Tottenham football club has been forced to condemn online racist abuse for the second time in less than 24 hours after chairman Daniel Levy was targeted on social media. The post, which referenced offensive anti-Semitic tropes and has since been deleted. Tottenham has reported the post to Twitter and to the police, and reiterated calls for action from social media giants. Read Here
THIS WEEK’S GLOBAL ANTI-SEMITISM REPORT
CAM’s global anti-Semitism report this week highlights 36 new media reports of anti-Semitic incidents (44% far-right, 28% far-left, 20% Islamist, and 8% unidentifiable).
At Rutgers University, eggs were thrown at the Jewish fraternity Alpha Epsilon Pi during the group’s 24-hour “reading of names” to commemorate Yom HaShoah. Meanwhile, California Polytechnic State University’s student government adopted the IHRA definition of anti-Semitism, after another recent anti-Semitic hate crime that targeted that campus’ Jewish fraternity.
The elite Paris college Sciences Po was defaced with anti-Semitic graffiti reading “Death to Israel,” and “Kafir” (Arabic for “infidel”). Shortly thereafter, a top French court determined that Kobili Traore cannot stand trial for the brutal 2017 killing of Jewish grandmother Sarah Halimi because he had smoked marijuana. The killer tortured Halimi while shouting anti-Semitic words before throwing her out of her apartment window.
This ruling raises serious questions about France’s ability to prosecute anti-Semitic hate crimes under the rule of law. Meanwhile, a bipartisan group in the U.S. Congress reintroduced the No Hate Act, to improve hate crime reporting and help law enforcement prosecute anti-Semitic and other racist hate crimes.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
This weeks marks the start of the month of Ramadan, the most important time of the year on the Islamic calendar. CAM wishes a blessed and meaningful Ramadan to all who are celebrating!
Join CAM and the American Muslim & Multifath Women’s Empowerment Council (AMWEC) for the second annual Interfaith Iftar (Ramadan break-fast) next Wednesday!
SPECIAL FEATURE
‘IRAN’S LEADERS, WHO THREATEN THE EXISTENCE OF ANOTHER COUNTRY, SHOULD NOT BE WELCOME ANYWHERE’ TOP SCHOLAR SAYS
By CAM
Professor Dina Porat, a CAM Advisory Board member, is one of Israel’s leading experts in contemporary anti-Semitism and European Jewish history. Porat is chief historian at Yad Vashem and head of the Kantor Center for the Study of Contemporary European Jewry at Tel Aviv University. Professor Porat sat down with CAM to share her insights on anti-Semitism, both modern and ancient, and highlighted some of the greatest threats facing the Jewish people today. Read Here
ONLINE ANTI-SEMITISM SKYROCKETED IN 2020 AMID COVID-19 PANDEMIC, NEW TEL AVIV UNIVERSITY REPORT FINDS
By CAM
While the number of worldwide incidents of violent attacks targeting Jews fell in 2020 amid COVID-19 pandemic-related social-distancing behavior, online anti-Semitism skyrocketed, according to a new annual anti-Semitism report put out by Tel Aviv University’s Kantor Center for the Study of Contemporary European Jewry. The report was based on thousands of testimonies collected from across the globe. Read Here
UNITED STATES
MAN ACCUSED OF MULTIPLE ANTI-SEMITIC GRAFFITI INCIDENTS IN CORAL GABLES, FLORIDA
By NBC MIAMI
A man wanted for multiple anti-Semitic graffiti incidents in Coral Gables has been arrested. Benjamin Michael Garcia, 30, is facing criminal mischief vandalism charges for multiple incidents dating back to March 27, Coral Gables Police said. Officials said Garcia vandalized several construction sites and buildings in Coral Gables as well as neighboring jurisdictions. Read Here
WORLD NEWS
United Kingdom
TOTTENHAM CHAIRMAN DANIEL LEVY SUFFERS RACIST ABUSE ONLINE AFTER HEUNG-MIN SON TARGETED
By Dan Kilpatrick
RACIST CAMBRIDGE GRADUATE SAID HE WANTED TO GO ON ‘KILLING SPREE’ AND HAD BOMBMAKING MANUAL, COURT TOLD
By Cambridgeshire Live
A Cambridge graduate was found with a bombmaking manual after posting racist comments online. Oliver Bel, 24, came to the attention of the Counter-Terrorism Unit in Cambridge after his university tutor reported the anti-Semitic remarks he posted online. Read Here
GERMANY
AN EMAIL WITH ANTI-SEMITIC CONTENT WAS SENT TO AN INSTITUTION IN MUNICH
By Eli Nahum
A Munich institution for youth received an email claiming that “the Jews” have been waging war against Germany for “over a hundred years”. Zionism pursues “the conquest of world domination”, “essences of Judaism” are ′′revenge and insatiable greed”, “Jewish law” would ban a “mixing” of different cultures. A self-painted image was added as an attachment showing Angela Merkel sailing herself from an exploding ship with a German flag to Israel. Read Here
POLITICIANS IN BERLIN CALL FOR TOTAL BAN ON UPCOMING ANTI-SEMITIC ‘QUDS DAY’ RALLY
By Algemeiner
Politicians in Berlin are calling for an outright ban on this year’s “Al Quds Day” March and rally currently scheduled to take place in the German capital on May 8. Sponsored by the Iranian regime, the annual event calling for Israel’s destruction takes place in Tehran and several other cities, prominently featuring the flag of Hezbollah, which is banned in Germany and other European nations. Read Here
OTHER WORLD NEWS
FRANCE: TOP COURT UPHOLDS DECISION NOT TO TRY MUSLIM MAN WHO KILLED HIS JEWISH NEIGHBOR WHILE HIGH ON MARIJUANA
By JTA
Relatives of a Paris woman who was killed by her neighbor while he spewed anti-Semitic slurs and was high on marijuana have lost their final appeal to have the killer tried. In its decision, the Court of Cassation’s Supreme Court of Appeals upheld rulings by lower tribunals that Kobili Traore cannot stand trial in the 2017 killing of Sarah Halimi because he was too high on marijuana to be criminally responsible for his actions. Read Here
NETHERLANDS: NATIONAL LAUREATE PHILOSOPHER CALLS DIASPORA A ‘BLESSING’ BECAUSE IT PREVENTED JEWS FROM HAVING POWER
By Cnaan Liphsiz
The Netherlands’ foremost philosopher called the dispersal of Jews in the Diaspora a “blessing” because it prevented them from achieving the power they have in Israel today that has resulted in “religiously motivated violence.” Hans Achterhuis, the first recipient of the prestigious and royally recognized title of “thinker of the Fatherland,” made the remarks in an interview on the role of religion in the modern state, published on Israel’s national Holocaust memorial day. Read Here
THE MIDDLE EAST
IRAN’S STATE MEDIA SAYS JEWS ARE THE PROBLEM – NOT ISRAEL
By Elder of Zion
Iran’s Al Alam TV again showed that its problem isn’t with Israel — but with all Jews. An article railing against the UAE cooperation with Israel was illustrated with a photo of a bearded Jew in front of a menorah in Dubai. A caption read: “A dangerous and suspicious scheme revealed by the normal Gulf relations path”. The article shames the UAE for “participating in events that the Zionists make, such as the “Jewish Passover” and the memory of the alleged ‘Holocaust.’” Read Here
JORDANIAN PROFESSOR: ‘JEWS RULE THE WORLD, MONITOR OUR LANGUAGE’
By MEMRI
A Jordanian professor said earlier this month that while the term “Zionists” must be used instead of “Jews” lest one be “canceled,” there is no difference between the two. Furthermore, said Professor Ahmad Nofal, this need for circumscribed language is proof that the “Zionists” control the world. “See how they rule the world? They even monitor what words you use. Read Here
ON CAMPUS
ALPHA EPSILON PI HOUSE AT RUTGERS UNIVERSITY EGGED DURING 24-HOUR READING OF NAMES FOR YOM HASHOAH
By Algemeiner
Eggs were thrown at Rutgers University’s Alpha Epsilon Pi fraternity, during a 24-hour reading of the names of Holocaust victims for the house’s annual Yom Hashoah ceremony. Rutgers-New Brunswick Chancellor Christopher J. Molloy said in a statement that the Office of the Senior Vice President for Equity would soon highlight resources related to anti-Semitism, and work with the Jewish community on campus during the “diversity strategic planning process.” Read Here
‘DEEP DISGUST’ AS ELITE PARIS COLLEGE IS DEFACED WITH ANTI-SEMITIC, ANTI-ZIONIST SLOGANS
By Algemeiner
The entrance to one of France’s most elite colleges was defaced with anti-Semitic and anti-Zionist graffiti, resulting in forthright condemnations from Jewish student leaders and university administrators. Three inscriptions were daubed in large black painted letters at the entrance to the Sciences Po. Two slogans invoked the word “kuffar” — an Arabic term for “infidel” used by Islamists — while a third declared, “Death to Israel.” Read Here
ANALYSIS & OP-EDS
ANTI-SEMITIC FOOTBALL PLAY-CALLING IN MASSACHUSETTS TOWN HINTS AT LONG HISTORY OF ‘SYSTEMIC BIAS’
By ETHAN M. FORMAN AND STEVEN A. ROSENBERG
STUDIES & STATISTICS
NETHERLANDS ANTI-SEMITISM TALLY DROPS BY 25% DUE TO COVID-19 LOCKDOWNS
By CNAAN LIPHSHIZ
The number of anti-Semitic incidents recorded in the Netherlands in 2020 decreased by 25% over the previous year but was still among the highest in a decade. The annual report by the Center for Information and Documentation on Israel, or CIDI, counted 135 incidents compared to 182 in 2019. But the 2020 tally is identical to the one for 2018 and the third-highest since 2010. CIDI attributed the decrease to COVID-19 social distancing in 2020 and to limited faith by Dutch Jews in police and the effectiveness of reporting incidents. Read Here
USCRIF REPORT: ANTI-SEMITISM IN EUROPE
By United States Commission on International Religious Freedom
Jews around the world face government and societal obstacles, which can often contribute to feelings of insecurity and ostracization. This report focuses on levels of anti-Semitism in 11 countries in Europe based on three factors: the prevalence of anti-Semitic attitudes among the public; the number and nature of anti-Semitic incidents; and the tolerance for anti-Semitic rhetoric in public. It also examines U.S. foreign policy as it relates to combating anti-Semitism in Europe. Read Here
GOVERNMENT & POLICY
BIPARTISAN ‘NO HATE ACT’ INTRODUCED IN US CONGRESS TO COMBAT TIDE OF BIGOTED VIOLENCE
By Algemeiner Staff
US Jewish groups praised the reintroduction of the No Hate Act, bipartisan legislation to fight the rising tide of hate crimes, through better reporting systems and more law enforcement training. It will implement improved standards for reporting hate crimes, help law enforcement agencies better identify hate crimes, establish state-based hate crime hotlines, and allow judges to require offenders to undergo community service centered on the community targeted by the crime. Read Here
UNRWA TO BIDEN ADMINISTRATION: ‘ZERO TOLERANCE’ FOR ANTI-SEMITISM
By Ron Kampeas
Days after resuming US funding for the troubled UN agency that administers to Palestinian refugees and their descendants, the Biden administration says it has the commitment of UNRWA to “zero tolerance” for anti-Semitism, racism or discrimination. UNRWA has been plagued for years by reports of mismanagement and of anti-Semitic content in the textbooks used by the agency in the school it administers. Read Here
HUMANITY
AFTER USING ANTI-SEMITIC SLUR, NBA’S MEYERS LEONARD SEEKS FORGIVENESS AT UM HILLEL
By Jesse Lieberman
Leonard — the embattled NBA free agent and former Heat player — met with University of Miami students at an event hosted by UM’s Hillel called From HEAT to Healing. “I am deeply, deeply sorry,” an emotional Leonard said to open up the event. “My ultimate goal is to heal what I have done…I love all people and I am committed to making this better.” During the event, Leonard spoke about his experiences with the Jewish community since the incident. Read Here
MUSLIM NURSE WHO RECITED ‘SHEMA’ PRAYER FOR DYING JEWISH PATIENT TO BEAR TORCH FOR ISRAELI INDEPENDENCE DAY CEREMONY
By Shiryn Ghermezian
Israel invited a Muslim nurse who recited a Hebrew prayer for a dying Jewish patient to be a torchbearer during a ceremony on Jerusalem’s Mount Herzl, marking the beginning of Israel’s 73rd Independence Day. Maher Ibrahim is among the 14 men and women chosen to light the torches. A resident of Daburiyya, an Arab village in northern Israel, Ibrahim is a nurse at the Emek Medical Center in Afula and head nurse of the COVID-19 unit. Read Here
The Combat Anti-Semitism Movement is a non-partisan, global grassroots movement of individuals and organizations, across all religions and faiths, united around the goal of ending anti-Semitism in all its forms. Since its launching in February 2019, 294 organizations and 299,000 individuals have joined the Combat Anti-Semitism Movement by signing the campaign’s pledge. The CAM Pledge draws upon the IHRA international definition of anti- Semitism and its list of specific behaviors used to discriminate against the Jewish people and the Jewish State of Israel.
