THIS WEEK’S GLOBAL ANTI-SEMITISM REPORT
This week, CAM documented 34 new anti-Semitic incidents (53% far-right, 23% far-left, 18% Islamist, and 6% unidentifiable). Two California synagogues were targeted with far-right vandalism. A Spanish court acquitted far-left BDS activists of anti-Semitism charges for having forced a boycott against Jewish American reggae artist Matisyahu; the Flemish parliament honored two Nazi collaborators; and the President of Tunisia blamed “thieving Jews” for domestic civil unrest.
In more positive news, a breakthrough memorandum of understanding was signed between the U.S. Anti-Semitism Special Envoy and Association Mimouna, a CAM member organization in Morocco. The agreement establishes a joint commitment to combat anti-Semitism, anti-Zionism and Islamophobia. Also, ahead of International Holocaust Remembrance Day, the CAM team participated in the World Jewish Congress’ #WeRemember campaign to help ensure the Holocaust is never forgotten.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
SPECIAL FEATURE
‘BDS HAS LOST ITS GLORY’: ILF DIRECTOR YIFA SEGAL TALKS LATEST GLOBAL ANTI-SEMITISM TRENDS
By CAM
The International Legal Forum (ILF) has published a new report detailing the latest global trends in the realms of anti-Semitism and delegitimization of Israel. ILF Founder and Director Yifa Segal spoke with Combat Anti-Semitism Movement (CAM) Editor-in-Chief Barney Breen-Portnoy this week to provide her insights on the current state of affairs in the ongoing fight against hatred of Jews. Read Here
DR. KING AND THE RABBI: DAUGHTER OF RABBI ABRAHAM JOSHUA HESCHEL REMEMBERS MLK’S LEGACY
By CAM
In his quest for equal rights for Black Americans, King had numerous allies, including many in the American Jewish community. Perhaps the most prominent of these was Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel, who marched with King in Selma, Alabama. CAM’s Tamara Berens spoke with Heschel’s daughter, Professor Susannah Heschel of Dartmouth College, about her father’s relationship with the Civil Rights icon. Read Here
AHEAD OF HOLOCAUST DAY, CAM TO HONOR CHIUNE SUGIHARA, THE ‘JAPANESE RESCUER’
By CAM
CAM and B’nai B’rith International will hold at special reception commemorating the heroic deeds of Chiune Sugihara, a Japanese diplomat in Lithuania who saved thousands of European Jews. The event, “Chiune Sugihara: The Japanese Rescuer” will feature Kanji Yamanouchi, Consul General of Japan in New York, and Nathan Lewin, who survived the Holocaust thanks to Sugihara. Read Here
JOIN THE #BREAKFREE – ONLINE CLUB Z SUMMIT
By CAM
In an era when Jewish teens are reporting an all-time high of Jew-hatred in schools and on social media that targets their Zionist identity, the Combat Anti-Semitism Movement in partnership with Club Z, welcomes you to join the national Summit, “Break Free,” celebrating Zionism, Justice, and Action on Sunday January 24, 2021. Learn how YOU can be part of a movement to liberate Zionism and the Jewish people. Read Here
UNITED STATES
WILSHIRE BOULEVARD TEMPLE VANDALIZED WITH “I HATE YOUR RACE” GRAFFITI
By Jewish Journal
Wilshire Boulevard Temple in the Koreatown area of Los Angelos was vandalized with anti-Semitic graffiti consisting of the words “I hate your race” spray-painted in all capital letters with exclamation marks and crosses. LAPD surveillance footage shows a male in a hooded sweatshirt committing the vandalism. Read Here
FAKE LETTER ATTRIBUTED TO KAMALA HARRIS WARNS DC SYNAGOGUES THEY MUST CLOSE OR BE SHUT DOWN
By JTA
Synagogues in Washington, D.C., are receiving a fake letter purported to be signed by Vice President-elect Kamala Harris warning them to close or they will go to prison. Recipients have alerted law enforcement about the letter, according to Secure Community Network. Read Here
LOCAL LEADERS CONDEMN NAZI PROPAGANDA LEFT IN NORTH SPOKANE NEIGHBORHOOD
BRENDAN HUNT THREATENED AOC, SCHUMER AND PELOSI IN UNHINGED RANTS
SATELLITE BEACH RESIDENTS FIND ANTI-SEMITIC TRACTS ABOUT ANTIFA, BLM NEAR SYNAGOGUE
POLICE INVESTIGATING HATE CRIME FOLLOWING VANDALISM OF BERNIE SANDERS MURAL IN DC
WORLD NEWS
United Kingdom
CORBYN LAWYER TARGETS INTERVENTIONS BY BOARD OF DEPUTIES AND MARGARET HODGE
By Lee Harpin
Lawyers acting for Jeremy Corbyn have argued that a disclosure of Labour documents could help prove that Sir Keir Starmer’s decision to suspend him breached a “duty to act in good faith” and that the leader was influenced by “third party interventions” from the Board of Deputies and the MP Dame Margaret Hodge. Read Here
CORBYN AND MCCLUSKEY PRAISE MEDIA OUTLETS ACCUSED OF FUELLING LABOUR ANTI-SEMITISM CRISIS AT NEW PROJECT LAUNCH
By Lee Harpin
Jeremy Corbyn used the launch his new ‘Peace and Justice Project’ to heap praise on media outlets that have regularly been accused of helping fuel the anti-Semitism crisis. At an online rally, Mr Corbyn said a “just, free and accountable” media was one of the four key goals of his new global campaign, which aims to bring together activists, trade unions and other left-wing groups. Read Here
GERMANY
GERMAN POLICE INVESTIGATION INTO ANTI-SEMITIC ASSAULT DURING ELITE FRATERNITY PARTY DELAYED BY DEFENSE LAWYERS
By Algemeiner
A German police investigation into a brutal anti-Semitic attack that took place at an elite college fraternity party last year has been extended into February. The public prosecutor in Heidelberg said that because of new statements from lawyers acting on behalf of the ten accused assailants, the police investigation would not be concluded before the middle of February “at the earliest.” Read Here
BUCHENWALD MEMORIAL WARNS VISITORS SLEDDING ON MASS GRAVES AT SITE OF FORMER CONCENTRATION CAMP
By Shiryn Ghermezian
The Buchenwald and Mittelbau-Dora Memorials Foundation asked visitors to respect the site of the former concentration camp in Germany by not engaging in winter sports at the memorial, after some were seen sledding on its mass graves. “For the winter time, we ask visitors to the memorial to behave in a manner that is appropriate to the dignity of the place,” the foundation said. Read Here
OTHER WORLD NEWS
BELGIUM: JEWS OUTRAGED AS FLEMISH PARLIAMENT HONORS NAZI COLLABORATORS
By Algemeiner
Jewish leaders in Belgium expressed outrage at the publication of an official brochure that “glorifies” two collaborators with the Nazi occupation during WWII. The Belgian Coordinating Committee of Jewish Organizations protested that “in the monthly magazine financed by the Flemish Parliament, and to celebrate the 50th anniversary of this important institution in our country, two of the most important figures of Nazi collaboration are being honored.” Read Here
SPAIN: COURT EXONERATES BDS ACTIVISTS WHO FORCED REGGAE FESTIVALS BOYCOTT OF ZIONIST ARTIST MATISYAHU OF ANTI-SEMITISM CHARGES
By Ben Cohen
A court in Spain dismissed charges of anti-Semitism against a group of activists whose anti-Zionist campaign against US Jewish hip hop artist Matisyahu forced the temporary cancellation of the performer’s planned concert at a Spanish reggae festival in August 2015. The court in Valencia upheld the appeals of the eight activists accused of anti-Semitic discrimination that resulted in Matisyahu’s removal from the Rototom Reggae Festival in Benicàssim. Read Here
THE MIDDLE EAST
TUNISIAN PRESIDENT SORRY FOR ANTI-SEMITIC REMARKS, RABBI SAYS
By Lahav Harkov 
Tunisian President Kaïs Saïed apologized for accusing Jews of being behind instability in the country. Saïed seemed to refer to “the Jews who are stealing” while discussing the political situation with Tunisian citizens, as heard in a video posted to his Facebook page. Read Here
PALESTINIAN AUTHORITY THREATENS TO SUE U.S. AMBASSADOR OVER RECOGNITION OF CITY OF DAVID
By JNS
The Palestinian Authority is threatening to sue outgoing U.S. Ambassador to Israel David Friedman in international courts for recognizing the City of David as a testament to America’s Judeo-Christian heritage and founding principles, Palestinian affairs expert Khaled Abu Toameh tweeted. Read Here
ON CAMPUS
JOHNS HOPKINS PROBES PRO-PALESTINIAN TA WHO TWEETED ABOUT LOWERING JEWISH STUDENT’S GRADES
By Jackson Walker
Johns Hopkins University is reportedly investigating a pro-Palestinian teaching assistant who tweeted about lowering Jewish students’ grades. The Office of Institutional Equity has opened a probe into the TA, reports the Johns Hopkins News-Letter. Read Here
FLORIDA STATE UNIVERSITY STUDENT SENATE TO VOTE ON BDS RESOLUTION
By Jackson Richman
Florida State University’s student senate is scheduled to vote on a resolution that calls on the university to divest from companies that do business in Israel. The BDS resolution calls on “FSU trustees to review their investments and to divest from companies that violate international humanitarian law.” Read Here
ANALYSIS & OP-EDS
STUDIES & STATISTICS
NEARLY HALF OF UK JEWS HIDE SIGNS OF RELIGION IN PUBLIC DUE TO ANTI-SEMITISM, NEW POLL FINDS
By CAM
Nearly half of British Jews hide visible signs of their religion in public due to concerns about anti-Semitism and almost one-fifth say they feel unwelcome in their country, according to a new study. The Antisemitism Barometer 2020 — commissioned by the UK-based Campaign Against Antisemitism (CAA) — found that 45% of British adults agreed with at least one of 12 anti-Semitic statements put to them. Read Here
ANTI-SEMITISM & DE-LEGITIMISATION: SUMMARY OF TRENDS AND EVENTS OF 2020- LOOKING AHEAD TOWARDS 2021
By International Legal Forum
The International Legal Forum (ILF) presents its newest report which offers insight into the most significant global trends of 2020 from the frontlines against terror, anti-Semitism, and de-legitimization. Moreover, ILF presents its projections on where the next battlefield will be in 2021 and where we should focus our efforts. Read Here
GOVERNMENT & POLICY
MOROCCO BECOMES THE SECOND ARAB COUNTRY TO ALLOW AN NGO TO COMBAT ANTI-SEMITISM AND ANTI-ZIONISM
By RON KAMPEAS
A Moroccan nongovernmental organization has with its government’s blessing signed an agreement with the U.S. State Department to combat anti-Semitism and anti-Zionism. The agreement signed by Association Mimouna, and Elan Carr, the special envoy to combat anti-Semitism, says the sides will “work together to share and promote best practices for combating all forms of anti-Semitism, including anti-Zionism…” Read Here
US STATE DEPARTMENT CUTS TIES WITH IRW DUE TO ANTI-SEMITISM ALLEGATIONS
By JERUSALEM POST
The US State Department has officially cut all ties with the controversial charity organization Islamic Relief Worldwide due to allegations of spreading anti-Semitism. The organization has long been accused by watchdog organizations across the world for propagating anti-Semitism and for such beliefs being rife among the leadership. Read Here
AUSTRIA PRESENTS NATIONAL STRATEGY FOR FIGHTING ANTI-SEMITISM
By AP
The Austrian government presented a national strategy on fighting rising anti-Semitism that includes improving the protection of synagogues, improved education about Judaism and stricter prosecution of hate crimes against Jews. The country’s Europe Minister, Karoline Edtstadler, stressed Austria’s responsibility to fight anti-Semitism regardless of whether it comes from the far right, leftists, immigrants or anybody else. Read Here
HUMANITY
WORLD’S LARGEST HOLOCAUST MEMORIAL PLANNED FOR UKRAINE’S BABYN YAR RAVINE
By MATT LEBOVIC
Reversing plans to build one central museum at the site of the Holocaust’s largest open-air massacre, the Babyn Yar Holocaust Memorial Center (BYHMC) announced plans to construct 12 buildings across 370-acres of the filled-in Kyiv ravine where over 100,000 people were slaughtered during World War II. Read Here
CELTICS MAKE VOW TO SCOTS JEWISH COMMUNITY TO INVESTIGATE THREATS AGAINST NIR BITTON
By Daily Record
Celtic have promised leaders of Scotland’s Jewish community that threats against Hoops star Nir Bitton are being investigated by the club. The Israeli international and his family were targeted after he was sent off during the 1-0 loss against Rangers at Ibrox on January 2. Further abuse was also aimed at Bitton’s children, with one blast reading: “F**k you and yer wains.” Read Here
ISRAELI JUDOKA PETER PALTCHIK WINS BRONZE IN QATAR TOURNAMENT, WAS MOTIVATED BY ANTI-SEMITISM HE FACED
By Shiryn Ghermezian
Israeli judoka Peter Paltchik won bronze at the International Judo Federation’s (IJF) 2021 World Judo Masters in Doha, Qatar. Paltchik, 29, took home the medal in the under-100 kg division on the final day of the tournament following his victory over Azerbaijani judoka Elmar Gasimov, one of the “toughest rivals” in their category. 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.
