Antisemitism Watch

AfD's German Election Victory Sparks Fears of Fascism's Return
Canadian Candidate's 'Lock Up Zionists' Rhetoric Highlights US Political Threats
Threat Against Ohio Gubernatorial Nominee Raises Alarm for Jewish Politicians

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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

📝 Transcript

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

We begin today with significant developments in Germany, where the far-right Alternative for Germany party, the AfD, achieved a plurality of 43.8% in the state election in Saxony-Anhalt. This victory has Jewish leaders expressing alarm. Marian Offman, Munich's Commissioner for Interfaith Dialogue and son of Holocaust survivors, told JTA it's a 'pure Nazi party' and fears 'immense damage,' warning of a potential resurgence of fascism. Josef Schuster, president of the Central Council of Jews in Germany, also expressed shock, cautioning that if the AfD forms a government, particularly in education, it could do considerable harm. While some, like Hella Schapiro, advise against panic and suggest letting the party demonstrate its practical impact, others, like author Mirna Funk, worry about the changing atmosphere in Germany.

Closer to home, political rhetoric continues to draw concern. In Windsor, Canada, Rasha Zaid, a candidate for city council, has been captured in video footage stating that 'Zionists must be locked up' and are 'terrorists,' and leading chants labeling them as such. Screenshots attributed to Zaid's social media also allegedly claim that antisemitism is staged and major attacks are used to gain sympathy. Zaid defended her remarks, stating that her opposition is directed at accountability for actions and crimes, not at Jewish identity itself, and that context is lost when her statements are presented in fragments. She clarified that her words target those responsible for 'killing of thousands of children and civilians and violations of international law.' Michael Teper, president of several Canadian Jewish organizations, views this as part of an emerging pattern of candidates using elected office platforms to advance anti-Israel ideology. This follows reporting that frames 'antisemitic political candidates in Michigan and elsewhere in the United States' as part of a barrage of existential challenges facing Jews, according to one analysis reviewed for this episode.

Turning to incidents impacting political figures, an armed man forced his way through a crowd toward Ohio Democratic gubernatorial nominee Amy Acton at the Canfield Fair on Sunday. Authorities apprehended the man, identified as Patrick Havas, who was carrying weapons. He faces charges including assault and disorderly conduct. Authorities are continuing to investigate what precipitated the incident, and there is no evidence at this time that Havas attacked Acton because she is Jewish, nor have authorities publicly identified an antisemitic motive. However, Acton's Jewish identity has raised concerns at a moment when Jewish candidates and elected officials around the country report confronting an increasingly hostile political environment. The Anti-Defamation League reported in August that several prominent Jewish candidates during the 2026 election cycle have faced threats of violence and targeted harassment connected to their Jewish identity. The source notes this broader rise in antisemitism occurs alongside an increase in political violence and threats against American public officials more generally.

In New York City, street activists and politicians are merging local real estate challenges with Israeli policies, blaming 'Zionists' for housing woes. A historian cited in a Times of Israel report describes this as a 'new phenomenon' that connects two of New York's top concerns, according to reporting reviewed for this episode.

Finally, institutional scrutiny is underway regarding the Northside Islamic Center of San Antonio, or NICSA. U.S. Representative Chip Roy has requested federal investigations into NICSA's planned expansion near Camp Bullis, citing concerns about its funding, leadership, alleged ties to 'nefarious groups,' and rhetoric from its faith leaders. Roy specifically referenced past statements from NICSA’s resident scholar and imam, AbdulRahman Kattab, who described the October 7 Hamas attacks as 'a day of remembrance,' and alleged ties between NICSA and the Muslim Brotherhood, which Texas has designated as a terrorist organization. NICSA responded by condemning 'terrorism, extremism, antisemitism, Islamophobia, hatred and violence in all forms' and arguing that judgments should be based on facts, not assumptions. However, the organization did not directly address the specific accusations outlined in Roy's letter. Roy reiterated his concerns, stating the expansion 'appears to be a Sharia-compliant and Muslim-only community' and called for transparency into its finances and affiliations.

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:
- algemeiner.com: https://www.algemeiner.com/2026/09/07/jewish-nominee-ohio-governor-targeted-armed-man/
- jpost.com: https://www.jpost.com/diaspora/antisemitism/article-907865
- jns.org: https://www.jns.org/opinion/leonard-grunstein/the-challenge-of-change
- Times of Israel (Telegram): https://t.me/TheTimesOfIsrael2022/9062
- texasscorecard.com: https://texasscorecard.com/federal/islamic-center-responds-to-rep-chip-roys-request-for-federal-investigation/
- JTA: https://www.jta.org/2026/09/07/global/an-afd-win-has-panicked-some-jews-who-fear-a-throwback-to-nazi-germany