israel. Huckabee's comments followed UK Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband raising concerns about the situation in Gaza. Miliband's remarks were condemned by the Israeli government, who stated they were inaccurate. This incident illustrates how criticism of Israeli policy can become entangled with broader accusations of antisemitism, leading to significant diplomatic friction.

Finally, in the realm of watchdog reporting, Pink shared a reel from 'Stop Antisemitism' regarding controversy over Ed Sheeran's recent performance in New Jersey. This indicates ongoing attention from advocacy groups to public figures and their potential controversies.

On the institutional front, Mike Burgess revealed his 'profound frustration' about antisemitism warnings going ignored. The specifics of these warnings or the institutions involved were not detailed in the reporting. This statement from a figure like Burgess signals a deep-seated concern within governmental or security circles about the lack of adequate response to known threats.

Turning to community efforts and positive developments, an art exhibition in Tampa, Florida, is highlighting young people's engagement with difficult history. The Richard M. Levine Shine A Light Arts for Impact exhibit features works by students from Hillsborough, Pasco, and Pinellas counties who used their creativity to confront the Holocaust and speak out against modern-day antisemitism. The exhibition at the Frederick B. Karl County Center showcases pieces that aim to educate, inspire empathy, and empower others to take a stand against hatred and intolerance. This program is a vital example of how educational and artistic initiatives can foster understanding and combat prejudice among younger generations.

In a separate development, a piece from Israel Today discusses the perceived gap between the millions of Christians who pledged support for Israel after October 7th and their visible presence during subsequent antisemitic protests. The report prompts Israelis to question where this visible support was, noting that a promise to stand with Israel means more than quiet sympathy. Pastor Jim Scudder is highlighted for choosing 'not to look away—standing publicly with Jewish communities, confronting anti-Israel hostility and insisting that compassion for Gaza must not erase Hamas’s responsibility for the war.' This perspective underscores the importance of visible allyship and the expectations from communities that have expressed solidarity during times of crisis.

That's all for today's Antisemitism Watch. I'm Rachel Adler, thank you for joining us.

Follow Antisemitism Watch in your podcast app so you don’t miss the next update.
This report was generated with AI assistance and may contain inaccuracies. Please verify important details with primary sources.

📚 Sources

Sources:
- timesofisrael.com: https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog_entry/columbia-university-protest-leader-blames-mossad-after-antisemitic-pro-terror-statements-surface/
- washingtonexaminer.com: https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/op-eds/4712183/rutgers-law-academic-inquiry-advocacy/
- foxnews.com: https://www.foxnews.com/video/6404701600112
- huffingtonpost.co.uk: https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/downing-street-hits-back-at-trump-ambassador-who-accused-uk-government-of-jew-hate_uk_6a9e967ce4b00f094b1aad98
- jns.org: https://www.jns.org/news/world/israeli-envoy-germany-cannot-be-blind-in-its-left-eye
- theflashtoday.com: https://theflashtoday.com/2026/09/07/the-final-stretch/
- thetimes.com: https://www.thetimes.com/us/news-today/article/zohran-mamdani-netanyahu-us-visit-un-israelis-xzn5nwwmc
- chicagotribune.com: https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/09/07/letters-090726-emanuel-congregation-development-edgewater/
- dailywire.com: https://www.dailywire.com/news/obamas-pod-bros-use-antisemitism-for-their-leftist-clown-show
- jpost.com: https://www.jpost.com/diaspora/antisemitism/article-907865
- worldisraelnews.com: https://worldisraelnews.com/you-wont-believe-the-most-popular-baby-name-in-israel/
- youtube.com: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hKH32nFqlD0
- israelhayom.com: https://www.israelhayom.com/2026/09/07/pink-reacts-macklemore-ed-sheeran-controversy/
- Israel Today - Telegram Channel: https://t.me/ILtoday/20031
- jewishpressgulfcoast.com: https://www.jewishpressgulfcoast.com/articles/young-people-of-all-faiths-countering-antisemitism/