Latest / Antisemitism Watch / Antisemitism Watch - September 27, 2026, 01 PM Eastern

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Antisemitism Watch - September 27, 2026, 01 PM Eastern · Antisemitism Watch

• 0:06
  Speaker 1: You're listening to Antisemitism Watch. I'm Rachel Adler. Today, we're
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  Speaker 1: tracking escalations in antisemitic violence from attempted mass killings to
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  Speaker 1: internationally coordinated attacks, and examining how political leaders navigate the
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  Speaker 1: discourse around Israel and antisemitism. In Canada, a potentially catastrophic
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  Speaker 1: antisemitic attack was narrowly averted at the Sons of Jacob
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  Speaker 1: Synagogue in Belleville, Ontario, during Yom Kippur services. According to
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  Speaker 1: reporting reviewed for this episode, The gunman, identified as Sean Ward,
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  Speaker 1: a former Canadian Armed Forces member, arrived at the synagogue
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  Speaker 1: armed for mass murder. According to police reports cited in
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  Speaker 1: the article, he had brought weapons sufficient for mass killing.
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  Speaker 1: The prompt response of a police officer, Const, Jeff Smith,
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  Speaker 1: who engaged Ward and was injured, prevented a massacre, the
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  Speaker 1: reporting states. This incident marks an escalation for Canada, moving
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  Speaker 1: beyond vandalism to an attempted mass casualty event. and its
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  Speaker 1: anti-Semitic roots reportedly span from the extreme left to the
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  Speaker 1: extreme right. Internationally, the head of Belgium's threat analysis agency, OCAM,
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  Speaker 1: has stated that recent attacks targeting Jewish interests were in
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  Speaker 1: response to an Iranian call, linking them to a coordinated
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  Speaker 1: global campaign. Gert Verketeren, director of OCAM, told reporters that
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  Speaker 1: the perpetrators of an explosive device attack on the Great
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  Speaker 1: Synagogue of Liege and a car burning in Antwerp's Jewish
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  Speaker 1: quarter had certainly responded to Iran's call to strike Jewish
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  Speaker 1: and Israeli interests worldwide. While no injuries were reported in
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  Speaker 1: these incidents, the Belgian authorities have strengthened the protection of
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  Speaker 1: Jewish institutions, according to the report. The investigations extend beyond Belgium,
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  Speaker 1: with plots identified in the Netherlands and evidence of claim
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  Speaker 1: videos shared by pro-Iran groups. Meanwhile, in the political arena,
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  Speaker 1: Irish Prime Minister Michiel Martin has directly addressed claims that
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  Speaker 1: Ireland's strong criticism of Israel's conduct in the war in
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  Speaker 1: Gaza has crossed into antisemitism. Speaking to Fox News Digital,
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  Speaker 1: Martin stated unequivocally, I think for the vast majority of
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  Speaker 1: people it does not, when asked about antisemitism. He emphasized,
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  Speaker 1: we have no toleration for antisemitism, none. Martin outlined Ireland's position,
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  Speaker 1: condemning Hamas's October 7th attack, affirming Israel's right to exist
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  Speaker 1: in security, and advocating for a two-state solution. He explained
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  Speaker 1: that Ireland's pro-Palestinian stance is informed by its own history
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  Speaker 1: and a sense of justice, asserting that his government's criticisms
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  Speaker 1: are focused on Israel's military response, which he called absolutely disproportionate,
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  Speaker 1: rather than targeting Jewish people. I'm Rachel Adler, thank you
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  Speaker 1: for listening to Antisemitism Watch. Follow Antisemitism Watch in your
• 2:57
  Speaker 1: podcast app so you don't miss the next update. This
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  Speaker 1: report was generated with AI assistance and may contain inaccuracies.
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  Speaker 1: Please verify important details with primary sources.