Mideast War blowback

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A group of demonstrators at Columbia University say they were attacked with what they believe to have been a "chemical-based weapon" during a gathering in support of Palestinians amid the ongoing Israel-Hamas war.

The New York Police Department told ABC News there is a report on file for assault after the protesters said they smelled a foul odor and began to feel nauseated, accompanied by headaches, during a protest Friday. The victims refused medical attention at the scene, according to the NYPD.

Students for Justice in Palestine said several students have been hospitalized or have sought medical care following the incident. Victims reported symptoms such as vomiting, nausea, chest and abdominal pain and headaches.

Interim Provost Dennis A. Mitchell said the NYPD is taking the "lead role in investigating what appear to have been serious crimes, possibly hate crimes."

"Numerous Columbia and Barnard students who attended a protest later reported being sprayed with a foul-smelling substance that required students to seek medical treatment," said Mitchell.

The alleged perpetrators have been identified to the university and have been immediately banned from campus while the law enforcement investigation proceeds, according to Mitchell.

The investigation remains ongoing, officials said. The university's Department of Public Safety is also investigating in collaboration with local and federal authorities after several reports were filed in connection with Friday’s protest "that are of great concern," according to a Columbia University spokesperson.

Several of the protesters were from the groups Students for Justice in Palestine and Jewish Voice for Peace, according to posts from the groups on social media.

In a social media post, the Students for Justice in Palestine said "student protesters were sprayed by a chemical weapon" during a "pro-Palestine and anti-genocide" protest. They referred to the attack as a "hate crime" and said several students continued to experience burning eyes and nausea hours after the attack.

The two groups were suspended in November by the university for allegedly violating university policies for holding unauthorized events that "included threatening rhetoric and intimidation." Their suspension caused outrage nationwide.

A new Harvard CAPS-Harris poll published this week of over 2,300 registered US voters found overwhelming support for Israel over Hamas in the ongoing war, triggered by the terror group’s October 7 murderous rampage.

In the poll, 83 percent of respondents said October 7 was a terror attack, while 17% said it was not. Broken down by age group, 94% of respondents aged over 65 said the attack — in which some 1,200 people were killed and 253 were taken hostage — was terrorism, while 74% of those aged 18-24 said the same.

In addition, 74% of respondents said Hamas’s attack was genocidal and 75% of all respondents said the assault could not be justified by Palestinian grievances. These answers varied widely by age group, with younger Americans less favorable to Israel. Some 54% of respondents aged 18-24 said the attacks were not justified, compared to 78% among participants aged 45-54, 87% of those aged 54-65, and 92% of those aged over 65.

Eighty percent of all respondents also said they support Israel more over Hamas, including 57% among those aged 18-24, about 70% for those aged 25-44, 80% of 45-54 year olds, 90% of those 54-65, and 93% of those over 65.

Most respondents, 69%, said Israel was trying to avoid civilian casualties in the Gaza Strip, and 66% said Israel was just trying to defend itself. Some 34% said they believe Israel was “committing genocide” in Gaza and not acting in self-defense, a figure that jumped to 57% between those aged 18-24 and 50% among the 25-34 years-old bracket.

Some 74% of total respondents also said Hamas would like to commit genocide against Jews in Israel.

Overall, 67% of respondents said a ceasefire should only happen if the hostages are released and Hamas is removed from power in Gaza — Israel’s key aims in the war.

A plurality of respondents — 39% — said post-war Gaza should be administered by a new entity set up through negotiations with Arab states, followed by 31% who said the Palestinian Authority and 30% who said Israel.

The poll also asked if they approved of US President Joe Biden’s handling of the Israel-Hamas conflict, with 39% giving him favorable remarks, down six percent from late November.

The poll was conducted among 2,346 registered US voters on January 17 and 18. The margin of error was not immediately available.

A group of entertainment industry figures are joining forces to launch a new campaign amid rising antisemitic incidents.

Connie Britton, Cindy Crawford, Ginnifer Goodwin, Jenna Dewan and Scooter Braun are among those participating in the “New Year, New Voices” campaign, which aims to combat antisemitism and launches on social media Tuesday, according to organizers who shared a preview of the effort with CNN.

While dozens of prominent celebrities have condemned the Oct. 7 Hamas attacks in Israel, the new campaign is about stopping antisemitism more broadly and includes both Jewish and non-Jewish voices.

“We have to stop antisemitism in its tracks and the only way to do that is to show people that it’s not just the same Jewish influencers over and over again. We’re not the only ones speaking out,” “New Year, New Voices” campaign founder Samantha Ettus told CNN. “Propaganda has made people think that standing up to antisemitism is political – and it’s not. It is just as acceptable to stand up against antisemitism as it is any form of hate towards any ethnic group.”

Among the other actors, some athletes, TV personalities and public figures that have joined the campaign are David Arquette, Emmanuelle Chriqui, Colton Underwood, Zach Randolph, Lance Bass, Bryan Greenberg, Debra Messing, Montana Tucker, Nia Dennis, Jennifer Morrison, Jaimie Alexander, Rebecca Gayheart, Caroline D’Amore, Cheryl Burke, Katie Cassidy, Kevin Nealon, Richard Marx and Brett Gelman.

U.S. State Department official warned that China is increasingly promoting antisemitic tropes and conspiracy theories in the wake of Hamas’s Oct. 7 terrorist attacks in Israel.

Delivering a keynote address to the American Bar Association on Monday, Aaron Keyak, deputy special envoy to monitor and combat antisemitism, said China is trying to undermine the United States by claiming that Jews control the country.

“I have particular concern that since [the] Oct. 7 Hamas attacks, there’s been an increase in the People’s Republic of China’s state media and online discourse of antisemitic tropes that Jews control the United States through deep U.S.-Israel ties, as well as control over banks, the media and that they have influence over government leaders,” he said.

Keyak cited the example of an October 2023 program on “uncovering the Israel elements of U.S. elections in history,” during which the national Chinese broadcaster alleged that “Jews who represent 3% of the U.S. population control 70% of its wealth.”

“Conjecture that Jews control the U.S. government and U.S. wealth is an antisemitic falsehood intended to degrade trust in the United States, our democratic institutions, and ultimately, democracy around the globe,” he added.

Since Oct. 7, U.S. lawmakers have expressed concern that Chinese-owned media outlets and social-media platforms, including TikTok, have promoted anti-Israel and even pro-Hamas propaganda.

The Chinese government has been deeply critical of Israel throughout the conflict against Hamas, hasn’t condemned the Oct. 7 massacre and has accused Israel of “collective punishment” against the Palestinians.

didn't Hamas offer to release the hostages once that puppet state with state-of-the-art weapons and billions of dollars in western backing for their genocide striked back against a desperate Palestine?

people forget that Israel from the beginning should never have been there.

It's true that most Anti-Zionists probably aren't Anti-Semites, however Anti-Zionism has its roots in Anti-Semitism, and one must question the motives of somebody who, given all the injustice worldwide, has adopted Anti-Zionism as a personal cause, as to whether they aren't at least a bit Anti-Semitic. More recently, a rise in Anti-Zionism has led to a resurgence of Anti-Semitism, amongst younger people who had previously not given the subject much thought.

It's true that most Anti-Zionists probably aren't Anti-Semites, however Anti-Zionism has its roots in Anti-Semitism,

I totally challenge that assertion. Anti-Zionism as it is used by Progressive people is entirely about Israeli political behavior.

It's "roots" are in the apartheid-style behavior of the far-right Israeli state.

I'm not interested in semantic games; everyone who has paid any attention knows that Israel behaves badly in ways that would be criticized in any modern Western country.

Accusing critics of antisemitism doesn't change or absolve unacceptable behavior.

It's merely a way of trying to stop the critical examination of that behavior, asserting a self-righteous victim status while avoiding responsibility for being a perpetrator.

I'm not having any of it.

One can be quite "anti" all repressive and destructive behavior, including but not limited to nationalistic Israeli occupation and oppression.

That does not make anti-Zionism a "personal cause," merely a response to the current forum-saturating topic.

Those who think that any behavior with a nexus to Judaism can't be criticized or opposed without incurring charges of antisemitism are suffering from a particular form of hubristic entitlement.

No one gets a sacred-victim free pass to abuse others--everyone is responsible for their actions.

A Labour MP has apologised after saying Rishi Sunak had "the blood of thousands of innocent people on his hands" over the Israel-Gaza conflict.

Tahir Ali made the comment in Parliament, as he challenged the prime minister about the UK's stance on the war.

He apologised shortly afterwards, after being asked to do so by Labour's chief whip.
But he added he did not "resile from my strongly held views" on the conflict.

In a social media post, Mr Ali, the MP for Birmingham Hall Green, said he was sorry for "the way in which I described" Mr Sunak in his question.

The Labour leadership has publicly distanced itself from his remarks, with a party spokesman telling reporters they were "clearly inappropriate".

Speaking at Prime Minister's Questions, Mr Ali said "recently released documents" revealed the Foreign Office had concerns over Israel's compliance with international humanitarian law in its ongoing military campaign in Gaza.

It appeared to be a reference to documents that have emerged as part of a legal challenge to the business department's decision to continue arms export licences to Israel.

The Guardian reported last week that an internal Foreign Office assessment in late November had raised concerns over Israel's bombing campaign, and how it was deciding whether to grant access to aid workers.

The licences were eventually continued after Foreign Secretary Lord Cameron advised they should, but be kept under review.

'Emotive issue'
Mr Ali said the documents had been "hidden from Parliament" whilst Mr Sunak had "boldly stated his confidence in Israel's respect for international law".

He added that South Africa's case at the International Court of Justice (ICJ), which alleges Israel is committing genocide against the Palestinians, had revealed "the scale of Israel's war crimes in Gaza".

"Is it now not the time for the prime minister to admit that he has the blood of thousands of innocent people on his hands, and for him to commit to demanding an immediate ceasefire and an ending of UK's arms trade with Israel?" he asked.

But in a post three hours later on X, formerly Twitter, he issued an apology over his intervention. It is understood Labour's chief whip Sir Alan Campbell spoke to him after PMQs and asked him to apologise.

Antisemitic discourses have often been split within discrete ideological categories, including extreme right, far left and Islamist antisemitism. In practice, there is significant convergence between different ideological groupings whose antisemitic narratives mirror each other. Since the 7 October attacks in particular, diverse fringe movements have coalesced around antisemitic conspiracy theories and antisemitic expressions of anti-Zionism.

Different expressions of antisemitism across ideologies can be presented very differently and do not lead to the same types of threat. Jewish people have felt under physical threat from actors from both ends of the political spectrum, even if few high-profile instances of extreme violence have been observed against Jews by the far left (in line with low contemporary rates of far-left violent extremism more generally). This is in contrast with high levels of incitement to violence against Jews in extreme-right and Islamist online spaces.

Despite these differences, similarities in antisemitic rhetoric and behaviours can often be observed across a broad spectrum. This trend has emerged over a number of years but is particularly pronounced in the wake of 7 October, following wider trends of ‘hybridisation’, where different ideologies and ecosystems have inter-mixed on social media and cross-fertilised narratives and aesthetics.

Recently published opinion research shows that neither left- nor right-wing views are a particular predictor of antisemitism. Rather, it finds that conspiratorial worldviews, anti-hierarchical aggression and a preference for authoritarianism– which can occur across the political spectrum– best predict antisemitism. It is in this context that actors with vastly different ideologies who otherwise would be on opposing ends of debates around religion, immigration, feminism and LGBTQ+ rights converge around shared conspiracy theories about Jewish people and Israel.

Conspiracy theories about Jewish money and power
Eminent Holocaust scholar and US Special Envoy to Monitor and Combat Antisemitism, Deborah Lipstadt, explains how, whereas most racisms ‘punch down’, antisemitism ‘punches up’. Anti-black racism, for example, often uses biological racism to argue that black people are somehow inferior to white people; that they are less clever, clean or worthy of fundamental rights. Antisemitism does the opposite; it constructs Jews as too powerful, too rich and too influential. These narratives are part and parcel of extreme-right ideologies and, as the Community Security Trust (CST) Head of Policy Dave Rich argues, have the potential to slot neatly into far-left worldviews.

The narrative that Jews seek power also manifests as dog whistles or euphemisms, permitting plausible deniability for its proponents both on the extreme right and the far left. Both commonly use antisemitic language to refer to ‘Zionists’ rather than ‘Jews’. For example, the phrase ‘Zionist occupied government’ or ‘ZOG’ is widely used in white nationalist ecosystems to infer Jewish control over states. On the far left or in Islamist spaces, there is often a practice of using ‘Zionists’ as an interchangeable term for describing ‘Jews’. For example, former university professor David Miller, a regular guest on Iranian state TV channel Press TV’s show ‘Palestine Declassified’, concluded a Twitter/X thread about ‘zionist propagandists’ with a post that “Jews…are over-represented in Europe, North America and Latin America in positions of cultural, economic and political power”, mirroring the most overt far-right antisemitic talking points.

Rooted in the form of antisemitism which ‘punches up’, conspiracy theories shared by a multitude of fringe movements have sought to downplay the 7 October attacks by either accusing Israel of being responsible for the deaths of Israeli civilians or claiming that they were exaggerated or that those killed were not civilians. The editor of Muslim media platform 5Pillars – which regularly hosts content from the Islamist organisation Hizb-ut-Tahrir – Roshan Salih, claimed ‘the most likely scenario is that the IDF killed 100s of their own people on 7 October and they are making up stories about Hamas atrocities’.

In the same vein, the Muslim Public Affairs Council (MPACUK) – a self-described civil liberties pressure group who have spread conspiracy theories about Jews and have been banned from campuses by the National Union of Students – shared a video from Canadian far-right outlet Rebel News, claiming that the Israelis themselves committed the atrocities and blamed Hamas for it. In his appearance on the 5Pillars podcast, the rapper Lowkey (who hosts a podcast for the far-left conspiracy website MintPress) also spread similar conspiracy theories. This included claims that Israeli forces were responsible for a significant share of deaths on 7 October itself, part of a broader conspiracy theory seeking to deny the facts of the massacre. In these ways, a range of ideological actors have coalesced around such conspiracy theories, many of them applying typical antisemitic framings to the current crisis in remarkably similar ways.

Antisemitic expressions of anti-Zionism
Anti-Israel positions are not inherently antisemitic but can be presented using antisemitic language or framings. Examples of antisemitic anti-Israel language include comparing Israel to Nazi Germany; transposing classical antisemitic tropes such as the blood libel onto Israel; and holding diasporic Jews collectively responsible for the actions of the State of Israel. In this context, anti-Zionism can be used – albeit not exclusively – as a dog whistle for broader attacks on Jews.

One example of this is the Iranian state Press TV show ‘Palestine Declassified’, hosted by former Labour MP Chris Williamson, “who has been previously accused of engaging in antisemitic conspiracy theories”. The show has pushed a multitude of antisemitic conspiracy theories about ‘Zionist’ control of media and political influence operations. Web traffic data, captured by the Anti-Defamation League and the Centre for Countering Digital Hate, demonstrate the show’s reach among Western left-leaning audiences, indicating the cross-ideological reach of antisemitic anti-Zionist views.

Similarly, far-right actors frequently share antisemitic materials from other movements. A recent book by the far-left Electronic Intifada editor Asa Winstanley which claims that a British ‘Israel lobby’ is ‘weaponizingantisemitism’ (also the book’s title) in order to oppress Palestinian rights, was shared and supported on Telegram by the likes of BNP founder Nick Griffin and channels linked to the white nationalist group Patriotic Alternative. The Equality and Human Rights Commission’s investigation into antisemitism in the Labour Party declared that ‘suggesting that complaints of antisemitism are fake or smears’ can itself be antisemitic.

Since 7 October, diverse ideological actors have coalesced around antisemitic anti-Zionism, building on foundations made during previous conflicts, such as the May 2021 Israel-Gaza War. Extreme-right ecosystems supported violent Palestinian resistance based on the perception of a shared Jewish enemy who was seen to be coordinating ethnic cleansing against both Palestinians and white Europeans. Concurrently, the adoption of far-right subcultures in online Salafist communities exemplifies the emergence of cross-ideological exchange, with Jews as the common enemy.

Expressions of Palestinian solidarity from extreme-right actors do not preclude the continued Islamophobia held by extreme right movements. For some on the far right, as British far-right activist Jim Dowson identified in a live stream, “Islam is one problem, but it’s not the problem”, with antisemitism being prioritised over other prejudices in the current polarised climate.

While the far-right reactions to the events in Israel-Palestine since 7 October have been mixed, many extreme-right online communities were overt in their support for Palestinian violent resistance. Likewise, some far-left groups have justified 7 October as a victory for social justice or ‘decolonisation’. A recent in-depth investigation by the Community Security Trust identifies, for example, how literature and comments associated with the Socialist Workers’ Party have ‘voiced support – even happiness – over the Hamas attacks’, including euphemistic violent language.

Further demonstrating such ideological intersections, 5Pillars Deputy Editor Dilly Hussain hosted Nick Griffin on his podcast Blood Brothers to discuss the 7 October massacre and its aftermath. Hussain and Griffin presented narratives that could be perceived as strongly antisemitic, despite both claiming that they were not against Jews, but merely Zionism. The pair went on to claim that the media and Hollywood are owned and controlled by Jews, and that Western countries operate a ‘Jewish supremacist’ system of foreign policy. The podcast conversation elaborated religious antisemitism, referring to the UK Board of Deputies as the ‘Sanhedrin Talmudic priesthood’, as well as drawing on historical antisemitic tropes, claiming that Jews have been expelled throughout history for offending people, and associating Jews with ‘usury’ (extortionate money lending), which was framed as one of the most damaging forces in the world. In such contexts the word ‘Zionist’ can often be plausibly interpreted as merely a euphemism for ‘Jews’.

Conclusion
While not ideologically identical, various fringe movements promote antisemitic narratives which share various core framings in their essentialisation and conspiratorial assumptions about Jews. Around key inflection points, such as the 7 October attack, such actors mirror and thereby amplify each other’s antisemitic discourse. While antisemitic codes or dog whistles may be unique to specific ideological ecosystems, shared narratives can often draw on the same core assumptions about Jews, rooted in Medieval or Nazi-era thought. Increasingly, unlikely cross-ideological alliances around attitudes towards Jews are materialising, with the potential for real-world consequences for Jewish communities. In the online environment, they serve to amplify antisemitic and potentially violent content across multiple ideological ecosystems, facilitating the spreading and embedding of antisemitic ideologies and tactics.

Approaches to tackling antisemitism by governments, platforms and civil society alike often frame threat priorities around specific ideological categories. This research shows that an ‘either/or’ approach misunderstands the nature of antisemitism and its ideological intersections across the political spectrum. A whole-of-society issue demands a whole-of-society response, with anti-hate work directed at the roots of antisemitic narratives rather than a hyper-focus on one iteration or another. An often-politicised focus on the nature of the perpetrator should give way to a forensic understanding and dismantling of antisemitism wherever it appears.

The ideological and operational mixing of antisemitic ideas across the political spectrum is situated in a wider trend of increasing inter-linking of previously distinct extremist networks, aided by the accessibility of hateful content across digital platforms. A cross-harm perspective – which recognises the centrality of antisemitism within a broad spectrum of extremism, conspiracy theories and hate speech – is vital to fully capture the cross-fertilisation of hateful narratives in the ever-evolving ecosystem of disparate actors and ideologies.

A Westchester County community is uniting against hate after someone spray-painted antisemitic graffiti on two storefronts on the New Rochelle-Scarsdale border.

It was a busy Thursday night at the Scoop Shop as supporters lined up to show co-owner Adam Deutsch they have his back.

"I'm feeling a lot of love from all the support, I got to tell you," he said.

"These are such good people," Scarsdale resident Kara Mendel said.

It came hours after Deutsch's ice cream shop, along with another business, were defaced with the words "genocide supporters" spray-painted across the storefronts.

Both of the targeted stores had "we stand with Israel" posters displayed in their front windows.

"It's scary to know that this is happening so close to home, and it affects me. It affects all of us," New Rochelle resident Michelle Kolodny said

Police are looking for the alleged vandal, who was caught in surveillance video.

Earlier, more than 100 community members and local leaders rallied around the shops in the Golden Horseshoe Shopping Center with "we stand with Israel" posters on full display.

"Hatred is hatred is hatred, and when you see antisemitism, you're seeing racism, you're seeing Islamophobia. You can't tolerate it in any of its forms, not any of its forms," Westchester County Executive George Latimer said.

"I do not want hate here, and that's what this is. Antisemitism has no place in Israel. It has no place in New York," said New York State Assemblymember Amy Paulin said.

The City of New Rochelle released the following statement:

"We are deeply saddened and disturbed by the recent acts of antisemitism targeting two of our city's storefronts. New Rochelle is built on the values of diversity, inclusion, and mutual respect. Hate crimes like the vandalization of Cheryl's Closet and Scoop Shop have no place in our community and we vehemently condemn this behavior. We stand by our Jewish citizens and will not tolerate these types of attacks. The City of New Rochelle and its police department are working in collaboration with law enforcement agencies, including the Westchester County District Attorney, and the Scarsdale Police Department. Our commitment to supporting their efforts in investigating this incident remains steadfast. Property security inspections for local business and synagogues have been conducted and are underway. We plan to monitor the situation closely and inform all residents of any updates."

The rise in hate crimes across New York now has Gov. Kathy Hochul demanding that the legislature include making graffiti as a new category of hate crimes that can be punished.

"Why should New Yorkers have to change their everyday lives because of fear of a hate crime?" the governor said.

Syosset High School senior Rachel Abramowitz was walking down the school hallways earlier this month wearing a necklace bearing Hebrew letters and dog tags honoring Israeli hostages when she noticed some students eyeing her.

“I’ve never seen so many people staring at me,” Abramowitz, 17, said, adding that the incident came after reports of antisemitic graffiti at the school. “It hurt me personally. It’s giving me anxiety about going to school.”

Meanwhile, Toufique Harun's two daughters, ages 10 and 7, have been returning to their Albertson home with concerning stories and questions, he said. The girls talk about Muslim friends being called terrorists and having their religious scarfs, called hijabs, pulled, he said. Harun has come to worry about their safety.

"I worry about that every day — 1,000%," said Harun, who is Muslim. "Not only about bullying, I worry about their physical safety."
Leaders in Long Island's Jewish and Muslim communities say they worry that children of those faiths are facing an increase of prejudice and discrimination following the October start of the Israel-Hamas war. Facing discrimination is tough as an adult, but for young people, the experience can be more far more damaging. They’re more fragile emotionally and still forming their identity, experts say.

“For some children, this may be the first time they’ve confronted it. They may have been aware of it, but it’s not been in their face so much,” said Robin Gurwitch, a professor and psychologist at Duke University Medical Center in North Carolina.

Whether a young person is Jewish or Muslim, they have a hard time understanding that some people hate them, not for something they did, but because of their religion, Gurwitch said.

Discrimination can leave a young person feeling confused, fearful, angry and self-conscious, said Saida Abdi, an assistant professor at the University of Minnesota’s School of Social Work.

“They may withdraw. They may not want to go to school,” Abdi said. “It changes how they view the world. It can impact their capacity to feel secure and safe in the world.”

In the eight weeks from Oct. 7 to Dec. 2, the Council on American-Islamic Relations, the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, said it received 2,171 requests for help and reports of bias, which is a 172% increase over a similar two-month period the previous year.

Even if children aren't plugged into the news, they often glean the gist of it, Abdi said. When they feel bullied or left out due to prejudice, the effects can impact their education, emotional development and health, she said.

“When children feel fearful and stressed, they can’t think about academia,” Abdi said.

How adults can help kids fight bias
Whether children face stares from classmates, a whispered remark behind their backs or some toxic face-to-face bullying, some young people can power through the difficulty — but most could use some help, said Isma Chaudhry, co-chair of the Islamic Center of Long Island in Westbury.

"An adult intervention — with wisdom, patience and empathy — that goes far," Chaudhry said. Adults can remind children, "People are kind. People are there to protect you. You're a kid."

Chaudhry, of Manhasset, added that help needs to be a collaborative effort among parents, schools and the community. "These discussions have to happen in homes. Parents need to reach out to the schools, which need to be willing to collaborate."

Rabbi Lyle Rothman of the Community Synagogue in Port Washington said young people are often the canaries in the coal mine regarding prejudice. Most adults know what is not acceptable in public, but young people sometimes lack the maturity, verbal filters and parental guidance to keep such thoughts to themselves, he said.

Leaders in the Island's Jewish and Muslim communities say they're seeing young people come forward with upsetting stories.

The Community Synagogue has been holding sessions for young people to air their concerns, Rothman said. Prayer itself can calm nerves, he said, noting the synagogue has added prayers for peace and healing in weekly Shabbat services.

Rothman said he's been talking to several college students, some still in their teens, "experiencing antisemitic tropes and actions, whether on the part of their classmates or instructors — and they're seeing silence from the administration."

Chaudhry said Muslim children are feeling stressed on two fronts — they see their families and other Muslim adults "in a state of frenzy and apprehension," and they're experiencing taunting at school and being excluded from play groups.

"We are making sure [at the Islamic Center] that we are providing a safe space for them to express themselves and have fun," she said. "We are training teachers in our weekend school to identify kids who are quieter or have some change in behavior."

In Long Island schools, swastikas recently have been discovered in schools in East Meadow, Syosset, Smithtown and Commack.

Long Island school leaders have issued strong statements condemning any expression of bias on their campuses and asserted that students caught doing so will face discipline, if not criminal charges.

They're also adding programs aimed at teaching students about bias.

In the Lawrence school district, for example, students performed "The Diary of Anne Frank" as the high school play, created an art gallery exhibit on the Holocaust and had middle school students speak to Holocaust survivors, officials said.

"We strongly condemn any form of discrimination, whether that be antisemitism, Islamophobia, or hate in any of its manifestations," Superintendent Ann Pedersen said. "We believe it is critical that we educate about all prejudice, and we are very proud of the diversity that the Lawrence community represents."

In the Syosset school district, officials pointed to programs aimed at combating bias, such as a bullying prevention program in elementary school, and the Patience, Respect, Integrity, Dignity, and Empathy (PRIDE) program at the secondary level.

The Syosset school board recently established an Anti-Bias Task Force to develop ideas and recommendations for the board to consider that will reinforce tolerance and inclusivity, district spokeswoman Philomena Hefferon said.

New York City school officials recently announced that middle and high schools will teach about antisemitism and Islamophobia, following criticism that they were doing too little to address the Israel-Hamas war.

'Paths forward' for young people
Mark Abramowitz said he never expected his daughter, Rachel, would face antisemitism on Long Island when the family moved here about 15 years ago. But neither did he imagine that their synagogue, Midway Jewish Center in Syosset, would need to hire security guards.

In advising his daughter, Abramowitz said he's recommended she always keep aware of her surroundings, have her phone handy and inform school officials if something happens.

"Obviously I want to make sure she's OK," he said, adding that the family speaks of "paths forward, ways to educate people with facts and values. ... Doing the right thing in our community."

Being the victim of bias can impact a child's relationship with their religion. Some young people choose not to share their religion outside their own religious community, Gurwitch said.

"I've heard stories of children taking off their yarmulke when they come out of a synagogue or maybe put the Star of David inside their shirt," Gurwitch said. "Others, however, say, 'I'm going to stand up. That's not right.'"

In Rachel's case, she's doubled down on her Jewishness. She said she still wears her necklace and dog tags outside her shirt. She's joined an advisory group on bias in school and has spoken out against antisemitism at two school board meetings, including one where she said she saw a man staring at her "with a look of pure hate."

"I felt it's my duty to respond and make a change in my community," she said.

Considering the current climate, Gurwitch suggested that parents start the conversation and not wait for their kids to mention something.

Harun, the Albertson father of two, said he and his wife are pretty upfront with the girls about what's going on, though they leave out some of the more intense details. He requested the girls not be named, out of safety concerns.

His 7-year-old recently broached the topic after seeing video of the Israel-Hamas war. She focused on a Palestinian child that had been hurt, asking why she got hurt.

"There's a war going on over there," his wife told her. "A lot of people are getting hurt."

Harun finds hope in the fact that his 10-year-old's friends include a mix of Jewish, Muslim, Hindu and Christian kids.

“Thank goodness she has a good group of friends,” he said. “Once you connect with people at a human level, it breaks down every one of these stereotypes. … It’s magic.”

How to talk to children about antisemitism, Islamophobia and hate crimes
Start the conversation. Talk about the events with your children/teens. Provide a level of information and discussion that is appropriate for your child’s developmental level.

What does your child already know? Start by asking what your children/teens already have heard about the incident and the aftermath. As your children talk, listen for misinformation, misconceptions and underlying fears or concerns.

Gently correct inaccurate information. Take time to provide the correct information in language your children/teens can understand.

Be patient. In times of stress, children/teens may have more trouble with their behavior, concentration and attention. Even if they may not openly seek your understanding or support, they will want this.

Promote your family values and beliefs. As you begin conversations, recognize that this is an important opportunity to instill values and beliefs about respect, tolerance and diversity.

SOURCE: The National Child Traumatic Stress Network

A student at the University of Central Florida was arrested last week after he allegedly threatened to shoot and kill three Jewish students during a pro-Israel demonstration on campus because "he is tired of seeing (them)", according to police.

Seif Asi, 21, was arrested and charged with three counts of intimidation and credible threat to a person wearing a religious item after the incident that unfolded at the John T. Washington Center on campus on Jan. 23, according to an arrest affidavit from the UCF Police Department.

Students with the "Students Supporting Israel" group on campus were partaking in an approved UCF Office of Student Involvement free-expression event where they were placing small Israeli flags in the ground to honor the Jewish lives lost during the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas, the affidavit said.

According to UCF's website, the university "strongly supports" the First Amendment right students have to free speech and free expression.

"Use of outdoor areas of campus for expressive activities is permitted as long as the use does not violate the law and does not materially and substantially disrupt the functioning of the university or infringe upon the rights of others to engage in expressive activities," UCF's policy states.

Asi told police he saw the group of students setting up earlier that day and it made him upset. Instead of engaging, Asi went to the gym on campus to work out, but then told police "he was so upset about it he decided to go back and confront the group after his workout," the affidavit said.

During this confrontation, which lasted a minute or two at around 11:30 a.m., Asi allegedly threatened to shoot three students with a gun.

"I'm going to kill you," Asi admitted to police he said, according to the arrest affidavit.

"You won't be here anymore when I come back and shoot you," the three students told police of what Asi allegedly told them.

Asi also allegedly accused the students of "supporting a genocide, the deaths of Palestinians, and the death of his family members in Palestine," the affidavit said of Asi, who said he is a U.S. citizen but is Palestinian and has family in Palestine.

One of the students immediately located a police officer and told them what Asi allegedly said, and the officer spoke to him about the confrontation.

Asi told police that he "is tired of seeing the Jewish supports on UCF campus and he referred to a pro-Israel march that was conducted last week on UCF campus," the affidavit said, adding that Asi knew the students he's accused of threatening were the same group of students that participated in the march.

Asi also apologized for his behavior and said he knew he shouldn't have made the threat, according to the affidavit.

"(Asi) said his emotions got the better of him and he requested to go and apologize to the students he threatened," the affidavit said. "(Asi) said he is tired of seeing students on campus defending the killing of Palestinian people."

The three students wished to prosecute Asi, and he was taken into custodyy after police determined he "willfully and maliciously intimidated (people) based on their religion and ethnicity" and he "made a credible threat to victims that were intentionally selected because of the perpetrator's bias against the victims," the affidavit said.

Police also confirmed that Asi did not own a firearm, nor was a firearm found in his possession

It's true that most Anti-Zionists probably aren't Anti-Semites, however Anti-Zionism has its roots in Anti-Semitism,

and one must question the motives of somebody who, given all the injustice worldwide, has adopted Anti-Zionism as a personal cause, as to whether they aren't at least a bit Anti-Semitic.

More recently, a rise in Anti-Zionism has led to a resurgence of Anti-Semitism, amongst younger people who had previously not given the subject much thought.