Antisemitism Watch

August Sees Surge in Global Antisemitic Attacks, UK Data Reveals Steep Rise in Violence
J.D. Vance Criticized for Failing to Disavow Tucker Carlson's Antisemitic Rhetoric
Israeli Minister Smotrich Accuses UK of Antisemitism, Calls for Ambassador's Expulsion

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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

Today's Antisemitism Watch covers a disturbing rise in global incidents, alongside critical political and institutional responses to hate speech. You're listening to Antisemitism Watch, I'm Rachel Adler.

August 2026 saw a disturbing rise in incidents targeting Jews and Israelis based on their identity. Reporting reviewed for this episode details widespread occurrences ranging from physical assaults and threats to exclusion from everyday services, affecting streets, businesses, and religious institutions. Synagogues were specifically noted, including an attack during Shabbat services at New York's Central Synagogue. Swastikas, Nazi salutes, and references to Hitler also appeared across several countries, according to the International Institute of Counter-Terrorism's monitoring. The Community Security Trust reported 1,926 antisemitic incidents in the United Kingdom during the first half of 2026, a 21% increase from the prior year, with physical assaults rising by 82% to 135. ICT monitoring identified longstanding antisemitic narratives circulating alongside conspiracy theories. Examples of direct targeting include an incident in Venice where a visibly Orthodox Jewish couple was verbally and physically attacked. In Surfside, Florida, a Jewish couple was assaulted in an incident resulting in charges including harassment based on religion or ethnicity. In France, a Jewish Australian couple was subjected to antisemitic threats, and a suspect was arrested. Jewish teenagers in Sofia, Bulgaria, were confronted by individuals performing Nazi salutes and shouting 'Sieg Heil.' Reporting also details discriminatory treatment, such as an Israeli customer being denied service in Alexandria, Virginia, and a business owner in Les Deux Alpes, France, investigated for stating there were 'too many' Jewish people. In Melbourne, Australia, a restaurant received a flood of antisemitic abuse and bomb threats after hosting a Greek-Jewish cultural event, according to reporting reviewed for this episode.

In politics and media, concerns are being raised about J.D. Vance's perceived failure to distance himself from Tucker Carlson's rhetoric. According to a Dispatch article, Vance appears to be part of a messaging failure by not clearly separating himself from Carlson's recent commentary. The article highlights Carlson's controversial statements, described as including antisemitism and repeatedly giving a platform to antisemites. It suggests Vance needs to forcefully repudiate Carlson's stances on issues such as support for Russia and Iran, his alleged antisemitism, and his hosting of antisemites. The article posits that Vance's lack of clear distancing from Carlson contributes to perceptions of his connection to the MAGA movement.

Turning to rhetoric concerning Israel, Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich has called for the expulsion of British Ambassador Simon Walters. Reporting from Israel Today states Smotrich accused London of antisemitism and declared, 'The British Mandate in the Land of Israel is over.' This statement follows the United Kingdom's expected announcement of a trade ban with Jewish communities in Judea and Samaria as part of measures targeting settlement activity.

On college campuses, B'nai Brith Canada has given 'F' grades to McGill and York Universities in its campus antisemitism assessment. Additionally, reporting reviewed for this episode mentions vandalism occurring inside a school, involving swastikas and a racial slur, an incident described as particularly jarring.

In case outcomes, reporting reviewed for this episode indicates a man in Warwickshire, UK, was jailed for a year for a torrent of racist, antisemitic, and homophobic abuse on social media, including threats of violence. This occurred over a period of almost a year, between September 2024 and 2025.

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:
- ict.org.il: https://ict.org.il/antisemitism-trends-threats-responses-august-2026-insights-from-the-ict-global-extremism-antisemitism-desk/
- heraldsun.com.au: https://www.heraldsun.com.au/leader/mediterranean-greek-tavern-fears-closure-after-appalling-antisemitic-abuse/news-story/de29c341822da8d05c1d0464dad46433
- thej.ca: https://thej.ca/2026/09/08/israeli-school-vandalized-with-swastikas-and-racial-slur/
- thej.ca: https://thej.ca/2026/09/08/mcgill-and-york-receive-f-grades-in-bnai-brith-campus-antisemitism-assessment/
- americanthinker.com: https://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2026/09/tucker-carlson-j-d-vance-needs-to-clarify-things-and-fast/
- Israel Today - Telegram Channel: https://t.me/ILtoday/20036
- coventrytelegraph.net: https://www.coventrytelegraph.net/news/local-news/warwickshire-man-jailed-over-torrent-34582319