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Ten Most Shocking Antisemitic Incidents of March 2023
The CAM Antisemitism Research Center collects comprehensive antisemitism data from around the world on a constant basis, and publishes a regular feature on the top ten antisemitic incidents that shook Jewish communities globally during the preceding month.
The ten most shocking antisemitic incidents of March 2023 are as follows:
1. 100-Year-Old Montreal Synagogue Hit With Antisemitic Vandalism
Montreal Mayor Valérie Plante issued a statement condemning an act of antisemitic vandalism that occurred on March 28 at the Bagg Street Shul, a historic Orthodox synagogue in Montreal, Quebec. In her statement, Plante said that the spray-painting of swastikas on the windows and front of the synagogue “have no place in our society,” and that she stood “wholeheartedly with the Jewish community.”
B’nai Brith Canada condemns the clear act of antisemitism that occurred today at the historic Bagg Street Shul. The cowardly act of spray painting Nazi symbols on Jewish institutions must be universally denounced by all and perpetrators prosecuted. #polmtl pic.twitter.com/k7BIGmrh4Y
— B’nai Brith Canada (@bnaibrithcanada) March 28, 2023
On March 26, U.S. Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib shared on social media a video purporting to show Israeli soldiers attacking Palestinians celebrating Ramadan at Damascus Gate in Jerusalem. “This is the violent apartheid government of Israel,” Tlaib — a Democrat who represents Michigan’s 12th congressional district — wrote. “Don’t look away.”
It quickly came to light though that Tlaib’s tweet was a distortion of reality. In fact, the video showed a brawl between Palestinians, with Israeli police intervening to separate them.
3. Greek Police Arrest Two Suspects in Thwarted Iranian Terror Plot Against Athens Jewish Sites
Two Iran-born Pakistani men were arrested by Greek police on March 28 over an alleged plot to conduct mass-casualty terrorist attacks against Israeli and Jewish targets in Athens.
The suspects, ages 27 and 29, were part of a Tehran regime-backed network, according to Israel’s Mossad intelligence agency, which was involved in thwarting the planned attacks.
4. Sacked UK Student Union Leader Shaima Dallali ‘Joked’ She Would Kill a Zionist
Ousted NUS president Shaima Dallali joked that she would “kill” Israeli border guards if they tried to stamp her passport as she entered “occupied Palestine” because it was “like recognizing Israel,” The Jewish Chronicle reported.
Discussing a trip to the West Bank, the former student leader, who is suing the National Union of Students (NUS) over her sacking after facing allegations of antisemitism, wrote: “I don’t want no Zionist near my passport, I’ll probs kill him tbh.”
5. Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad Representatives Speak at University of Cape Town
Representatives of Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) addressed students at University of Cape Town (UCT) via video message during an “Israeli Apartheid Week 2023” event held on March 20 by the Palestine Solidarity Forum (PSF).
Images of the event, as well as advertisements for it, were obtained by The Algemeiner. PIJ representative Nasser Abu Sharif and Hamas representative Khaled Qadomi, both of whom represent their organizations in Iran, gave remarks. PSF group also displayed the flags of Hamas and Hezbollah in the room where the event took place.
6. Woman Arrested in Crown Heights for Punching Jewish Man in Face, Hurling Abuse
A woman was arrested for allegedly viciously assaulting an Orthodox Jewish man in the Crown Heights section of Brooklyn, New York on March 16.
The man was shopping in a store at around 3:30 p.m. when he was approached by a woman, described as “mentally unstable,” who physically assaulted him, according to ColLive. The assailant accosted the victim from behind, and screamed antisemitic slurs at him when he would not give her any money. Then she began repeatedly punching him in the face before fleeing the shop.
7. Dutch Protestant Church Compares Israel’s Treatment of Palestinians to Nazis
A Dutch Protestant church sparked outrage after it released a report in which it drew a comparison between Israeli policy toward the Palestinians in the West Bank and the Nazi regime’s treatment of Jews.
The report was compiled by members of the Protestant Church in the Netherlands (PKN) following their visit to the West Bank last November. “When we visited Yad Vashem Museum, we saw evidence for the unmatched horrors of the Holocaust and the sign that said ‘No Jews allowed’ reminded us of what we’ve seen and heard in the past few days from Palestinian Christians. The saying ‘Never again’ echoed in our minds,” the authors said in the report.
Dutch Protestant Church compares Israel’s treatment of Palestinians to Nazishttps://t.co/6raq24enB3 pic.twitter.com/8uEnazWob9
— Ynetnews (@ynetnews) March 2, 2023
8. ‘Incredibly Disturbing Antisemitic Advertisement’ Debuts in Toronto
The capital city in Ontario, Canada, launched a “Toronto for All” campaign last September after Toronto police data showed Jews were the city’s most-targeted group for hate crimes in 2021. Now, Jewish leaders are expressing outrage at a very different public effort.
A new advertisement displayed in the city succinctly states that “anti-apartheid is not antisemitism,” above, below and within a blue Star of David.
An incredibly disturbing #antisemitic advertisement seen this morning in #Toronto near Bay St. and Yorkville Ave. We’ve been in communication with Astral, filing a complaint and insisting the poster be removed immediately. pic.twitter.com/D2VcTCRiBb
— Friends of Simon Wiesenthal Center (@CanadianFSWC) March 3, 2023
9. Fuentes Delivers Antisemitic, ‘Christian Nationalist’ Rant to Fellow White Supremacists
As quickly as hotel security removed white supremacist Nick Fuentes from CPAC 2023, the Groyper found another receptive audience for his antisemitism and racism. The “Fuentes Rally” took place on March 4 at Marriott’s Residence Inn at the National Harbor in Maryland. Reporters were not allowed inside the event.
In his remarks, Fuentes said “Talmudic Jews” need to either leave the country or be converted.
10. Prominent Peruvian-Jewish Journalist Faces Antisemitic Harassment After Investigating Protester
Right-wing extremist protesters have targeted Gustavo Gorriti, a prominent Peruvian-Jewish journalist, harassing him with antisemitic chants and posters outside of his home over his website’s investigations into police violence stemming from the country’s ongoing unrest.
Jewish and non-Jewish organizations have defended Gorriti since around 30 people protested in front of his home in Lima in late February, holding signs depicting him and one other non-Jewish journalist as rats holding bags of money. Videos posted to social media also showed some of the protesters shouting antisemitic slogans, such as: “We will continue visiting this Jew, his days are numbered.” Others shouted, “Gorriti isn’t Peruvian, he’s Jewish.”
For more information on CAM’s antisemitism incidents data, please visit: combatantisemitism.org/newsletters
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