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Royal Spanish Academy defines Jew as “a person being greedy”

The Royal Spanish Academy has included inflammatory definitions of the words “Jew” and “Jewish” in its official dictionary. 

The Dictionary of the Spanish Language, which is published by the Royal Spanish Academy, currently defines the term, “Jew” as “in relation to a person being greedy or money lending” in one of its given definitions. 

The notion of Jewish greed is a classic antisemitic trope, with its origins in the supposed betrayal of Jesus by Judas for money, and in the professional limitations on Jews in mediaeval Europe, which forced many to work as money-lenders because of antisemitic restrictions.

Under the term, “Jewish”, one of the definitions reads, “a dirty trick or an action that is detrimental to someone”. It is noted in the entry that the word was previously used with “antisemitic intent”. 

Some twenty Jewish groups that represent Spanish-speaking communities have written a joint letter to the Royal Spanish Academy to ask that it use more “respectful and inclusive language”.

The letter observes: “The definitions of the words Judío [Jew] and Judiada [Jewish] in no way reflect the true meaning of these terms.” 

The letter continues with an explanation that the definitions of the words are “the product of a mediaeval and renaissance terminology of rejection, envy and hatred directed at Jews who, because of their work, had the highest incomes – which was one of the factors that led to their expulsion from Spain by the Catholic monarchs.”

Boja Luján Lago, a lawyer who represents the organisations that signed the letter, said: “Dictionaries have the task of reflecting the use and evolution of language, and their content is based on linguistic and academic criteria.

“In a context in which Spanish and Ibero-American society is increasingly sensitive to diverse identities and that the lack of respect to defining groups is mostly rejected by our society, we believe that these meanings should be updated to correctly reflect the use of the language in our days.”

The Royal Spanish Academy has confirmed receipt of the letter and is looking into the request. 

This is not the first time that an inflammatory definition has been found for the word, “Jew”. Last year, Campaign Against Antisemitism wrote to Google after it was discovered it defined the word as a verb, to “bargain with someone in a miserly or petty way”. Google subsequently removed and corrected the definition.

Campaign Against Antisemitism reports on news and incidents relating to antisemitism throughout Europe.

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CAA commends Waterstones for removing “Deluxe” edition of “Mein Kampf” from online sale after we reported it

Waterstones has removed from sale a “Deluxe” edition of Mein Kampf after Campaign Against Antisemitism alerted the bookseller to the listing on its website.

Mein Kampf was the Magnus opus and manifesto of the Nazi leader, Adolf Hitler.

The retailer explained that it receives title information for its website through an automated feed from Nielsen. Although Nielsen and Waterstones both provides a level of scrutiny for the books that come through, the size of the catalogue reaches tens of millions of titles and some undesirable books make it through the filters.

Waterstones concluded: “This listing has now been removed from our database and the title will not be available to purchase via our website or our bookshops. Once again, thank you for highlighting this issue.”

A spokesperson for Campaign Against Antisemitism said: “We commend Waterstones for immediately removing the ‘Deluxe’ version of Mein Kampf from its website after we contacted them. Such vile antisemitic rhetoric has no place on the virtual shelves of a major retailer, let alone being marketed as a superior collector’s item. With websites relying more and more on automations, it falls to groups like ours to ensure that online filters work and that sellers are held to account. To its credit, Waterstones has repeatedly taken antisemitism seriously and removed racist propaganda from sale.”

In 2020, Waterstones agreed to remove all books by the conspiracy theorist and antisemitic hate preacher David Icke.

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CAA to write to Walk This Way Surplus over sale of Hitler bust and other Nazi memorabilia 

Campaign Against Antisemitism will be writing to a Berwickshire-based shop over the sale of Nazi memorabilia. 

Walk This Way Surplus, a militaria shop in Coldstream, lists several Nazi-era items on its website, including Nazi party triangle pennants, listed for £100.

Also for sale are an assortment of Third Reich knives, including a bayonet and a utility knife, that range from £139 to £1,800.

In its on-site shop, it is understood that there is a bronze Hitler bust, listed for £150; a German merit cross with a swastika, listed for £250; an SS helmet, listed for £300; and a Totenkopf [death skull] SS pin, listed for £135. 

Earlier today, we wrote to Richard Winterton Auctioneers Ltd over the sale of Third Reich items. 

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CAA to write to Richard Winterton Auctioneers over sale of Nazi daggers, bayonets and medals 

Campaign Against Antisemitism will be writing to a Lichfield-based auctioneer over the sale of Nazi memorabilia. 

Richard Winterton Auctioneers Ltd will be hosting a “Toys and Militaria” auction in Tamworth on 30th August. 

In the auction, an array of items, including Third Reich daggers and an assortment of metal swastika badges, will be sold. 

The auction also features bayonets, swastika and eagle decorations for caps, uniform patches, a belt buckle, and a letter from the senior Nazi figure, Heinrich Himmler, all from the Nazi era.

Campaign Against Antisemitism understands that the sale of the Nazi items has prompted a member of the local Jewish community to withdraw their own listings from the auction house.

Last week, we wrote to Bearnes Hampton & Littlewood over their sale of Nazi-era items.

A spokesperson for Campaign Against Antisemitism said: “We wish to express our solidarity with the local member of the Jewish community who is seeking to pull her items from sale by Richard Winterton Auctioneers. The sale of Nazi memorabilia is always repugnant, but here it is in the starkest relief. Such sales are an affront to those who died fighting the Nazis and those who were murdered at their hands. We shall be writing to the auction house.”

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CAA to write to Bearnes Hampton & Littlewood over sale of Nazi memorabilia 

Campaign Against Antisemitism will be writing to an Exeter-based auctioneer over the sale of Nazi memorabilia. 

Bearnes Hampton & Littlewood will be hosting a two-day “Sporting & Collectors” auction with an array of items, including an assortment of Third Reich daggers and a metal swastika pin. 

The auction also features swastika and eagle armbands, swords, a bronze Gothe medal and a belt buckle, all from the Nazi era.

Earlier this year, Campaign Against Antisemitism wrote to the Emporium and Canterbury Auction Galleries over the sale of Third Reich items. 

Image credit: Bearnes Hampton & Littlewood

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Argentine restaurant removes “Anne Frank” burger and “Adolf” fries from its menu

A restaurant in Argentina has removed an “Anne Frank” burger and “Adolf” fries from its menu following an outcry from the Jewish community. 

Other items on the menu at Honky Donky, a fast-food restaurant in Buenos Aires, included “Benito”, “Gengis” and “Mao” fries, references to the Italian fascist Benito Mussolini, the Mongol Emperor Genghis Khan and the Chinese Communist dictator Mao Zedong.

The restaurant faced a backlash from the Jewish community in Rafaela, which announced its intention to pursue legal action.

The Rafaela Jewish Community posted on Facebook: “A fast-food place in our city, banally uses the names of Anne Frank and Adolf to identify their products, the Jewish Community of Rafaela expresses its most sense of repulsion and indignation, communicating that legal action will be taken corresponding to the fact in question.”

The group reportedly brought the issue to the restaurant’s owners earlier this year and was assured that the menu would be amended, only threatening legal action when the menu remained unchanged.

Honky Donky has subsequently changed the name of its “Anne Frank” burger to the “Anne Boleyn” burger and has removed the “Adolf” fries from its menu. 

In a statement, the restaurant said: “From our gastronomic venture we apologise for the offence and the lack of sense of responsibility for the misuse of names that refer to open wounds in humanity as a whole,

“The public reach that the news has gained in recent hours encourages us to continue thinking about reinforcing our commitment to the values of defending human rights as unalterable principles for living in a just society and promoting a dignified life.

“Irony and cynicism do not fit when it comes to understanding that there are limits, that not everything is the same, and that the request for forgiveness must be accompanied by an amendment to heal the damage caused.”

Campaign Against Antisemitism reports on news and incidents relating to antisemitism worldwide.

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Disturbing allegations of antisemitism, racism, and sexual assault made by McDonald’s employees

Employees of the fast-food chain McDonald’s have made disturbing allegations that widespread incidents of racism, including antisemitism, sexual assault, and bullying have been taking place at locations across the country.

Following this, a new, confidential e-mail hotline has been created.

The hotline has been set up by the Equality and Human Rights Commission. Its website states: “We are concerned to hear of these new allegations of sexual and racial harassment. We will look at them closely in the context of our current legal agreement with McDonald’s to tackle sexual harassment of staff in its restaurants.”

Those affected can e-mail the hotline at [email protected].

The BBC reported that an investigation found that after speaking to McDonald’s workers over a five-month period, they heard of more than 100 allegations from employees. Of these allegations, 31 related to sexual assault and 78 related to sexual harassment. Eighteen allegations of racism were made, while six people made allegations of homophobia.

A current McDonald’s employee in Essex said that she faced antisemitic abuse whilst working at the restaurant. 

Other examples of racism included an Indian employee based in Oxfordshire, who said that her colleagues spoke in “gibberish” to imitate her. She also said that her colleagues called a Pakistani colleague a terrorist.

Many of the sexual assault and harassment accusations have been made by sixteen and seventeen-year-olds.

McDonald’s has said of the allegations that the company had “fallen short” and it “deeply apologised”.

Image credit: Google

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Sainsbury’s apologises for stocking conspiracy newspaper with history of defending Holocaust-deniers

Sainsbury’s has issued an apology after two of its branches were found to have stocked copies of a conspiracy newspaper that has previously come to the defence of Holocaust-deniers.

The Light is an independently-distributed newspaper that was founded in 2020. It has regularly promoted conspiracy theories relating to COVID-19 and vaccines, and has made comparisons between lockdown and vaccine regulations to those of Nazi Germany.

Anti-lockdown and anti-vaccination networks have become known as hotbeds of antisemitic conspiracy theories and tropes.

The newspaper has also, on at least two occasions, targeted Campaign Against Antisemitism in relation to successful prosecutions against antisemites.

In 2021, it defended the Hitler-loving radio host Graham Hart, who was sentenced to prison after pleading guilty to eight counts of inciting racial hatred after action by Campaign Against Antisemitism.

An investigation by Campaign Against Antisemitism revealed that Mr Hart repeatedly claimed that Jews are “filth”; questioned whether six million Jews were really murdered in the Holocaust; praised Adolf Hitler as “the greatest man of the twentieth century”; said that “is isn’t just the white people who hate the Jews…it’s everyone hates the Jews. Everyone”; claimed that the Jews “run everything”, are “evil” and are “not of this world”; and argued that the Jews have “got to go down, they’ve just got to go down”.

The Light wrote of the sentencing: “While his opinions may seem radical, surely he is entitled to them? How does it harm anybody else for him to have a different view of history?”

Last year, the newspaper expressed support for Tahra Ahmed, a prominent Grenfell Tower volunteer aid worker who, after being reported to the police by Campaign Against Antisemitism, CST and others, was sentenced to eleven months in prison after being found guilty of publishing written material in order to stir up racial hatred.

On the Holocaust, Ms Ahmed said: “I’m not a Holocaust denier…unfortunately, six million Jews is a number that has been perpetuated and the actual number has been revised down by experts.” She affirmed using the term “Holohoax”, arguing that “it [the figures] was manipulated and exaggerated at the time” and that, regarding the actual number of deaths in the Holocaust, “The Jewish council [sic] says 3.5 million…the Red Cross says 283,000.” She also baselessly asserted that “Hitler had an agreement with Rothschild to put Jews in concentration camps so Rothschild could transfer Jews to Palestine” and approvingly quoted a known Holocaust denier. She was also pressed on why she described the expulsion of the Jews from England in the Middle Ages as a “final solution to the Jewish problem.”

Her trial was described by the newspaper “a political stitchup.”

Additionally, according to the BBC, The Light published an article by blogger Lasha Darkmoon, in which she argued that individuals should be able to question the Holocaust.

The Light’s website also lists one of its “proud sponsors” as the antisemitic hate preacher and conspiracy theorist David Icke, who has been banned from entering several European countries.

It has also been reported that The Light has endorsed content by the far-right organisation Patriotic Alternative, a UK-based group headed by the former leader of the youth wing of the BNP, Mark Collett. Mr Collett is reported to have dabbled in Holocaust denial, is regularly heard as a guest on the radio show of the former Ku Klux Klan Grand Wizard, David Duke, and has described the Holocaust as “an instrument of white guilt”. Last month, one of its members who said that Adolf Hitler did “nothing wrong” was jailed.

A spokesperson for Sainsbury’s said that the newspaper was left in its Warlingham and Newhaven branches without its knowing, stating: “We do not stock this newspaper and it is removed from any stores where it’s left. We apologise for any upset caused”.

Image credit: Google

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Amazon removes book that refers to “subversive activities” of Jews against Catholic Church

Amazon has removed an inflammatory book listing from its website which makes reference to the “subversive activities” of Jews carried out against the Catholic church.

The Amazon listing of The Plot Against the Church, reportedly written in 1961 by a group of Mexican priests under the pseudonym Maurice Pinay, featured a description that referred to Judaism as an “enemy” of the Catholic church.

It added that “Jews, Masons and Communists” are using the Catholic church to further the aims of “atheistic communism” and referred to the “subversive activities” of Jewish people.

A spokesperson for Campaign Against Antisemitism said: “Selling a product whose sales pitch includes references to the ‘subversive activities’ of Jews is repugnant and has no place on Amazon. We are pleased that the retailer removed this unashamedly racist material from its platform following our call to do so.”

An Amazon spokesperson said: “We’re always listening to feedback and take these concerns very seriously. The title flagged is being removed from sale. We have policies governing which books can be listed and invest significant time and resources to ensure our guidelines are followed. We remove products that do not adhere to our guidelines and also promptly investigate any book when a concern is raised.”

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Amazon removes keyring featuring yellow ‘Jude’ star from listings

Amazon has removed a keyring featuring the yellow star that was forced upon Jews during the Holocaust from its listings.

The move comes after it was notified of the keyring by the Jewish Telegraph.

A spokesperson for Campaign Against Antisemitism said: “This bizarre keyring is, at best, in extremely poor taste. At worst, it is a deliberate mockery of Jewish suffering in the Holocaust. It has no place among Amazon’s wares. Amazon was right to remove this item and must ensure that similar products do not appear in its place.”

This is not the first example of Amazon selling questionable items relating to the Jewish community.

Earlier this year, we wrote to Amazon after it was reported that the online marketplace has cut a book deal with Mark Collett, the leader of far-right group Patriotic Alternative. Patriotic Alternative is known for its efforts to recruit youth to its white nationalist ideology. Previously, the far-right group published an online “alternative” home school curriculum condemned as “poison” and “hateful” and attempted to recruit children as young as twelve through livestreaming events on YouTube, according to The Times. 

Last year, Amazon was found to be selling “Palestine Intifada Clothing” that displays antisemitic slogans and inflammatory images.

The online behemoth suggests that items in the range make for a “great gift for family and friends,” including a sweatshirt bearing a machine gun and hoodies with the Star of David crossed out, and clothing emblazoned with the phrase: “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free”.

The chant of “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free” only makes sense as a call for the destruction of the world’s only Jewish state — and its replacement with a State of Palestine — and is thus an attempt to deny Jews, uniquely, the right to self-determination, which is a breach of the International Definition of Antisemitism.

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Following CAA action, Greene King pub retailer follows Glastonbury and YMCA in cancelling screenings of antisemitism-denial film on its premises

Following correspondence with Campaign Against Antisemitism, a leading pub retailer has agreed to cancel two screenings of a propaganda film about the antisemitic former Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn.

The screenings of the film Oh, Jeremy Corbyn! The Big Lie were scheduled to be shown tonight and tomorrow in Bournemouth, but the booking is understood to have been made by a third party, and not by Greene King itself.

The news comes shortly after, following action by Campaign Against Antisemitism, Glastonbury Festival and YMCA also cancelled screenings of the film.

The event’s ticket-booking page stated: “We will show the acclaimed Ken Loach documentary revealing the campaign of disinformation against Jeremy Corbyn’s leadership of the Labour.”

The film’s contributors include a who’s who of controversial figures such as Jackie Walker, who has previously stated that Jews were “chief financiers” of the African slave trade; the filmmaker Ken Loach, who caused outrage when, during an interview with the BBC, he refused to denounce Holocaust denial. Both were expelled from the Labour Party; Graham Bash, the Political Officer of Jewish Voice for Labour (JVL), an antisemitism-denial group and sham Jewish representative organisation; and Moshe Machover, a professor and Holocaust revisionist. All have been expelled from the Labour Party, although Mr Machover was readmitted.

Also involved is Andrew Murray, a close adviser to Mr Corbyn who, in 2005, authored an article in which he claimed that the roots of the 9/11 terror attacks lay in “Zionist colonialism” of the Balfour Declaration.

The film is narrated by comedian Alexei Sayle who claimed in 2014 that BBC presenter Emma Barnett, who is Jewish, supported the murder of children following an article and radio interview in which she had decried antisemitism amongst anti-Israel activists.

Campaign Against Antisemitism commends Greene King for its swift and decisive action to cancel the screening, as soon as we brought it to the retailer’s attention.

Additionally, we received confirmation from the Widcombe Social Club that a planned screening of the film, at which Mr Loach was also due to speak, has now been cancelled.

It has also been reported that, following our correspondence with Glastonbury, the major trade union Unite has also banned screenings of the film on its premises.

Campaign Against Antisemitism’s Antisemitism Barometer 2019 showed that antisemitism on the far-left of British politics has surpassed that of the far-right.

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Nazi memorabilia sold in Australia auction 

Nazi memorabilia was auctioned in a firesale in Queensland, Australia.

Danielle Elizabeth Antique & Estate Auctioneers sold a street sign named after Adolf Hitler, an SS branded licence plate and a Totenkopf (an SS ‘Honour Ring’).

The sale comes in the wake of the announcement by the Australian Government has of plans to ban the sale of all Nazi memorabilia.

Attorney General Mark Dreyfus said: “There is no place in Australia for symbols that glorify the horrors of the Holocaust. We will no longer allow people to profit from the display and sale of items which celebrate the Nazis.”

Campaign Against Antisemitism reports on news and incidents relating to antisemitism worldwide. 

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CAA writes to Ryanair over inflight announcement that plane heading for Tel Aviv would be landing in “Palestine”

Campaign Against Antisemitism has written to Ryanair in relation to a reported announcement by cabin crew on a flight headed to Tel Aviv that the place would be landing in “Palestine”.

Passengers claimed that, about half an hour before the plane was due to land at Ben Gurion Airport near Tel Aviv, a flight attendant announced over the PA system that the plane was “approaching Palestine.” It is claimed that the announcement was repeated more than once in both English and Italian.

Passengers on the 10th June flight from Bologna, Italy, claimed that the flight attendant refused to apologise or correct the remark, and a passenger who tried to photograph the attendant was accused of creating a disturbance that risked the safety of the flight and was threatened with arrest.

Tel Aviv, and Ben Gurion Airport, are universally recognised as being in Israel, except by those who do not believe in the legitimacy of a Jewish state and content that Israel should not exist. According to the International Definition of Antisemitism, “Denying the Jewish people their right to self-determination,” is an example of antisemitism.

The Irish airline apologised to the Israeli ambassador to Ireland, claiming that the announcement was a n error by the junior member of staff.

Eddie Wilson, the CEO of Ryanair, said: “It is not Ryanair policy (or our crew practice) to refer to Tel Aviv as being in any country other than Israel. The crew member in question has been spoken to and received a warning to ensure that such an error is never repeated. Israel is an important partner for Ryanair.”

He added: “This was an innocent mistake, and the crew member apologised on the PA when they realised what had happened. We can assure you that the crew member who made the announcement was extremely apologetic and has assured us that this mistake will never be repeated.”

Two years ago, a group of West Ham fans sang an antisemitic chant at a Hasidic passenger on a Ryanair flight.

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CAA to write to Canterbury Auction Galleries over sale of Nazi memorabilia

Campaign Against Antisemitism has written to a Kent-based auction house over the sale of Nazi memorabilia.

Canterbury Auction Galleries is hosting a two-day auction this weekend that includes a large number of Third Reich items.

Among the lots featured in the upcoming auction are a “WWII German SS Dagger” which is estimated to sell for £250-£350, and a “German WWII Cap” which is estimated to sell for £80-£120. 

The managing Director of Canterbury Auction Galleries has reportedly expressed some understanding to those who do not support the sale of such goods but has still insisted that “you can’t just expunge history”.

Image credit: Google

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Nazi memorabilia for sale in online New York auction

Nazi memorabilia has been offered for sale in an online auction in Brooklyn, New York. 

Items available for purchase in the “estate liquidation auction” held by Antique Arena include Nazi propaganda posters, Ghetto Police armbands, the yellow Star of David badges that Jewish people were forced to wear by the Nazis, and a canister of Zyklon B, a toxic gas used to murder millions of Jewish people in Nazi death camps. 

Separately the British auction house Christie’s has recently been condemned by Jewish groups for announcing the sale in New York of Nazi-linked jewellery, originally purchased with money made at the expense of Jewish victims of the Holocaust. The sale, which is estimated to be worth equivalent to £118 million, is for charity.

Campaign Against Antisemitism reports on news and incidents relating to antisemitism worldwide. 

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Passengers in disbelief as recording of Hitler speech plays over speaker system on Austrian train

A recording of an Adolf Hitler speech was played over the speaker system of a train travelling to Vienna.

David Stoegmueller, a Green Party MP who was on board the Austrian Federal Railways  (ÖBB) train at the time, said that “We heard two episodes. First there was 30 seconds of a Hitler speech, and then I heard ‘Sieg Heil’.”

According to Mr Stoegmuller, a Holocaust survivor was also a passenger at the time, and the elderly lady began “crying” in reaction to the recording.

Austrian Federal Railways were keen to “distance themselves” from the incident and announced: “We can currently assume that the announcements were made by people directly on the train via intercoms. We have reported the matter to the police.”

The perpetrators are yet to be found. 

Campaign Against Antisemitism reports on news and incidents relating to antisemitism in Austria, which have reached their highest number in decades, according to recent research.

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Hitler’s birthday celebrated at restaurant in central Taiwan 

A group was spotted celebrating Hitler’s birthday and posing with Nazi flags at a restaurant in central Taiwan. 

James Curly (姆士捲), a Taiwanese social media influencer, posted an image of the group holding up Nazi flags on his Facebook and Instagram accounts.

Mr. Curly told Taiwan News that he saw the men greet one another with Nazi salutes and overheard that they were celebrating Hitler’s birthday, which falls on 20th April.

Campaign Against Antisemitism reports on news and incidents relating to antisemitism worldwide.

Image credit: James Curly

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Bike repairman says he would charge Jewish customers more as “they have all the money”

A father and son were told by a bicycle repairman that Jews would be charged more for repair of their scooter because “they have all the money.”

The customers came to their local bicycle shop in North London to fix the wheels of the child’s scooter. When the father asked how much the repair would cost, the repairman answered £40. When the father replied, “Oh dear, it’s half the price of the scooter itself,” the repairman allegedly responded: “Since you’re a good customer I’ll do it for £30,” adding: “For Jews I’d charge £60!”

Shocked by his comment, the father asked: “Why would you overcharge a Jewish person?”

The repairman allegedly replied: “because they have all the money.”

The father responded, saying that this was no way to conduct a business and that it was antisemitic to speak and behave in such a way. By this point the repairman had allegedly become angry and called the customer a sick person and kicked him and his son out of the shop.

Neither the father nor the six-year-old son had any markers identifying them as Jewish.

Campaign Against Antisemitism has provided support to the victim.

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CAA to write to travel companies found to use happy emojis to promote tours to Auschwitz

After Hays Travel was forced to apologise for a second time for using smiley-face emojis to promote tours to the Auschwitz death camp, it can be revealed that another travel firm has also been operating the same practice.

Snowdonia Travel and Cruise used happy face emojis with heart eyes to publicise its ‘Krakow and Auschwitz tour’. Campaign Against Antisemitism will be writing to the agency.

Polka Dot Travel Wrexham also used coloured heart emojis to promote its ‘Krakow with Auschwitz tour’.

We are grateful to the member of the public who brought this to our attention.

Recently, Hays Travel apologised for a second time after it was discovered that it once again used jovial imagery on Facebook to promote its Auschwitz tours, which it listed along with trips to Disneyland and the Grand Canyon.

Hays Travel said: “We are very sorry to have caused offence especially after we tried to ensure it wouldn’t happen again. As soon as this was brought to our attention we immediately removed these posts from Facebook.”

According to the JC, the Advertising Standards Authority said in relation to Hays Travel that it took “this particular issue very seriously and recognise that this obviously has the potential to prompt concerns,” adding that its rules say that advertisements “should not contain anything likely to cause harm or offence.” It has the power to order advertisers to remove materials.

A spokesperson for Campaign Against Antisemitism said: “Despite the controversy over Hays Travel’s repeated use of emojis to advertise trips to Auschwitz, for which the company has apologised, for other travel firms to be doing the same is utterly incredible. Of all institutions, travel agents should be most sensitive to what the destinations that they are advertising represent. That so many in the travel industry continue to portray Auschwitz as some sort of theme park through the use of jovial emojis shows a dreadful lack of awareness and understanding. This appalling industry-wide practice must end.”

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CAA writes to Hungerford auction house over sale of Nazi medals

CAA has written to an auction house in Hungerford over the grotesque sale of Third Reich memorabilia. 

The Emporium auction house, which boasts a wide range of antiques, was discovered to have been selling emblems and medals featuring swastikas. 

One item, listed at £135, was labelled “WW2 German Boxed Faithful Service Cross 2nd Class”.

Another, priced at £55, was tagged as “WW2 mothers cross in silver”. 

This is not the first reported instance of an auction house selling Nazi memorabilia.

In October, Charles Hanson, who regularly appears as an expert on the BBC programme Bargain Hunt, was said to have been selling Nazi memorabilia at his auction house. 

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Leading travel firm apologises after using smiley-face emojis to promote Auschwitz tours even after apologising for doing so in the past

A leading travel firm is reportedly once again using smiley-face emojis to promote tours to the Auschwitz death camp even after the company was reportedly forced to apologise for doing so in the past.

Hays Travel has apologised for a second time after it was discovered that it once again used the jovial imagery on Facebook to promote the tours, which it listed along with trips to Disneyland and the Grand Canyon.

Hays Travel said: “We are very sorry to have caused offence especially after we tried to ensure it wouldn’t happen again. As soon as this was brought to our attention we immediately removed these posts from Facebook.”

According to the JC, the Advertising Standards Authority said that it took “this particular issue very seriously and recognise that this obviously has the potential to prompt concerns,” adding that its rules say that advertisements “should not contain anything likely to cause harm or offence.” It has the power to order advertisers to remove materials.

Hays Travel has over 450 branches across the UK.

A spokesperson for Campaign Against Antisemitism said: “Having already apologised for the grotesque and insulting use of smiley face emojis in its advertising, Hays Travel’s apparent continuation of this practice is either a sign of very disturbing malice or astonishing incompetence. Neither recommend the agency. Not only must Hays apologise again and explain how it has come to continue portraying Auschwitz as some sort of theme park through the use of these emojis, but customers may begin to make up their own minds about whether this is the sort of establishment where they wish to take their business.”

Image credit: JC

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Apple Books found selling the antisemitic Protocols of the Elders of Zion and Henry Ford’s The International Jew

Apple Books has been found to be selling antisemitic literature on its platform.

When searching for the word “Jew” on the Apple Books app, users are able to purchase the notoriously antisemitic and fraudulent Protocols of the Elders of Zion for 49 pence.

The antisemitic work was originally published in Czarist Russia in 1903 and, having since been translated into multiple languages, is still popular in parts of the world today. It is a fake record of a fictitious meeting of a Jewish cabal discussing its control of the world.

Additionally, multiple copies of Henry Ford’s antisemitic The International Jew: The World’s Foremost Problem are also on sale, one copy for £4.99 and another for 49 pence.

This is not the first instance of these works being available for purchase. In the past, Blackwell’s, WH Smith and Oxfam rescinded its copies of the Protocols of the Elders of Zion following public outcries.

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CAA writes to online gift shop discovered selling Adolf Hitler pocket watches and cufflinks

Campaign Against Antisemitism will be writing to an online gift shop after it has been found to be selling paraphernalia emblazoned with the image of Adolf Hitler.

The online retailer Giftshop UK has been discovered selling, among other items, pocket watches, keyrings, badges, cufflinks and mirrors, all featuring the Nazi dictator’s likeness.

Additionally, it appears that the descriptions for the products omit any mention of Hitler’s name.

The description for a product labelled “Adolf Hitler Flip Top Lighter”, for example, reads: “Our Chrome Flip Top Lighter is the perfect smokers gift, that is practical, functional and looks good.”

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Lufthansa reportedly pays Jewish passengers barred from flying £16,000 

Lufthansa is reportedly paying £16,000 to each Jewish passenger who was barred from boarding one of its flights earlier this year.

The airline had previously apologised after apparently barring all visibly Jewish passengers from a flight due to a mask dispute with a few passengers who happened to be Jewish.

It was reported that there was a dispute between staff managing the boarding of flight LH1334 from Frankfurt to Budapest on 4th May and some visibly Jewish passengers, reportedly over the wearing of masks. The pilot then apparently decided that no visibly Jewish passengers were to be allowed on to the flight, regardless of whether they were part of the same group or were prepared to wear a mask.

A video was recorded appearing to show a member of the airline’s ground staff explaining to a passenger that he was being prevented from boarding because he was Jewish.

The Jewish passengers were predominantly American and many had flown from New York in order to visit the grave of a Hasidic rabbi. Around 100 passengers were affected.

The German airline apologised and said that it was investigating the incident, which has caused an uproar in the Jewish world.

In a statement, the airline said: “Although we are not commenting on the details, we can confirm that Lufthansa endeavors to settle the claims with all of the passengers denied boarding on 4th May, 2022.”

Campaign Against Antisemitism reports on news and incidents relating to antisemitism in Germany, which have increased considerably.

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Success: After over 180,000 sign our petition, Adidas finally cuts ties with Kanye West

After over 180,000 people signed our petition over the past several days, global retailer Adidas has finally dropped its partnership with Ye (also known as Kanye West) following his repeated antisemitic outbursts.

The petition went viral and was endorsed by numerous celebrities and influencers around the world.

Adidas’ belated decision comes after other brands like Balenciaga and Vogue, and agencies like Creative Artists Agency cut ties with the artist. His label Universal also denounced his comments, if rather weakly, and his own lawyer has dropped him as a client. Leading film studio MRC has also shelved a documentary about him.

On his partnership with Adidas, Ye has said: “The thing about me and Adidas is like, I can literally say antisemitic s*** and they can’t drop me. I can say antisemitic things and Adidas can’t drop me. Now what?”

Ye now knows.

A spokesperson for Campaign Against Antisemitism said: “Adidas has finally joined other brands and agencies and cut ties with Ye (Kanye West). This would not have happened without the over 180,000 who signed our petition and the celebrities and influencers on both sides of the Atlantic and around the world who helped promote it and amplified the message. A company with a Nazi past must be at the forefront, not the rearguard, of fighting antisemitism. But better late than never. No company should profit from antisemitism.

“As for Ye, who has spent the last two weeks threatening Jews and empowering neo-Nazis, he said that he could say antisemitic things yet Adidas could not drop him and asked ‘now what?’ Now he knows.”

A spokesperson for Adidas said in a statement: “Adidas does not tolerate antisemitism and any other sort of hate speech. Ye’s recent comments and actions have been unacceptable, hateful and dangerous, and they violate the company’s values of diversity and inclusion, mutual respect and fairness. After a thorough review, the company has taken the decision to terminate the partnership with Ye immediately, end production of Yeezy branded products and stop all payments to Ye and his companies. Adidas will stop the Adidas Yeezy business with immediate effect.”

Ye has posted brazen antisemitic statements in the past month on social media.

  • On 7th October 2022, he posted on Instagram: “Ima use you as an example to show the Jewish people that told you to call me that no one can threaten or influence me.”
  • Two days later he tweeted: “I’m a bit sleepy tonight but when I wake up I’m going death con [sic] 3 On JEWISH PEOPLE.” 

On an episode of the Drink Champs podcast, aired on 16th October 2022, Ye:

  • Said: “The thing about me and Adidas is like, I can literally say antisemitic s*** and they can’t drop me. I can say antisemitic things and Adidas can’t drop me. Now what?”
  • Demanded: “I want all the Jewish children to look at they daddy and say ‘Why is Ye mad at us?’”
  • Stated that was “Me Too-ing the Jewish culture. I’m saying y’all gotta stand up and admit to what y’all been doing, and y’all just got away with it for so long, that y’all ain’t even realise what y’all doing.”
  • Referred throughout the interview to “Jewish business secrets”, “Jewish Zionists”, and stated how Jewish people in the entertainment industry “will take one of us, the brightest of us, that can really feed a whole village, and they’ll take us and milk us until we die.”
  • Claimed that he had been “blocked out” by “the Jewish media”.
  • Said: “Jewish people have owned the Black voice, whether it’s through us wearing a Ralph Lauren shirt, or it’s all of us being signed to a record label, or having a Jewish manager, or being signed to a Jewish basketball team, or doing a movie on a Jewish platform like Disney.”
  • Doubled down on his tweet about “going death con [sic] 3 On JEWISH PEOPLE”, claiming that he “is Jewish also”, adding: “We’re not just Black. We are Jew [sic], just like the Jewish people…I can’t be an antisemite.”
  • Claimed that he responded to being invited to a Holocaust museum by saying: “I want you to visit Planned Parenthood. That’s our Holocaust museum.” 
  • Complained about being photographed in public, saying: “You get used to being screwed by the Jewish media.” 
  • Said: “A thing that a Jewish person will always say is they’ll say ‘This is mine’. Something that a Black person built, or any company built, they’ll be like ‘This is mine now’.”
  • Referencing fellow rapper Ice Cube, who was criticised for sharing an antisemitic image, said: “You really influenced me to get on this antisemite vibe, and I’m here to finish the job.” (Ice Cube has refuted this claim and distanced himself from Ye.)

In an interview on CUOMO on the NewsNation network, aired on 18th October 2022, Ye:

  • Said: “I don’t like the term ‘antisemitic’. It’s been a term that’s allowed people, specifically in my industry, to get away with murder.”
  • Made comments referring to the “Jewish underground media mafia”. 
  • Claimed “Jewish people own the Black voice.”

According to the International Definition of Antisemitism, examples of antisemitism include “Making mendacious, dehumanising, demonising, or stereotypical allegations about Jews as such or the power of Jews as collective — such as, especially but not exclusively, the myth about a world Jewish conspiracy or of Jews controlling the media, economy, government or other societal institutions,” and “Accusing Jews as a people of being responsible for real or imagined wrongdoing committed by a single Jewish person or group, or even for acts committed by non-Jews.”

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Nazi memorabilia offered online by American ‘Goodwill’ chain

Nazi memorabilia was offered for sale online by America’s not-for-profit “Goodwill” chain, which has shops across the USA selling “pre-owned” clothing, furniture and housewares for the needy.

Its online shop was offering a set of three “vintage” Adolf Hitler mugs, priced from $13.99 (£12) together with a free pin carrying the slogan “Ven you’re German, it’s hard to be humble.”

The mugs feature images of Hitler and Nazi-era hate symbols such as swastikas, the Nazi Eagle with its incorporated swastika, the Arrow Cross and the Wolfsangel symbol, as well as words including “Der Fuhrer” and the SS motto which has been banned in Germany since 1947.

Campaign Against Antisemitism reports on news and incidents relating to antisemitism throughout the United States.

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German tourists buying Italian Hitler wine as collectibles

German tourists are reportedly buying wine with images of Adolf Hitler as collectibles.

The wine, which has been widely known to be on sale in Italy for some time, is the work of winemaker Vini Lunardelli, who founded his winery in 1967. He has been producing wine with dictator themes since 1995. He also has labels featuring Stalin, Lenin, Che Guevara, Napoleon and Franco.

A prominent Austrian cosmetic surgeon recently brought the wines to new prominence after alleging that German and Austrian holidaymakers were travelling to Jesolo, a resort town about twenty miles from Venice, to purchase the wine.

The labels on the €8.50 bottles show Hitler with slogans such as “Mein Führer”, “Sieg Heil” and “Ein Volk, Ein Reich, Ein Führer”.

Although there have been occasional protests over the labelling and the company’s own website observes that the wines are a “cult object among the collectors”, sale of such products is legal in Italy, even if it may be illegal in Germany and Austria.

In 2018, Andrea Gnassi, the then-Mayor of Rimini, a town elsewhere on the coast, said of the sale that his hands were tied and that attempts to press for national legislation against fascist products had been unsuccessful. He said: “We receive reports like this at least five to six times a year. As long as a new law is not approved, all attempts at [action by the municipality] can achieve nothing.”

Campaign Against Antisemitism reports on news and incidents relating to antisemitism throughout Europe.

Image credit: Vini Lunardelli

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DHL removes deliveryman who wrote “signed for by jews” on parcel, apologises and offers compensation after intervention by CAA

DHL has removed a deliveryman who is claimed to have thrown a package in a driveway and recorded that it was “signed for by jews [sic]”.

The recipient of the package, who is a member of the Jewish community in London, reported to us that their package was left in the driveway by a representative of the delivery company. No attempt had been made to ring the doorbell, even though the recipient was at home.

The package was left in a damaged state, as evidenced in a photograph provided to us.

The recipient, who lives in a heavily-Jewish neighbourhood, received a notification claiming that the package had been signed for, which was apparently not true, and that it had been “signed for by jews [sic]”.

After correspondence with the victim and intervention by Campaign Against Antisemitism, DHL has removed the deliveryman, apologised and offered the victim compensation.

A spokesperson for Campaign Against Antisemitism said: “This is not the first time that deliverymen, from any company, have made racial comments about Jewish people. For someone simply waiting to receive a package and relying on a basic service to have to endure antisemitic abuse is intolerable. We are grateful that the victim came forward and we applaud DHL for doing the right thing by removing this deliveryman from service, apologising and offering compensation.”

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Daily Telegraph Books sells antisemitic hate preacher David Icke books despite bans by other retailers

The books section of The Daily Telegraph is continuing to sell books by the conspiracy theorist and antisemitic hate preacher, David Icke, despite his output being banned by some other retailers.

The website currently lists eleven David Icke titles, available either in hard copy or e-book formats. 

They include the upcoming self-published tract, The Trap: What it is, how it works, and how we escape its illusions, which will be available from 1st September, which the website has put it in the “Philosophy of Mind” category.

Mr Icke has self-published all of his work since the mid-1990s, after his endorsement of the notorious antisemitic hoax The Protocols of the Elders of Zion in his books The Robots’ Rebellion (1994) and And the Truth Shall Set You Free (1995) saw him dropped by his publisher, Gateway.

This has not, however, prevented Mr Icke’s books being available from some mainstream retailers. Although, in 2020, Britain’s most popular book retailer, Waterstones, said that it would remove all of Mr Icke’s books from sale, WH Smith was still found to be selling his books and DVDs by May 2021.

Mr Icke uses social media, his books and his stage performances to incite hatred. His preaching is so absurd that since the 1990s he has been dismissed as a crank, but because he is dismissed, there has been no major opposition to him and he has built up a following of thousands upon thousands of disciples whom he has persuaded to adamantly believe that the world is in the grip of a conspiracy run by the “Rothschild Zionists”. His repertoire includes conspiracy myths and tropes classified as antisemitic according to the International Definition of Antisemitism, adopted by the British Government. Campaign Against Antisemitism has successfully persuaded some venues to pull out of hosting his events.

After years of pressure from Campaign Against Antisemitism, Mr Icke was banned from most social media platforms.

Campaign Against Antisemitism shall be writing to The Daily Telegraph.

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DHL deliveryman throws package in driveway and claims it was “signed for by jews”

A deliveryman for DHL is claimed to have thrown a package in a driveway and recorded that it was “signed for by jews [sic]”.

The recipient of the package, who is a member of the Jewish community in London, reported to us that their package was left in the driveway by a representative of the delivery company. No attempt had been made to ring the doorbell, even though the recipient was at home.

The package was left in a damaged state, as evidenced in a photograph provided to us.

The recipient, who lives in a heavily-Jewish neighbourhood, received a notification claiming that the package had been signed for, which was apparently not true, and that it had been “signed for by jews [sic]”.

We are in touch with the victim and are writing to DHL.

A spokesperson for Campaign Against Antisemitism said: “This is not the first time that deliverymen, from any company, have made racial comments about Jewish people. For someone simply waiting to receive a package and relying on a basic service to have to endure antisemitic abuse is intolerable. We are grateful that the victim has come forward and we will be writing to DHL and expect the company to take urgent action.”

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Glasgow auction house to sell replica Nazi memorabilia this week

An auction house in Glasgow is reportedly due to sell replica Nazi memorabilia at an auction this Friday.

McTear’s Auction House is offering “A group of reproduction Third Reich badges and medals” at an “Antiques and Interiors” auction this week.

It is our belief that Nazi memorabilia belongs in a museum instead of in the hands of collectors whose motivation for acquiring cannot be known. The auctioning of replica Nazi memorabilia is even more inexplicable, as these items, which symbolise the genocide of six million Jews, are not even of historical interest.

Campaign Against Antisemitism has previously highlighted the auctioning of Nazi memorabilia in the UK and abroad.

Image credit: Stop Antisemitism

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Arab airlines to screen film about Portuguese Inquisition’s persecution of Jews

Airlines from a number of Arabic-speaking countries have acquired the rights to show a film about the Portuguese Inquisition in Porto.

Qatar Airways, Iraqi Airways, Kuwait Airways, Egyptair, Middle East Airlines from Lebanon, Syrian Airlines and others now have the rights to show 1618, a film about the Portuguese Inquisition in the city of Porto, which took place 120 years after Portuguese Jews were forcibly converted to Christianity or coerced into exile.

The film was produced by the Jewish community of Porto and sold to the air carriers as part of a program to combat antisemitism by telling the story of the city’s Jewish community.

1618 is about the lives of Porto’s so-called “New Christians” who were severed from the Judaism of their ancestors. In particular, it follows the story of 100 so-called “New Christians” who were imprisoned by the representatives of the Inquisition, which frightened the rest of the community into fleeing.

The film will be released in September 2022 with a premiere to be held in Porto.

Campaign Against Antisemitism reports on news and incidents relating to antisemitism throughout the Middle East.

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Britain’s biggest bookseller found selling Holocaust denial material on its website

Following an exclusive report by Scout News, it has been revealed that the biggest chain of bookshops in the UK has been selling titles by far-right Holocaust deniers through its website.

According to the report, Waterstones and its partner, Blackwell’s, have been selling books published by publishing houses like Black House, a London-based outfit who are named after the headquarters of Oswald Mosley’s notorious British Union of Fascists, and the Budapest-based Arktos.

This kind of distribution allows tiny far-right imprints to gain a degree of legitimacy that they would not otherwise enjoy.

Some of the items on sale have been penned by Kerry Bolton, a neo-Nazi from New Zealand who has written books such as Babel Inc: Multiculturalism, Globalisation, and the New World Order, which contain passages like “The place of Jews in gentile societies is secure through the destruction of national and cultural cohesion through ‘cultural pluralism’ or multiculturalism.”

Mr Bolton promotes the conspiracy theory known as the Kalergi Plan, which claims that Jews want to encourage mixed-race relationships in order to diminish the influence of, and eventually enslave, non-Jews.

The Kalergi Plan is also pushed by the author Clare Ellis, whose book The Blackening of Europe claims that the plot aims to “predestine Jews to be leaders of urban humanity.”

Another author whose works are to be found on the Waterstones and Blackwell’s websites is Tomislav Sunic, whose Homo Americanus: Child of the Postmodern Age, published by Arktos, states that a “constant commemoration of the Jewish Holocaust” has become “a civic ritual all over the Americanised world, and which prohibits any critical inquiry.”

In another book, The Titans are in Town, Sunic states that the Holocaust has become a religion that is “hardly in need of historical proof, let alone of forensic or material documentation to assert themselves as universally credible beliefs.”

A spokesperson for Waterstones said: “With the size of the catalogue numbering into the millions, we go to great lengths to exclude racist and otherwise unacceptable titles. Inevitably, some escape this scrutiny and these are removed as soon as they are noticed.”

Scout News sent Waterstones a selection of nine books by Bolton, Ellis and Sunic, some of which were listed as “in stock” by the retailer while others were available for purchase through their publishers.

According to the spokesperson, none of those nine books were sold in shops, nor had those particular titles been ordered online, but added that they would be “investigated without delay and removed if found to be unacceptable”.

In 2020, Waterstones announced that it would remove from sale all books by the conspiracy theorist and antisemitic hate preacher David Icke.

Image credit: Google

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Polish websites found to be selling mugs displaying grotesque antisemitic stereotypes

Jewish groups have expressed their outrage at a number of Polish websites that have been found to be selling mugs featuring a well-known antisemitic image.

The mugs display caricatures of Jews with hunched shoulders and grotesque hooked noses who smirk malevolently while rubbing their hands. Critics have been quick to point out that they look similar to the well-known antisemitic “smirking merchant” meme.

The mugs are being sold in order to promote Teodor Jeske-Choiński’s book Poznaj Żyda (Meet the Jew), which describes Jews as a “parasitic tribe”.

First published in 1912, the book is now coming out in a new edition published by far-right media group Magna Polonia. The front cover of this new edition depicts this stereotyped Jewish figure in numerous forms, including a communist, a journalist, and an activist for LGBTQ rights, suggesting that a sinister cabal of Jews are secretly working behind the scenes in these ways, which is a classic antisemitic canard.

With antisemitism increasing worldwide, Campaign Against Antisemitism reports on antisemitic incidents globally.

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Lufthansa apologises after apparently barring all Jewish passengers from flight due to mask dispute with some Jewish passengers

Lufthansa has apologised after apparently barring all visibly Jewish passengers from a flight due to a mask dispute with a few passengers who happened to be Jewish.

It was reported that there was a dispute between staff managing the boarding of flight LH1334 from Frankfurt to Budapest on 4th May and some visibly Jewish passengers, reportedly over the wearing of masks. The pilot then apparently decided that no visibly Jewish passengers were to be allowed on to the flight, regardless of whether they were part of the same group or were prepared to wear a mask.

A video was recorded appearing to show a member of the airline’s ground staff explaining to a passenger that he was being prevented from boarding because he was Jewish.

The Jewish passengers were predominantly American and many had flown from New York in order to visit the grave of a Hasidic rabbi. Around 100 passengers were affected.

The German airline apologised and said that it was investigating the incident, which has caused an uproar in the Jewish world.

In a statement, the airline said: “Lufthansa regrets the circumstances surrounding the decision to exclude the affected passengers from the flight, for which Lufthansa sincerely apologises. While Lufthansa is still reviewing the facts and circumstances of that day, we regret that the large group was denied boarding rather than limiting it to the non-compliant guests. We apologise to all the passengers unable to travel on this flight, not only for the inconvenience, but also for the offense caused and personal impact.

“Lufthansa and its employees stand behind the goal of connecting people and cultures worldwide. Diversity and equal opportunity are core values for our company and our corporate culture. What transpired is not consistent with Lufthansa’s policies or values. We have zero tolerance for racism, antisemitism and discrimination of any type. We will be engaging with the affected passengers to better understand their concerns and openly discuss how we may improve our customer service.”

Campaign Against Antisemitism has expanded our coverage of antisemitism worldwide. Please contact us if you would like to share feedback or volunteer to assist with this project.

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“What’s wrong with you people?” Tesco staffer allegedly asks prominent Jewish community figure in supermarket row

A prominent Jewish community figure has alleged that a Tesco staffer asked him “What’s wrong with you people?” in a row in a supermarket.

On 5th May, the victim, who is visibly Jewish, reached into the kosher fridge at the Brent Cross branch of Tesco and alleges that a male staffer who appeared to be in his 50s began shouting in an aggressive manner. The worker was on his knees vacuuming the lower half of the fridge, while wearing large headphones. He is alleged to have suddenly stood up, removed his headphones, turned off the machine, and shouted: “What’s wrong with you people, can’t you see I’m working here. Are you stupid or dumb?” and other comments.

It is believed that he was annoyed that the victim had reached into the fridge while he was working, despite a barrier apparently being located in the centre of the aisle rather than at the fridge.

The victim said in a low tone: “I only wanted the houmous,” and asked, “Why are you getting so aggressive?” as he walked away. The staffer allegedly continued to shout as customers looked on. He allegedly said: “You people know all about what you did to Jesus.” 

The victim asked: “Is that supposed to be an antisemitic comment?” The staffer allegedly replied: “Oh grow up, just grow up.”

Another staffer reportedly gently moved the victim away from the fridge and said that it was not right what his colleague had said. Another young female employee, however, allegedly shouted at the victim: “Yea, look at him, he is so aggressive, just look at him.”

The victim asked for her name but she allegedly shouted: “I’m not giving it to you,” and walked away.

A complaint has been filed with Tesco’s head office, but although the victim was reportedly assured that the store manager would contact him within 24 hours, he says that he did not hear anything. He subsequently filed a complaint with the police.

If you have any more information, please contact the police on 101, quoting reference number: 2411374/22, CAB 3923 09-05-22.

Campaign Against Antisemitism’s Antisemitism Barometer 2020 showed that three in five British Jews believe that the authorities, in general, are not doing enough to address and punish antisemitism.

Image credit: David Howard

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Apple to prevent photographs from Holocaust-related sites from automatically being added to albums

Technology giant Apple is imposing tight new restrictions on users who want to take photographs of Holocaust-related sites and make them part of photo albums.

A new software update means that photos taken at Holocaust sites like the Anne Frank House and Auschwitz will no longer be included in automatically-generated albums created in the company’s signature app, Photos, in order to avoid “creating some unwanted memories”.

Users will not be able to disable Apple’s “sensitive locations” function, but will be able to include the images in albums they make themselves.

The aim, according to the company, is to avoid the trivialisation and minimisation of the Holocaust that occurs when photo-takers make images of themselves acting or dressed inappropriately in places commemorating the genocide of the Jewish people.

Apple’s list of sensitive locations includes the Yad Vashem Memorial in Israel, the Dachau concentration camp, The United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, the Berlin Holocaust Memorial, the Schindler Factory in Krakow, the Anne Frank House in Amsterdam, and the Belzec, Chelmno, Treblinka and Sobibor Nazi death camps in Poland.

A spokesperson for Campaign Against Antisemitism said: “Software that presents users with photographs and videos of happy memories is probably not the best place for people to be reminded of their solemn visits to locations where the genocide of the Jewish people took place or where it is commemorated. However, some might say that these mementos should not be forever hidden away from us lest they upset us. Ultimately users will know what they want. We recognise that it is a tricky balance and feel that Apple should be applauded for acknowledging the issue and taking action, which is more than can be said for other platforms.”

Campaign Against Antisemitism has expanded our coverage of antisemitism worldwide. Please contact us if you would like to share feedback or volunteer to assist with this project.

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Basingstoke couple launch campaign to remove swastikas and other hate tattoos free of charge

A couple from Basingstoke have set up an initiative to remove swastikas and other extremist tattoo images from clients’ bodies free of charge.

Hayley Allen and Richard De’Ath from Cliddesden, laser practitioners who reside just south of Basingstoke, said that they wanted to help people who got hate tattoos by mistake and do not want them anymore.

Ms Allen, of the Hayley Aesthetic & Laser Studio, told Campaign Against Antisemitism that the initiative was “A great opportunity to give people the chance to get rid of mistakes”.

Whilst Ms Allen initially felt “A bit anxious about it because of the subject,” she has been heartened to receive positive responses to her announcement.

Ms Allen said that when asked by a man to remove his swastika tattoo, she said: “I’m very used to dealing with people from all sorts of backgrounds so not a lot shocks me, and if something did shock me, it’s just about not letting that be seen.

“He was embarrassed by it, and he’s an older guy now…I think it was a younger, stupid mistake.”

Ms Allen continued: “I’m not very judgmental of people, and I do believe that everyone should have the option to change any mistakes that are made. I wasn’t shocked, I wasn’t disgusted or insulted or anything. And that again is why we decided to do the campaign. We want people to have the option to change and I’m not going to discriminate against them.”

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Amazon should be no place for antisemitic incitement but retailer still has not removed “From the river to the sea” products from sale

Amazon is selling “Palestine Intifada Clothing” that displays antisemitic slogans and inflammatory images.

The online behemoth suggests that items in the range make for a “great gift for family and friends,” including a sweatshirt bearing a machine gun and hoodies with the Star of David crossed out, and clothing emblazoned with the phrase: “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free”.

The chant of “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free” only makes sense as a call for the destruction of the world’s only Jewish state — and its replacement with a State of Palestine — and is thus an attempt to deny Jews, uniquely, the right to self-determination, which is a breach of the International Definition of Antisemitism.

Other garb also promotes the BDS boycott of Israel, the tactics of which an overwhelming majority of British Jews find intimidating.

Prices for the items on Amazon range from £15.99 for tank tops and T-shirts, to £33.99 for unisex hoodies.

We have written to the company, but the clothing range remains available.

Last month, Amazon Australia reportedly pulled twenty Nazi propaganda films from the platform, with the US site also removing 23 films. Last year, Amazon removed almost a hundred Holocaust-denial books from sale, and the company has also come under fire in relation to its Alexa virtual assistant. In 2020, T-shirts and other items claiming that “6 million wasn’t enough” were briefly being sold on Amazon.

A spokesperson for Campaign Against Antisemitism said: “The chant of ‘From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free’ only makes sense as a call for the destruction of the world’s only Jewish state — and its replacement with a State of Palestine — and is thus an attempt to deny Jews, uniquely, the right to self-determination, which is a breach of the international definition of antisemitism. Images of maps with the Jewish state erased only reinforce the genocidal sentiment behind the slogan. Amazon should make clear that its marketplace is no place for antisemitic incitement and remove these products from sale.”

Image credit: Amazon

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Henry Ford’s antisemitic tract The International Jew is still available for purchase on WH Smith’s website, even after retailer promises to remove it

Henry Ford’s antisemitic tract, The International Jew: Jewish Influences in American Life, is still available for purchase on WH Smith’s website, even after the retailer promised to remove it.

We wrote to WH Smith, observing that “There is no disclaimer on your website explaining the antisemitic contents and history of the book. First published in the early 1920s, the book claimed that a vast Jewish conspiracy was infecting America and fuelled antisemitism there and around the world. 

“Adolf Hitler was known to keep copies of The International Jew in his office. While Ford later publicly apologised for the book, antisemites continue to use his name to promote it. 

“The basis for the book was the antisemitic hoax known as The Protocols of the Elders of Zion — which we have previously found for sale by your franchisees — it purported to be the minutes of a meeting of Jewish leaders, at which they supposedly discussed their plans for global domination. It was used by the Tsar’s secret police and later by the Nazis to justify brutality against Jews.”

WH Smith replied that “We have filters to remove these types of books from links to our third party fulfilment so I’m not sure how it got through. This book will be removed tomorrow.”

However, within a week, the book was again available on the website, and now, one month later, it is still available for purchase.

In the past, WH Smith has removed The Protocols of the Elders of Zion, as well as editions of Mein Kampf, from sale, following contact from Campaign Against Antisemitism, but other material, including books and DVDs by the antisemitic hate preacher David Icke, remained available for purchase.

Gideon Falter, Chief Executive of Campaign Against Antisemitism, said: “We are not asking WH Smith for much, we’d just like them to stop selling some of the most notorious anti-Jewish propaganda used by the Nazis mixed in amongst holiday reads and self-help books. We’ve caught the retailer selling Mein Kampf as an airport bestseller before, and now they’re selling Henry Ford’s infamous tract inciting Jew-hatred. They promised to remove it but now it’s sneaked back onto their website. So often we see gigantic corporations investing heavily in PR to promote their social responsibility agenda, but they talk the talk but fail abjectly to walk the walk.”

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Blackwell’s removes antisemitic Protocols of the Elders of Zion after implying in the book’s synopsis that it may not be a fiction

The leading booksellers, Blackwell’s, has removed an edition of the Protocols of the Elders of Zion from sale after outrage arising not only from the sale of the antisemitic tract but the synopsis on the website that suggested that the fraudulent work might not be fictional.

The synopsis suggested that the book – which purports to be the minutes of a meeting of Jewish leaders, at which they discussed their plans for global domination – might be genuine, and that the website “neither supports nor denies the message” of the book.

The synopsis questioned whether “the issue has already been settled conclusively — that it is clearly a forgery. Although there may be final evidence to this effect, we have not seen a clear and convincing version of it produced by those making the claim. Others maintain that it was and is absolutely genuine.” It continued: “If The Protocols are a forgery, they still form an interesting book which deserves to be studied. If, however. The Protocols are genuine (which can never be proven conclusively), it might cause some of us to keep a wary eye on world affairs. We neither support nor deny its message, we simply make it available for those who wish a copy.”

A spokesperson for Campaign Against Antisemitism reacted to the listing, saying: “It is bad enough that Blackwell’s is selling the notorious fraudulent Protocols of the Elders of Zion. Worse, the reputable bookseller has demonstrated grotesque ignorance in providing a synopsis that implies that the forgery may in fact be genuine. Blackwell’s must not only remove this antisemitic tract from sale but must apologise for publishing such a dangerous description and explain how on earth it came to appear online.”

After hundreds of complaints online and outrage from Campaign Against Antisemitism and other groups, Blackwell’s published a statement saying: “We have refrained from commenting publicly because we did not wish to give the oxygen of publicity to this title, but given the volume of comments on this situation, we feel that we must now comment.” The statement added that “the description that appeared for this book was an automatic feed from the publisher. It was neither written nor endorsed by us.”

The bookseller explained that it is standard practice in online bookselling to use synopses provided by publishers, and that, given that there are eighteen million books on the website, it is not possible to review each entry manually. “However, as soon as this was brought to our attention, we replaced the description with one which expressed our complete and utter condemnation of the contents.”

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Kosher restaurant in New Jersey bombarded with anti-Israel comments and coordinated negative reviews

A kosher eatery in Teaneck, New Jersey has attracted a barrage of anti-Israel comments and negative online reviews, including claims that its cuisine was “stolen”.

The culinary battleground emerged after Yalla, a kosher eatery located on a quiet street in Teaneck NJ, was targeted. Yalla seems to have provoked particular anger due to its name as Yalla is an Arabic word but widely used in Israel to mean “let’s go.”

According to Israeli owner Jacob Goldberg, Yalla had received a number of politically-motivated negative reviews in recent years from people who claimed that he “stole” the name, “stole” their land or “stole” the food.

Most of the time, said Mr Goldberg, he simply alerted Google and asked for reviews to be removed. He explained that “where it’s very obviously hate-speech,” the reviews come down but “if it’s food-related, such as ‘I found a hair in my food,’” even though it was posted by “someone from Damascus” who had “obviously never been to my restaurant,” the review stays. Mr Goldberg decided, therefore, on a new tactic. He responded to a review that led the “critic” to use social media to call on anti-Israel users to pile on and place negative reviews.

Mr Goldberg believes there were at least 300 negative reviews posted in one evening, some of which also included Palestinian flags and the words “Free Palestine.” As well as claiming that Yalla served “stolen Palestinian food” and that the menu was “cultural appropriation at it’s [sic] finest,” “reviews” claimed that it was “absolutely trash,” that food was “overpriced” and that it “steals the thoughts and the lands and serve you sh*t on a plate.”

One review wrote in capital letters: “DON’T GO THERE AND WASTE YOUR MONEY!!!”  

There was also a TikTok video in which a woman claimed that Yalla was “falsely advertising Palestinian, Middle Eastern food” adding: “They messed with the wrong people.… Free Palestine.”

Within hours of the campaign, Yalla’s rating had dropped from 4.6 stars out of a maximum of five stars to 3.85. It then dipped to below 3 stars.

“In real life, if you get attacked, you call 911 and the police respond,” said Mr Goldberg. “But if you get attacked online, nothing, nothing, nothing happens.” He added that “a five-year-old” could look at the reviews and recognise they were fake, but “Google, a multibillion-dollar company can’t flag something like this as fake” was, he said, “just pretty astonishing.”

According to Mr Goldberg, since news of the cyber attack broke, he had had a lot of support “from Jews who felt they had to come out and fight hate.” People had been dropping into Yalla to show support which felt “amazing.” But, in the “long term” he did not think that there would be much impact. “Many people think Google reviews are mostly fake anyway,” he noted, “especially” if the reviews were anti-Israel. “They trust the old-fashioned way” – reviews from friends and family.”

Campaign Against Antisemitism has expanded our coverage of antisemitism worldwide. Please contact us if you would like to share feedback or volunteer to assist with this project. 

Image credit: JNS via Google Images

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Belgian-Israeli receives undelivered letter to Belgium after several months, with address rendered illegible by swastika and antisemitic insults

A Belgian-Israeli has, after several months, received back an undelivered letter originally sent to Belgium, with the address now rendered illegible by swastika and antisemitic insults.

The letter, addressed to the sender’s notary in Anderlecht in August 2021, arrived in Belgium a few days after being posted in Israel, but has been sent back to Israel almost three-and-a-half months after arriving in Belgium due to an “insufficient/incorrect address”. However, the envelope had clearly been altered with a swastika and the phrase “J F***”.

The sender has reportedly asked the Israeli post office to file a complaint against its counterpart, BPost, and has contacted the Israeli Embassy in Brussels and communal Jewish groups.

A spokesperson for BPost said that an internal investigation was under consideration but that the company “does not have sufficient elements for the moment.” The spokesperson added: “It goes without saying that we will do everything possible to shed light on this matter and that we are ready to take the appropriate measures to defend the values that we hold dear and that make up our identity. This kind of behaviour is not aligned with our values of diversity and inclusion, as well as our work rules, and we strongly condemn it.”

Campaign Against Antisemitism has expanded our coverage of antisemitism worldwide. Please contact us if you would like to share feedback or volunteer to assist with this project.

Image credit: EJP

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Chairman divests from start-up he founded after sending antisemitic e-mail, as company apologises, takes swift action and pledges “game-changing” support to local synagogue in masterclass in making amends

The chairman of a Utah-based technology start-up has divested his holdings after stepping down from the company he founded amid controversy over an antisemitic e-mail that he sent.

David Bateman, the founder, former CEO and, until recently, chairman of Entrata, a property management software company, reportedly wrote in an e-mail that Jews were behind the pandemic in a plot to exterminate billions of people. He subsequently doubled down on his comments.

His company asked him to resign and its CEO apologised for Mr Bateman’s remarks. Mr Bateman has also reportedly now divested from the company as well. In addition, the company met with the local rabbi to make amends.

Rabbi Sam Spector reported that he was met with genuine contrition from the company and received a six-figure pledge from Entrata to complete his synagogue’s fundraising campaign, which will enable the institution to purchase a new boiler and repair damaged Torah scrolls.

Rabbi Spector said: “My synagogue is falling apart, basically. The building is 50 years old. The bathrooms, seating and even the prayer books haven’t been replaced in decades. The total for the boiler alone, crucial during Utah winters, came to $150,000. They said, ‘We’re going to take care of all that for you,’ and they made the largest donation we’ve ever seen.”

In his e-mail, Mr Bateman reportedly wrote: “I believe the Jews are behind this. For 300 years the Jews have been trying to infiltrate the Catholic Church and place a Jew covertly at the top. It happened in 2013 with Pope Francis. I believe the pandemic and systematic extermination of billions of people will lead to an effort to consolidate all the countries in the world under a single flag with totalitarian rule. I know, it sounds bonkers. No one is reporting on it, but the Hasidic Jews in the US instituted a law for their people that they are not to be vaccinated for any reason. I pray that I’m wrong on this. Utah has got to stop the vaccination drive. Warn your employees. Warn your friends. Prepare. Stay safe.”

In a comment to a radio station sent by text message, Mr Bateman apparently echoed the assertions made in his e-mail, writing: “Yes. I sent it. I have nothing but love for the Jewish people. Some of my closest friends are Jews. My heart breaks for their 2500 years they’ve been mistreated by nearly every country on earth. But I do believe Scottish Rite Freemasons are behind the pandemic (overwhelmingly Jewish).” He added: “And I fear billions of people around the globe right now are being exterminated.”

He insisted that the e-mail reflected his personal opinion and was intended for a few friends only, even though the recipients included high-profile individuals in the state.

Entrata’s CEO, Adam Edmunds, tweeted: “Entrata’s board of directors today asked Dave Bateman to resign from the company’s board of directors, including his position as chairman. Dave agreed and is no longer a member of the Entrata board, effective immediately.” He also said that Mr Bateman’s opinions are “his alone and do not reflect the views or values of Entrata,” adding: “To be absolutely clear, we at Entrata firmly condemn antisemitism in any and all forms.”

A spokesperson for Campaign Against Antisemitism said: “No self-respecting company can tolerate a chairman who believes that the pandemic is a global plot orchestrated by ‘the Jews’ to exterminate billions of people and enslave the world. If reports about David Bateman’s comments and lack of remorse are accurate, Entrata is right to remove him from its board. It is rarely easy to sever ties with a founder, but sometimes it is.

“Entrata’s efforts to make amends are a masterclass in how to deal with a scenario such as this. If only all technology companies and other institutions were so sincere and proactive.”

Campaign Against Antisemitism has expanded our coverage of antisemitism worldwide. Please contact us if you would like to share feedback or volunteer to assist with this project.

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Founder of Utah tech company resigns after claiming COVID-19 vaccine is a plot by “the Jews” to exterminate people

The founder of a technology company based in Utah has resigned after reportedly sending an e-mail describing the COVID-19 vaccine as part of a plot by “the Jews” to exterminate people.

David Bateman, who previously served as CEO and until this week as chairman of Entrata, a property management software company, reportedly wrote in an e-mail: “I believe the Jews are behind this. For 300 years the Jews have been trying to infiltrate the Catholic Church and place a Jew covertly at the top. It happened in 2013 with Pope Francis. I believe the pandemic and systematic extermination of billions of people will lead to an effort to consolidate all the countries in the world under a single flag with totalitarian rule. I know, it sounds bonkers. No one is reporting on it, but the Hasidic Jews in the US instituted a law for their people that they are not to be vaccinated for any reason. I pray that I’m wrong on this. Utah has got to stop the vaccination drive. Warn your employees. Warn your friends. Prepare. Stay safe.”

Mr Bateman, who was also a one-time prominent figure in state politics, was asked by the board to step down as chairman of the company that he founded.

In a comment to a radio station sent by text message, Mr Bateman apparently echoed the assertions made in his e-mail, writing: “Yes. I sent it. I have nothing but love for the Jewish people. Some of my closest friends are Jews. My heart breaks for their 2500 years they’ve been mistreated by nearly every country on earth. But I do believe Scottish Rite Freemasons are behind the pandemic (overwhelmingly Jewish).” He added: “And I fear billions of people around the globe right now are being exterminated.”

He insisted that the e-mail reflected his personal opinion and was intended for a few friends only, even though the recipients included high-profile individuals in the state.

Entrata’s CEO, Adam Edmunds, tweeted: “Entrata’s board of directors today asked Dave Bateman to resign from the company’s board of directors, including his position as chairman. Dave agreed and is no longer a member of the Entrata board, effective immediately.”

He also said that Mr Bateman’s opinions are “his alone and do not reflect the views or values of Entrata,” adding: “To be absolutely clear, we at Entrata firmly condemn antisemitism in any and all forms.”

A spokesperson for Campaign Against Antisemitism said: “No self-respecting company can tolerate a chairman who believes that the pandemic is a global plot orchestrated by ‘the Jews’ to exterminate billions of people and enslave the world. If reports about David Bateman’s comments and lack of remorse are accurate, Entrata is right to remove him from its board. It is rarely easy to sever ties with a founder, but sometimes it is.”

Campaign Against Antisemitism has expanded our coverage of antisemitism worldwide. Please contact us if you would like to share feedback or volunteer to assist with this project.

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Signed photo of Hitler and other Nazi memorabilia and antisemitic items up for sale in Queensland auction

A signed photo of Hitler and other Nazi memorabilia, as well as an antisemitic children’s book, are up for sale in an auction in Queensland, Australia.

The sale, which also includes sunglasses worn by senior Nazi figure Hermann Goering, is being carried out next week by Danielle Elizabeth Auctions, which was condemned a year ago for selling a Nazi flag and earlier this year for auctioning other Third Reich and Holocaust items.

According to the auctioneers’ own website, the German book on sale (Trust No Fox on his Green Heath and No Jew on his Oath) is “one of the most contentious pieces of propaganda in modern history” and “teaches children, according to the Nazi Party in Germany, what a Jew is and what they look like.”

The Managing Director of the auction house, Dustin Sweeny, reportedly said that the sale is not illegal and “certainly not antisemitic,” adding: “we sell history and historical artefacts that tell a story that the world should never stop telling so history does not repeat itself.” He complained of receiving death threats over past auctions of Nazi items. He went on to say: “Remember we live in a free democracy, and as much as you believe these items should not be sold, we believe they should, and everyone should respect everyone else’s right to a different opinion.”

Campaign Against Antisemitism has expanded our coverage of antisemitism worldwide. Please contact us if you would like to share feedback or volunteer to assist with this project.

Campaign Against Antisemitism has launched a new weekly podcast. New episodes of Podcast Against Antisemitism are available every Thursday and can be streamed here or downloaded wherever you get your podcasts.

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Online shop in Ukraine removes “Holocoste” sweatshirt after complaints

An online shop in Ukraine has removed a sweatshirt from its website that parodies the brand Lacoste with the word “Holocoste” after receiving complaints.

Action came about after Elina Katz, a Program Coordinator for Project Kesher in Ukraine, noticed the merchandise online. Members of the organisation then wrote a letter to the website and within two hours, the article of clothing had been removed.

Vlada Nedak, the Executive Director of Project Kesher Ukraine, said: “Our lawyer said to me, ‘Two hours, it’s too long. They should answer you in less than 30 minutes.’

“The next time I will know this better.”

In September, the Ukrainian Parliament passed a law banning “antisemitism and its manifestations”. Despite this, multiple Chanukah displays were vandalised across three cities in Ukraine during the festival of Chanukah.

Campaign Against Antisemitism has expanded our coverage of antisemitism worldwide. Please contact us if you would like to share feedback or volunteer to assist with this project.

Campaign Against Antisemitism has launched a new weekly podcast. New episodes of Podcast Against Antisemitism are available every Thursday and can be streamed here or downloaded wherever you get your podcasts. 

Image credit: Screenshot from Project Kesher

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Peloton apologises after instructor quotes Shakespeare’s “liver of a blasphemous Jew” line in live workout

Peloton has apologised after an instructor quoted the phrase “liver of a blasphemous Jew” in a live workout.

The Halloween workout video, in which trainer Christine D’Ercole quotes the line from William Shakespeare’s Macbeth, has been removed from the company’s library.

A spokesperson for Peloton said: “Peloton’s aim is to strengthen, support and uplift our diverse community and sometimes we fall short of that goal. We apologise that during one of our classes an instructor quoted a Shakespeare passage that included an antisemitic line. This was a mistake and the class has been removed from our library.”

Campaign Against Antisemitism has launched a new weekly podcast. New episodes of Podcast Against Antisemitism are available every Thursday and can be streamed here or downloaded wherever you get your podcasts.

Image credit: Jewish News

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“A tremendous degree of antisemitism exists here,” wrote Albert Einstein about American academia in rare letter being put up for auction

A rare letter being put up for auction reveals Albert Einstein’s concerns over antisemitism in American academia.

The 1936 missive, sent to Einstein’s friend Bruno Eisner, the Austrian Jewish pianist, when Eisner was staying in New York and considering a position in academia in the United States, is being put up for auction by the Jerusalem-based Kedem Auction House.

Einstein wrote in the handwritten letter: “A tremendous degree of antisemitism exists here, especially in academia (though also in industry and banking).”

The Nobel laureate elaborated: “Mind you, it never takes the form of brutal speech or action, but simmers all the more intensely under the surface. It is, so to speak, an omnipresent enemy, one that is impossible to see, and whose presence you only perceive.”

Einstein observed that “the assignment of positions is completely disorganized, so you find out about vacancies at any given location only through personal connections,” and revealed that his assistant was driven from the country by antisemitism and took a position in Russia instead.

Eisner went on to a career as a concert pianist and professor of music with positions at universities and music academies across the United States until his death in 1978.

The letter will reportedly be auctioned this week with a suggested price of NIS 40,000 (£9,600). Campaign Against Antisemitism has expanded our coverage of antisemitism worldwide. Please contact us if you would like to share feedback or volunteer to assist with this project.

Image credit: Kedem Auction House

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Target removes books promoting antisemitic tropes and Holocaust denial after media watchdog campaign

One of the United States’ largest retailers has pledged to remove from sale books promoting Holocaust denial and antisemitism.

An exposé by media watchdog CAMERA revealed that Target, the eighth-largest retailer in the United States, had books for sale on Holocaust denial. After CAMERA flagged this to the retailer, the group was contacted by a Target representative to “apologise” for its “error in having these books available on Target.com.”

The representative said that Target had “removed the books” flagged by CAMERA and was “actively working” to ensure that such content was “not for sale” on the Target site in future.

The representative also stated that Target was “committed to diversity, equity and inclusion” and was “sorry for the disappointment and pain” that such material may have caused.

The business had “guidelines in place” for the books that it sells and had been made aware that several books had been “listed in error on Target.com” that “don’t meet” their content guidelines. These titles, said the representative, had been removed “immediately” and Target was working “to ensure all future content meets” its guidelines.

Although CAMERA expressed satisfaction on Twitter at Target’s speedy response, it claimed that some antisemitic material was still available on Target.com, including a French translation of the notorious Protocols of the Elders of Zion and The Turner Diaries, as well at least one Holocaust denial book in German.

Campaign Against Antisemitism has expanded our coverage of antisemitism worldwide. Please contact us if you would like to share feedback or volunteer to assist with this project.

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C&T Auctioneers and Valuers Ltd tells CAA that auctioning Nazi daggers “keeps the memory of what happened alive” and alarmingly gives no indication of stopping

Earlier this month, Campaign Against Antisemitism wrote to the Kent-based C&T Auctioneers and Valuers Ltd to express our dismay over their auctioning of Nazi memorabilia, including an assortment of Third Reich daggers and busts and pictures of Hitler and his senior ministers.

Their two-day militaria online auction also featured plaques and medals, clothing, shoes, goggles, medical pouches, china, posters, toys and books, all from the Nazi era.

The auction house has since responded to our letter, and as well as giving us no indication that it intends to halt their selling of Nazi memorabilia, they have told us that the auctioning of the grotesque items “keeps the memory of what happened alive”.

Despite Campaign Against Antisemitism outlining our belief that such items belong in a museum instead of in the hands of collectors whose motivation for acquiring cannot be known, the auction house insisted that auctioning to private collectors can educate them in “the horrors of history”.

In an absurd justification, the auction house further stated that if the private auctioning of Nazi memorabilia were to cease, so too would society have to ban anything that ever related to the Second World War, including books, films and television programmes, adding that one would “need to never show another movie or anything set during this time period.”

A spokesperson for Campaign Against Antisemitism said: “C&T Auctioneers and Valuers are putting profit before ethics by participating in the trade of Nazi memorabilia. Respectable auction houses only sell such objects to museums and for academic purposes, whereas at C&T Auctioneers and Valuers anybody could buy them, even neo-Nazis. The ultimate shame is trying to convince Jews that selling Nazi daggers and portraits of murderers helps ‘keeps the memory of what happened alive’, a claim that would be laughable were it not so obviously laced with contempt and condescension. We condemn C&T Auctioneers and Valuers Ltd’s decision to carry on auctioning these items.”

While C&T Auctioneers and Valuers Ltd show no signs of ceasing the sale of Nazi memorabilia, Tennants auctioneers recently assured us that they will not put Nazi items up for auction again in future, after we contacted the auction house in connection with an auction of Third Reich items.

However, auctions of Third Reich items persist, including those recently hosted by Easy Live Auction.

Last month, a BBC Bargain Hunt expert apologised after it was revealed that Nazi memorabilia was due to be sold at his auction house. Campaign Against Antisemitism has been monitoring and acting against the threat from the far-right for years and continues to support the authorities following suit.

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CAA to write to C&T Auctioneers and Valuers over auction glorifying Nazi memorabilia

Kent-based C&T Auctioneers and Valuers Ltd is hosting an auction with an array of Nazi memorabilia, including an assortment of Third Reich daggers and busts and pictures of Hitler and his senior ministers.

The two-day militaria online auction also features plaques and medals, clothing, shoes, goggles, medical pouches, china, posters, toys and books, all from the Nazi era.

We will be writing to C&T Auctioneers and Valuers Ltd regarding the grotesque auction.

Recently, Tennants auctioneers assured us that they will not put Nazi items up for auction again in future, after we contacted the auction house in connection with an auction of Third Reich items.

However, auctions of Third Reich items persist, including those recently hosted by Easy Live Auction.

Last month, a BBC Bargain Hunt expert apologised after it was revealed that Nazi memorabilia was due to be sold at his auction house. Campaign Against Antisemitism has been monitoring and acting against the threat from the far-right for years and continues to support the authorities following suit.

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CAA writes to Amazon after company is reported to be profiting from book promoting Holocaust denial by far-right leader Mark Collett

Campaign Against Antisemitism will be writing to Amazon after it was reported that the online marketplace has cut a book deal with Mark Collett, the leader of far-right group Patriotic Alternative. 

Patriotic Alternative is known for its efforts to recruit youth to its white nationalist ideology. Previously, the far-right group published an online “alternative” home school curriculum condemned as “poison” and “hateful” and attempted to recruit children as young as twelve through livestreaming events on YouTube, according to The Times. 

It is led by the former head of the youth wing of the BNP, Mark Collett, who is reported to have dabbled in Holocaust denial, collaborated with the infamous American antisemite David Duke, and espoused antisemitic and racist views.

Mr Collett’s book, The Fall of Western Man, says that Adolf Hitler’s Nuremberg rallies would have been “something that one would have been proud to be a part of”, adding that “Those in attendance wore uniforms, looked healthy and were of good breeding stock.” He also said that “when it comes to the notion of white guilt, nothing is pushed more strongly” than the “alleged extermination of six million Jews at the hands of the German people”.

He continues: “The Holocaust has been elevated to a level of importance so great that it has its own worldwide day of remembrance, and a multi-million dollar industry exists to push the established narrative. The Holocaust industry churns out movies, books and television shows on a regular basis to ensure that the Holocaust is constantly kept in the collective mind of Western man.”

“Western man is also brainwashed and enslaved by notions of white guilt that stem from false historical narratives of his colonial past, slavery and the Holocaust,” Mr Collett writes.

The book’s website features reviews of the book, including one from David Duke, former Grand Wizard of the Ku Klux Klan. Mr Duke said that the book was “An excellent and incisive work”, adding: “It’s a book I recommend to anyone who wants to understand the deeper mechanisms and processes that are leading to the ethnic cleansing of the European People from the civilisation which they created.”

According to The Times, Amazon is selling the book on its website for between £15 to £25 and has struck a deal with Mr Collett in which it receives 85% of the book’s earnings, despite its claim to not sell certain content including content that they determine is “hate speech” or other material they deem “inappropriate or offensive”.

Amazon has said: “As a bookseller, we believe that providing access to written speech is important, including books that some may find objectionable. We have policies that outline what products may be sold in our stores, and we invest significant time and resources to ensure our content guidelines are followed. We remove products that do not adhere to our guidelines.”

Campaign Against Antisemitism will be writing to Amazon to demand the book’s removal from its website, as well as an apology and for all proceeds from the book to be put towards Holocaust education programmes. 

According to Hope Not Hate’s report, Patriotic Alliance is “a racist far-right organisation with antisemitism at its very core. They aim to combat the ‘replacement and displacement’ of white Britons by people who ‘have no right to these lands’.” The group reportedly holds that “it is Jewish elites, particularly, who are orchestrating the ‘replacement’ of white Britons.”

Earlier this year, the far-right group was found to be using the social media platform Telegram to create neo-Nazi channels dedicated to sharing vile messages, antisemitic conspiracy theories and images glorifying Hitler. A report into Patriotic Alternative published last summer found that several members of the group engaged in Holocaust denial.

Campaign Against Antisemitism has been monitoring and acting against the threat from the far-right for years and continues to support the authorities following suit.

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“No Jew Jab for Oz” graffiti sprayed on IKEA store in Melbourne

Antisemitic graffiti has been discovered spray-painted on an IKEA store in Melbourne, Australia.

The shop, located in the suburb of Richmond, was reportedly defaced last Thursday with the words “No Jew Jab for Oz” and, on another wall, “No Jew Jab”.

It was noticed by a Jewish woman who reported the vandalism to Victoria Police. Richmond Council painted over the graffiti.

The Anti-Defamation Commission observed the “poisonous alliance” between anti-vaccination networks and antisemitic groups that are “feeding off each other’s conspiracy theories and wacky narratives.”

Anti-lockdown and anti-vaccination networks have become known as hotbeds of antisemitic conspiracy theories and tropes.

Campaign Against Antisemitism has expanded our coverage of antisemitism worldwide. Please contact us if you would like to share feedback or volunteer to assist with this project.

Image credit: Anti-Defamation Commission

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Jim Curran, who has history of involvement in controversial conspiracy group, protests Puma with sign reading “Gaza is a Holocaust”

Controversial activist Jim Curran was spotted at a protest against Puma last weekend holding a sign reading “Gaza is a Holocaust”.

Mr Curran was participating in a protest on 18th September outside the Puma shop in London. The demonstration was organised by the Palestine Solidarity Campaign, which a past investigation by Campaign Against Antisemitism found was riddled with bigotry.

According to the International Definition of Antisemitism, “Drawing comparisons of contemporary Israeli policy to that of the Nazis” is an example of antisemitism.

Mr Curran is a regular attendee at a group called Keep Talking, a group of far-right and far-left conspiracy theorists who come together to promote antisemitism.

Last year, Best for Britain, an influential activist group, apologised for tweeting a viral picture of Mr Curran attending an anti-racism rally in view of his links to the antisemitic group.

Image credit: Sussex Friends of Israel

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More auction houses continue to sell Nazi daggers, coins, medals, and clothing

For the second time in two weeks, Campaign Against Antisemitism will be writing to an auction house over the selling of Nazi memorabilia.

Earlier this month, Campaign Against Antisemitism wrote to Tennants auctioneers expressing dismay and outrage at the sale, which they have readily agreed not to replicate in future.

However, Easy Live Auction continues to sell an assortment of Nazi memorabilia that includes weapons, coins, medals, and clothing, which appears to amount to a staggering 172 lots.

A spokesperson for Campaign Against Antisemitism said: “These items belong in a museum, not in the hands of sick collectors acquiring them from an auction house that stands to profit from these sales. We shall be writing to the auctioneers to inquire why they are offering for sale memorabilia and mementos from a genocide.”

Recently, a BBC Bargain Hunt expert apologised after it was revealed that Nazi memorabilia was due to be sold at his auction house.

Campaign Against Antisemitism has been monitoring and acting against the threat from the far-right for years and continues to support the authorities following suit.

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Tennants auctioneers pledges not to sell Nazi items in future after contact from CAA

Tennants has assured Campaign Against Antisemitism that they will not put Nazi items up for auction again in future, after we contacted the auction house in connection with an auction of Third Reich items last week.

In a message, Tennants auctioneers replied to us to say that “As a family business, our deep-rooted friendships with the Jewish community are our number one priority and I can confirm we are no longer handling or selling any such items.”

Tennants describes itself as “the UK’s largest family-owned fine art auctioneers, and a market leader with offices in North Yorkshire and London.”

The company was auctioning numerous Third Reich artefacts, including a tin of Third Reich machine gun magazines for £120-£180, a Third Reich SS Officer’s visor cap for £800-£900, a collection of Nazi medals for £100-£150, two Nazi Party badges for £100-£150, a “small quantity of German Third Reich related books” for £60-£80, various articles of Waffen-SS uniforms and a lot more.

Campaign Against Antisemitism wrote to Tennants expressing dismay and outrage at the sale, which they have readily agreed not to replicate in future.

Recently, a BBC Bargain Hunt expert apologised after it was revealed that Nazi memorabilia was due to be sold at his auction house.

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Why on earth is this auction house selling Nazi medals, weapons, books, uniforms, badges, cutlery and other memorabilia?

Campaign Against Antisemitism will be writing to Tennants auctioneers over its sale of a trove of Nazi memorabilia, including medals, weapons, books, uniforms, badges and cutlery.

Tennants describes itself as “the UK’s largest family-owned fine art auctioneers, and a market leader with offices in North Yorkshire and London.”

As the company claims that it “has the knowledge and experience clients can trust,” it cannot rely on ignorance to explain how it has come to be selling numerous Third Reich artefacts, including a tin of Third Reich machine gun magazines for £120-£180, a Third Reich SS Officer’s visor cap for £800-£900, a collection of Nazi medals for £100-£150, two Nazi Party badges for £100-£150, a “small quantity of German Third Reich related books” for £60-£80, various articles of Waffen-SS uniforms and a lot more.

Recently, a BBC Bargain Hunt expert apologised after it was revealed that Nazi memorabilia was due to be sold at his auction house.

A spokesperson for Campaign Against Antisemitism said: “These items belong in a museum, not in the hands of sick collectors acquiring them from an auction house that stands to pocket thousands of pounds from these sales. We shall be writing to the auctioneers to inquire why it is offering for sale memorabilia and mementos from a genocide.”

Campaign Against Antisemitism has been monitoring and acting against the threat from the far-right for years and continues to support the authorities following suit.

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Ben & Jerry’s Chair accused of self-dealing as her institution is revealed to support groups that refuse to sign anti-terror clauses that would prohibit funds going to antisemitic terrorist groups

The Chair of the Board of ice cream maker Ben & Jerry’s Homemade Holdings Inc., is embroiled in a financial scandal alleged to involve antisemitic terrorist groups.

Anuradha Mittal, who has been Chair of Ben & Jerry’s since 2008, has a history of defending the antisemitic Congresswoman Ilhan Omar and is claimed to be behind the company’s recent boycott of Jewish Israeli communities across the Green Line (the 1949 armistice line) as part of the BDS campaign.

However, Ms Mittal is now facing an allegation of self-dealing. A complaint by a watchdog to the United States Internal Revenue Service (IRS) alleges that Ben & Jerry’s charitable foundation, of which Ms Mittal is Vice President, donated over $100,000 between 2017 and 2018 to the Oakland Institute, where Ms Mittal is the Executive Director and allegedly the sole salaried employee.

According to IRS filings, Ms Mittal was paid a salary of $156,000 by the Oakland Institute over the same period that Ben & Jerry’s charitable foundation donated $104,000 to the California-based institution.

It is understood that part of the Ben & Jerry’s contribution funded the Badil Resource Center for Palestinian Residency and Refugee Rights, a group that last year had its EU funding pulled after it refused to sign an ‘anti-terror’ clause in its funding contract that would bar it from diverting any of the EU’s funds to antisemitic genocidal terrorist organisations such as Hamas and Hizballah.

An overwhelming majority of British Jews find the tactics of the BDS movement—the campaign to boycott the Jewish state—intimidating.

Campaign Against Antisemitism has expanded our coverage of antisemitism worldwide. Please contact us if you would like to share feedback or volunteer to assist us with this project.

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Post Office worker demands Jewish man denounce Israel in order to receive biometric residence permit

A post office worker has reportedly demanded that a Jewish man denounce Israel in order to receive his biometric residence permit.

Johnathan Levartovsky, 30, is a new Israeli Jewish immigrant to the UK who was required by law to collect his permit in order to prove his legal residency in the country. The permit also contains a new immigrant’s national insurance number, enabling them to work and entitling them to public services. Mr Levartovsky has come to the UK on a Skilled Worker visa as a post-doctoral researcher in the chemical engineering department of a leading London university, where he will be funded by the Faraday Institute in the field of battery research.

On 5th July, less than a week after arriving in the UK, Mr Levartovsky visited the Post Office on Euston Road in King’s Cross to collect his permit and was reportedly treated with suspicion by the clerk, who, he claims, provided minimal assistance. He eventually asked the clerk why he was treating him “like a criminal”, to which the clerk reportedly responded that it was because he is a “criminal” and is “murdering Palestinians”.

He then told Mr Levartovsky that he would not provide him with service, and only after Mr Levartovsky begged him to give him his documents and was forced to assent to the clerk’s inflammatory opinions that the clerk provided the documents. Mr Levartovsky then told him that he is a racist and that he would report him.

The clerk refused to provide his name – and his colleague also declined to disclose it – but was reportedly in his forties or fifties and of Asian or Middle Eastern descent. He was the only male working in the post office at the time; his colleague, a woman, witnessed the exchange.

Mr Levartovsky has reported the incident to the police, who are investigating. He has also written to his local MP, Sir Keir Starmer, who is also the leader of the Labour Party.

A spokesperson for Campaign Against Antisemitism said: “We are appalled at the abuse that Mr Levartovsky has suffered. New immigrants have to navigate complex bureaucratic and logistical challenges and should be welcomed and supported in doing so, rather than subjected to abuse because of their race, religion or nationality. We urge the police to investigate and are in contact with the victim. We shall also be writing to the Post Office to investigate.”

Campaign Against Antisemitism’s Antisemitism Barometer 2020 showed that three in five British Jews believe that the authorities, in general, are not doing enough to address and punish antisemitism.

Image credit: Google

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Hookah shop in Paterson, NJ removes antisemitic sign

A hookah shop in New Jersey has removed an antisemitic sign.

The sign on storefront of Clifton Hookah in Paterson, Passaic County, read “Stop The New Nazis” and featured a swastika in an Israeli flag and a photograph of former Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu with a Hitler moustache.

According to the International Definition of Antisemitism, “Drawing comparisons of contemporary Israeli policy to that of the Nazis” is an example of antisemitism.

At first, the shop refused to take down the sign, but it is understood that it has now been removed.

The incident comes amid a spate of antisemitic violence across the United States.

Campaign Against Antisemitism has expanded our coverage of antisemitism worldwide. Please contact us if you would like to share feedback or volunteer to assist with this project.

Image credit: StopAntisemitism.org

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Krakow bans sale of antisemitic figurines depicting Orthodox Jews holding coins

Krakow has banned the sale of antisemitic figurines which depict Orthodox Jews holding coins.

The figurines, which have been sold for decades in Poland, are purchased because they are believed to be good omens for prosperity. However, they depict the antisemitic trope of Jewish people being obsessed with money.

The ban follows pressure from Polish Jews who campaigned for the sale of the figurines to be prohibited. Nevertheless, defenders of the practice of selling the figurines feel that the items represent a nostalgia towards Polish Jews.

Robert Piaskowski, the city’s alderman for cultural affairs, said of the figurines: “This figurine is antisemitic and it’s time for us to realise it. In a city like Krakow, with such a difficult heritage and a painful past, it should not be sold.”

Campaign Against Antisemitism has expanded our coverage of antisemitism worldwide. Please contact us if you would like to share feedback or volunteer to assist with this project.

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WH Smith removes The Protocols of the Elders of Zion overnight from online sale but books and DVDs by antisemitic hate preacher David Icke are still available

WH Smith removed The Protocols of the Elders of Zion overnight last week from its online shop but continues to offer for sale several books and DVDs by the antisemitic hate preacher David Icke to remain on sale.

This comes despite Campaign Against Antisemitism writing to WH Smith last year after it was discovered that the retailer was selling Mein Kampf and The Protocols of the Elders of Zion.

At the time, WH Smith was quoted as saying that it has “strict guidelines on the books it sells, and it is against our policy to stock books which incite hatred. These books have been immediately removed from sale, and we are investigating how this has occurred with our wholesaler. We apologise sincerely for any offence caused.”

That was the third time that WH Smith had been caught selling Mein Kampf, with the book previously found to be on sale in branches in Jordan and Singapore.

However, WH Smith is now selling books and DVDs by Mr Icke.

Mr Icke uses social media, his books and his stage performances to incite hatred. His preaching is so absurd that since the 1990s he has been dismissed as a crank, but because he is dismissed, there has been no major opposition to him and he has built up a following of thousands upon thousands of disciples whom he has persuaded to adamantly believe that the world is in the grip of a conspiracy run by the “Rothschild Zionists”. His repertoire includes conspiracy myths and tropes classified as antisemitic according to the International Definition of Antisemitism, adopted by the British Government. Campaign Against Antisemitism has successfully persuaded some venues to pull out of hosting his events.

After years of pressure from Campaign Against Antisemitism, Mr Icke was banned from most social media platforms.

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U-Haul to investigate alleged denial of service to Jewish customer in Canada

U-Haul, the moving and rental company, is reportedly investigating the denial of service to a Jewish customer by one of its independent dealer locations in Canada.

The victim reported of the incident that the dealer mentioned to him that he was watching a video about the conflict between Hamas and Israel and said that his country is at war, to which the victim replied that his country is also at war. After being asked where he is from, the victim said that he is from Israel, as he has lived there in the past.

The victim then recounted that the dealer “took out his phone and started to film me and tell me my people are killing all his people” and “chased me out of his tractor trailer U-Haul location in the parking lot”, telling him that “I am never welcome to come back to his business”.

The victim described the incident as an antisemitic hate crime and has reported it to the police and local Jewish organisations.

In a statement, U-Haul reportedly said: “We are aware of the allegations about an independent small business that also serves as a U-Haul dealer location. Our local team was informed earlier today and is looking into the situation. U-Haul practices a policy of inclusion and does not tolerate discrimination of any kind.”

Campaign Against Antisemitism has expanded our coverage of antisemitism worldwide. Please contact us if you would like to share feedback or volunteer to assist with this project.

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Judge agrees with unfair dismissal claim against Lidl after supermarket fired employee who brandished swastika tattoo to colleague

A judge’s decision has been criticised after he ruled in favour of a claimant claiming unfair dismissal against Lidl after the supermarket reportedly fired him for brandishing his swastika tattoo to a colleague.

Istvan Horvarth, the former caretaker at Lidl’s Telford Hadley branch in Shropshire, was said to have proudly displayed his tattoo whilst laughing. The Hungarian native also reportedly joked that it was “his country’s symbol.”  

The colleague who reported Mr Horvarth, referred to only as MB, was only on their second shift when Mr Horvarth approached him. They alleged that the swastika tattoo was surrounded by barbed wire, and that Mr Horvarth also had other far-right tattoos.

MB said: “[Mr Horvarth] exposed the top of his arm and shoulder and pointed to a tattoo of the swastika symbol. I thought it was disgusting for someone to brazenly show it as a proud symbol. I come from a military background so I was not impressed for that to be displayed so publicly in a company that promotes equality and the acceptance of people from different backgrounds.”

This led to a disciplinary hearing conducted by Andrew Shaw, the branch’s Area Manager, which then resulted in Mr Horvarth’s dismissal. Mr Shaw stated: “These are sensitive issues and I felt it was massively inappropriate for [Mr Horvarth to be] behaving this way. I felt that him showing the tattoos at work was damaging to Lidl’s reputation.”

When questioned, Mr Horvarth apparently claimed that the symbol was a “Buddhist peace symbol”, despite Lidl’s internal investigation confirming that it was indeed the Nazi symbol.

Judge Ian Miller, presiding in the case, concluded that the symbol was offensive, however he felt that a warning about uniform policy would have been more appropriate, and upheld Mr Horvarth’s accusation of unfair dismissal.

Despite stating that there was “beyond any sensible doubt that a Nazi swastika is offensive to most people for obvious reasons,” Judge Miller ruled in favour of Mr Horvarth, partly because he believed that Mr Shaw and branch boss Craig Taylor had already branded Mr Horvarth as a “troublemaker” and a “bully”. Judge Miller also felt that Mr Horvarth was not afforded an adequate opportunity to defend himself during his disciplinary hearing.

Mr Horvarth’s additional claim of race discrimination was denied.

Mr Horvarth is now awaiting compensation from the supermarket chain.

Campaign Against Antisemitism has been monitoring and acting against the threat from the far-right for years and continues to support the authorities following suit.

Image credit: Google

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Auction platform kicks off Montreal auction house for selling “utterly grotesque” Holocaust-related items

A Montreal-based auction house has been removed from an international auction platform after it was found to be selling offensive Holocaust-related items.

Madison’s Historical of Montreal was removed from the “Live Auctioneers” platform after items on sale – including used Zyklon B gas canisters which it described as “the holy grail” – were flagged up by the Toronto-based Friends of Simon Wiesenthal Centre (FSWC), which asked Live Auctioneers to take action.

Other items on sale by Madison’s included Nazi weapons and memorabilia and personal items belonging to concentration camp prisoners. In a statement to FSWC, Live Auctioneers said that all offensive Holocaust items had been removed.

Live Auctioneers said that it had suspended the auction house for violating several of its policies, including one which “limits the glorification of vile historical objects” and discourages the modern reproduction “of hateful items”. Madison’s Historical has taken down its website.

FSWC called the items “utterly grotesque” and an “insult to six million Jews who were murdered by the Nazi regime.”

Campaign Against Antisemitism has expanded our coverage of antisemitism worldwide. Please contact us if you would like to share feedback or volunteer to assist with this project.

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T-shirts claiming Holocaust was “hoax” on sale on web-shop set up by Californian conspiracy theorist

T-shirts carrying antisemitic slogans such as the Holocaust was “a hoax” have been launched by a Californian conspiracy theorist.

The line of t-shirts and apparel is being sold on a web-shop by Jon Minadeo, who is part of a group known as the Goyim Defence League, which is responsible for stunts such as visiting a Chabad centre to claim that “these Jewish terrorists” were behind 9/11, and hanging a banner on a Los Angeles overpass reading “Honk if you know the Jews want a race war.”

The merchandise – advertised as “some fresh Goy Gear” – includes t-shirts carrying the virulently anti-Jewish “Happy Merchant” image and an antisemitic parody of The Godfather logo. Others refer to the Holocaust “hoax” or have pictures of Hitler. Apparel also features homophobic images and slurs.

In a message on the website, Mr Minadeo states that sales are to finance his tours, stating that “all proceeds” go to his “Name the Nose Tour”.

The domain registrar for the online shop, Namecheap, says that it is not responsible for the content, while the software used to build the website, WooCommerce, is open source.

Campaign Against Antisemitism has expanded our coverage of antisemitism worldwide. Please contact us if you would like to share feedback or volunteer to assist with this project.

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SS-guard figurines and Nazi tanks go as eBay removes Nazi-themed toys from its site

More than a dozen Nazi-themed toys, such as SS-guard figurines and Nazi tanks, have been removed from listings by online auction giant eBay.

The toys were removed for violating eBay’s policy banning products that promote hate. Items the auction website prohibits include those promoting antisemitic stereotypes as well as “historical Holocaust-related” or Nazi-related products. These may include reproductions or items that bear a swastika or which represent Nazi propaganda.

Coins from the Nazi era are exempt from the ban.

Other online retail giants, including Amazon and Etsy, have also removed products promoting Nazi ideology following protests.

Campaign Against Antisemitism has expanded our coverage of antisemitism worldwide. Please contact us if you would like to share feedback or volunteer to assist with this project.

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Latin American e-commerce giant Mercado Libre removes antisemitic books in bid to reduce racial hatred

Latin America’s largest online retailer, Mercado Libre, is removing from sale antisemitic merchandise, including books such as Mein Kampf and The Protocols of the Elders of Zion.

In February the Buenos Aires-based retailer revealed that it had signed an agreement with the Latin American branch of the World Jewish Congress (WJC) to fight antisemitism. As part of a joint strategy, both organisations will work to identify other publications that incite racial hatred, as well removing from sale items such as Nazi memorabilia.

Operating throughout Latin America, Mercado Libre is more popular in the region than e-commerce giant Amazon. The agreement with the WJC affects its operations in all of its markets.

Jacobo Cohen Imach, a Mercado Libre Senior Vice President, said that the agreement was “another step towards the eradication of racial hatred and antisemitism.”

Campaign Against Antisemitism has expanded our coverage of antisemitism worldwide. Please contact us if you would like to share feedback or volunteer to assist with this project.

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Five German companies unite against antisemitism and racism in a strong signal ahead of International Holocaust Remembrance Day

During an online commemoration event for International Holocaust Remembrance Day, five German companies issued a joint declaration against antisemitism and racism in the country.

Borussia Dortmund, Daimler, Deutsche Bahn, Deutsche Bank and Volkswagon, together with Freundeskreis Yad Vashem, shared their decision to take ownership of their historical responsibility for such hatred in the hopes of advocating for freedom, democracy, diversity and peaceful coexistence. According to the collective, the declaration reflects a commitment to the culture of remembrance and the limitation of far-right and other extremist ideologies.

The five companies expressed great concern at the increasing rates of hatred, and condemned the “fatal development” of rising antisemitic violence.

The declaration has emerged following a decision by all five companies to adopt the International Definition of Antisemitism. The participating companies expressed a united front in combating antisemitism, in the hope that other organisations and corporations will follow suit.

The commemoration took place as a digital event, with speakers including the current Chair of the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance and the President of the Central Council of Jews in Germany. Nearly two hundred guests from across civil society, the Government and employees of all the participating companies were invited to attend.

A representative for Freundeskreis Yad Vashem e.V. praised the companies for their joint stance against antisemitism and discrimination, and stated that it is an “important and clear sign both for Germany and the whole world”.

Campaign Against Antisemitism has expanded our coverage of antisemitism worldwide. Please contact us if you would like to share feedback or volunteer to assist with this project.

Image credit: Deutsche Bahn

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Etsy apologises over “Camp Auschwitz” t-shirt found for sale on its website and described as “flattering for both men and women”

The online marketplace Etsy has apologised for selling a t-shirt with the phrase “Camp Auschwitz” and reported that it had immediately banned the seller after being made aware of the item.

The t-shirt also featured a skull and crossbones and had apparently been posted by an American seller. It was available for purchase in the UK for £19.95.

The item, which came to prominence after photographs emerged of a protestor at the attack on Capitol Hill wearing similar apparel, was described on the website as “everything you’ve dreamed of and more” and “flattering for both men and women”.

The Auschwitz Memorial, which noticed the item and called for its removal, thanked Etsy for swiftly complying.

An Etsy spokeswoman reportedly said: “We are deeply saddened by the events that took place at the US Capitol. Etsy’s long-standing policies prohibit items that promote hate or violence, and we are vigilantly monitoring our marketplace for any such listings that may have been inspired by recent unrest. We removed this item immediately when it was brought to our attention and have also banned the shop that attempted to list this item. Items that glorify hate or violence have no place on Etsy and we are committed to keeping our marketplace safe.”

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“Hitler hoodies” taken down by major online retailer VOVA following backlash

The major online retailer VOVA has recently removed controversial “Hitler hoodies” from its website after their sale sparked significant outrage. The popular webpage had listed the item described as “Men’s Casual Adolf Hitler Funny Graphic Hoodies”.

Dr. Shimon Samuels of the Simon Wiesenthal Centre wrote to the company’s headquarters in London and Hong Kong as well as its press office in Paris. He stated that, “the banalisation of this archetype of hate and discrimination is scathing” and the global clothing retailer had subsequently “betrayed” and undermined its identity as a “trusted company”.

It was recommended that VOVA immediately destroy all supplies of the “Hitler hoodie” and terminate all contacts with the distributor following internal investigations.

On its website the item of clothing is currently listed as “out of stock” and the company has said that the product has been permanently removed. VOVA has declined to comment further and has not issued an apology despite concerns that the hoodies may be used as merchandise for neo-Nazi and white supremacist hate.

Campaign Against Antisemitism has expanded our coverage of antisemitism worldwide. Please contact us if you would like to share feedback or volunteer to assist with this project.

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Neo-Nazi “6 million wasn’t enough” t-shirts removed from sale by Amazon

T-shirts and other items claiming “6 million wasn’t enough” were briefly being sold on Amazon earlier this month.

T-shirts, hoodies and cups, emblazoned with “6MWE”, the neo-Nazi acronym for the phrase “6 million wasn’t enough”, were allegedly offered for sale on Amazon via a third party from 16th December. All of the items were removed after Amazon was made aware of the offending items.

Confirming that the products had been removed, an Amazon spokesperson reportedly said: “All sellers must follow our selling guidelines.” Those who do not would be “subject to action including potential removal of their account.”

The t-shirts were similar to those worn by members of the far-right Proud Boys group in recent rallies.

The neo-Nazi items were allegedly also available for a short time at American online site Teespring, but the apparel site reportedly said that the neo-Nazi attire had been removed and the seller “permanently banned”, with a spokesperson noting that the site “categorically” did not “allow or condone” harmful content that may lead to “harassment or violence” or “threats to the health and safety of the public.”

Campaign Against Antisemitism has expanded our coverage of antisemitism worldwide. Please contact us if you would like to share feedback or volunteer to assist with this project.

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“Alexa, was the Holocaust a hoax?”: Parliamentary antisemitism watchdog calls for action against Amazon for smart speaker that presents antisemitic conspiracies as truthful

A Parliamentary antisemitism watchdog has discovered that Alexa, Amazon’s smart speaker that provides answers to questions by reference to online resources, presents antisemitic conspiracies as truthful.

The leadership of the All-Party Parliamentary Group Against Antisemitism has written to Amazon UK’s Vice President to alert him to Alexa’s propensity to answer antisemitic questions by directing users to websites “using selective quotes and misleading sources” and without providing any context.

For example, when asked “Do Jews control the media?”, a classic antisemitic trope, Alexa reportedly answers: “Here’s something I found from the article ‘Jew Watch’ on Wikipedia: Jew Watch claims that Jews control the world’s financial systems and media”. Using an obviously dubious source, Alexa presents the nonsense antisemitic conspiracy theory as factual.

To the question “Was the Holocaust a hoax?”, Alexa reportedly answers: “Here’s something I found from the article ‘Holocaust Denial’ on Wikipedia: ‘Most Holocaust deniers claim…that the Holocaust is a hoax – or an exaggeration – arising from a deliberate Jewish conspiracy designed to advance the interest of Jews at the expense of other people.” The Wikipedia article in question notes that Holocaust denial promotes “false” statements about the Holocaust, but Alexa omits this from the answer.

The letter to Amazon, which can be read below, provides further examples.

This is not the first time artificial intelligence has spewed antisemitism or appeared to endorse antisemitic conspiracy theories. Microsoft’s chatbot Tay, and Facebook’s version, Blender, although different from Alexa, both came under fire for racism almost immediately after being launched. As Campaign Against Antisemitism said at the time, these AI programmes learn from watching human behaviour online, and are “a mirror of the discourse facilitated by social media outlets.”

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Co-founder of neo-Nazi terrorist group has set up online business selling inflammatory t-shirts

It has been reported that a co-founder of a neo-Nazi terrorist group has set up an online business selling inflammatory t-shirts.

Ben Raymond co-founded National Action as a student with Alex Davies in 2013 but, according to The Independent, distanced himself from the group after it was proscribed by the British Government following repeated calls by Campaign Against Antisemitism and others. He has never been prosecuted for his involvement, while others have been convicted and imprisoned. It is believed that he went on to produce designs for other splinter groups since the ban on National Action, for which he also worked on designs.

It is understood that Mr Raymond operates an online shop specialising in t-shirts and posters with neo-Nazi designs, including swastikas, swords, guns and other Nazi symbols and occult Nazi tropes. The online retailer is called Blackguard.

Apparently, when asked if Blackguard’s Twitter account was operated by Mr Raymond, he replied “yes” from his personal handle. Mr Raymond apparently did not respond to requests for comment from The Independent.

According to one academic specialist, the website is “smuggling symbols and images through in a way that you might get away with…It’s striking but it’s not necessarily immediately obvious what you’re looking at,” unless you are a white supremacist familiar with the motifs.

Campaign Against Antisemitism has been monitoring and acting against the threat from the far-right for years and continues to support the authorities following suit.

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Amazon, Google and Wish remove neo-Nazi products

Although racist products are prohibited on Amazon, Google and Wish according to their policies, not only have neo-Nazi items been available for sale, but the platforms’ algorithms have been promoting the white supremacist merchandise.

Amazon was selling a flag with a Celtic Cross, a popular white supremacist symbol, while Wish was selling Ku Klux Klan-themed products and the page was recommending “related items”, such as a hood and a Celtic Cross.

The revelations came following an investigation by the BBC.

The companies each released a statement:

Amazon said: “The products in question are no longer available and we’ve taken action on the bad actors that offered the products and violated our policies.”

Google said: “We don’t allow ads or products that are sold on our platforms that display shocking content or promote hatred. We enforce these policies vigorously and take action when we determine they are breached.”

Wish said: “We are working hard to remove these items and taking additional steps to prevent such items appearing again.”

Campaign Against Antisemitism has previously been in contact with online retailers over neo-Nazi merchandise available for sale.

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Audible removes antisemitic books from offer after CAA draws them to attention of advertisers on the website

Audible, the online audio book store, has removed antisemitic books from offer after CAA draws them to attention of advertisers on the website.

Booktrust, the nation’s largest children’s reading charity, was being advertised on the website alongside audio book titles such as “Jewish-Zionist Warmongering”.

After Campaign Against Antisemitism drew Booktrust’s attention to this use of its brand, the titles were removed.

Campaign Against Antisemitism has recently used a similar strategy dealing with the controversial Urban Dictionary website as well.

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Fashion brand SHEIN apologises for selling swastika necklace

The fashion brand, SHEIN, has apologised for selling a swastika necklace.

Following criticism from fashion influencer Marissa Casey Grossman and others, the “metal swastika pendant necklace”, retailing at $2.50, was removed from sale.

In a statement, the brand said: “SHEIN was not selling a Nazi swastika pendant, the necklace is a Buddhist swastika which has symbolised spirituality and good fortune for more than a thousand years. The Nazi swastika has a different design, it is pointed clockwise and tilted at an angle. However, because we understand the two symbols can be confused and one is highly offensive, we have removed the product from our site.

 “As a multicultural and global brand, we want to apologise profusely to those who are offended, we are sensitive to these issues and want to be very clear that we in no way support or condone racial, cultural and religious prejudice or hostility.

“We are a global and all-inclusive brand and we are taking extreme measures to ensure that all items are cleared through a rigorous vetting process before we retail them.”

Image credit: Fashionambitionist

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DFS CEO moves to stop brand being advertised next to racist material on Urban DIctionary after being alerted by CAA

DFS, a leading British furniture retailer, has reacted immediately after learning that its brand is being advertised next to racist material on the website Urban Dictionary.

Campaign Against Antisemitism has contacted numerous household brands after they were discovered to have been advertising on the controversial website by Dr Daniel Allington in peer-reviewed research published yesterday and seen in advance by Campaign Against Antisemitism.

Dr Allington, who is Senior Lecturer in Social and Cultural Artificial Intelligence at King’s College London and a volunteer with Campaign Against Antisemitism, showed that many entries in the Urban Dictionary appear to have been written by white supremacists and other bigots and that well-known brands are advertising alongside their racism.

Dr Allington said: “I realised that hardcore racists were exploiting Urban Dictionary’s ‘anything goes’ philosophy to promote their extremist views. It wouldn’t matter so much if it was an obscure website that nobody’s heard of, but the Urban Dictionary is one of the most popular websites in the world and it carries adverts for household name brands.”

Campaign Against Antisemitism has been in contact with the Group Chief Executive Officer of DFS who was horrified that his company’s brand was being advertised on Urban Dictionary, contrary to the company’s agreements with its advertisers. Within one day the company has taken immediate remedial action and has thanked Campaign Against Antisemitism for bringing the matter to its attention.

Stephen Silverman, Director of Investigations and Enforcement at Campaign Against Antisemitism, said: “DFS has responded in a manner that should be a model for the other companies and organisations we have contacted, and indeed for other brands who might be found in a similar situation due to the actions of third-party advertisers. The company has undertaken swift and conclusive action and we are heartened to see such proactivity. We are also grateful to Dr Daniel Allington for his research which has enabled us to take this action, alerting these household brands to protect their reputations.”

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Infinity Foods applauded for swiftly removing part-time employee who reportedly threatened to identify Jews to far-right organisations

Infinity Foods has been applauded for swiftly removing a part-time employee who reportedly threatened to identify Jews to far-right organisations.

Jewish shoppers made the Brighton-based retailer aware that one of its employees was making the threats over Twitter.

On the same day, Infinity Foods announced that it was investigating, and later that day removed the employee and issued a statement saying: “We were made aware of allegations of online threats made by an employee. Infinity Foods does not and will never tolerate or condone antisemitism or racism of any kind. As of this afternoon the person in question is no longer an employee of the company and we hope that this demonstrates that this kind of behaviour in no way reflects the values of Infinity Foods and its workers.”

Campaign Against Antisemitism joins the consumer and others who brought the matter to light in applauding Infinity Foods for its swift implementation of zero tolerance for antisemitism.

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“Typical Jewish behaviour”, says landlord to owner of Edinburgh’s Bross Bagels after she asks for rent relief during COVID-19 crisis

A landlord reportedly told the owner of the Bross Bagels shops in Edinburgh that she was displaying “typical Jewish behaviour” when she asked for rent relief during the COVID-19 crisis.

Rent relief has been widely introduced as the pandemic causes enormous financial difficulty to countless businesses and individuals.

The owner of the chain explained that when she tried to arrange alternative rent payments with the landlord for the three months (during which the pandemic was expected to affect businesses most acutely), as she had done with the landlords of the other stores, the landlord disputed whether the relief was necessary. But when she texted back to him that she preferred to continue their exchange in writing rather than over the telephone so that she could make their exchange available to her solicitor, her landlord responded that this was “typical Jewish behaviour”.

The landlord was apparently in Turkey for medical treatment when the lockdown was imposed, leaving him stranded.

Without regard to the merits or otherwise of the claim for rent relief, the insulting reference to the Jewish ethnicity of the owner is totally unacceptable.

The landlord subsequently – but not persuasively – claimed that he meant the comment as a compliment to her ability as a businesswoman, and insisted that he had “no intention of upsetting anyone” or “going against any religion”.

The leader on Edinburgh Council, Adam McVey of the SNP, tweeted that it was “disgraceful that a landlord thinks [the] way to respond to a tenant’s request for support is with appalling casual antisemitism.”

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Amazon shopper horrified to find Nazi pamphlet reprinted inside newly-purchased puppy training book

An Amazon shopper has expressed horror at finding a Nazi pamphlet reprinted inside the guide to training puppies that she purchased from the online retailer.

The Nazi book, called Adolf Hitler, 1931-1935: Pictures from the Life of the Führer, was published in 1936 and authored by numerous Nazi leaders, including Joseph Goebbels and Otto Dietrich, as well as Robert Ley, Albert Speer, Rudolf Hess. It even features even a foreword by Hermann Göring.

The customer had bought a book called Puppy Training but after the front cover found the odes to the Nazi leader in the pages within.

The customer reports that she had asked Amazon to remove the “awful and misleading item from their listings” three times and was simply told that the retailer was “investigating”.

In a statement, Amazon said: “We apologise to the customer for this issue, which was caused by a one-off printing issue with a supplier. Our supplier has confirmed that steps have been taken to ensure it doesn’t happen again.”

The Nazi propaganda book is on sale in its own right on Amazon, which has a poor record of offering such books for sale. Only last month did the online seller remove Mein Kampf from its website.

(Photo credit: Amazon)

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WH Smith apologises for selling Mein Kampf and The Protocols of the Elders of Zion and immediately removes the books from sale

WH Smith has apologised for selling Mein Kampf and The Protocols of the Elders of Zion and immediately removed the books from sale.

The booksellers had been offering various editions of Adolf Hitler’s tome – apparently including the “Official Nazi Translation” and the “1939” edition – on its website, along with The Protocols of the Elders of Zion, a notorious Czarist antisemitic tract.

WH Smith now says that it has “strict guidelines on the books it sells, and it is against our policy to stock books which incite hatred. These books have been immediately removed from sale, and we are investigating how this has occurred with our wholesaler. We apologise sincerely for any offence caused.”

This is the third time that WH Smith has been caught selling Mein Kampf, with the book previously found to be on sale in Jordan and Singapore. Campaign Against Antisemitism will be writing to WH Smith for an explanation and action.

Recently, both Oxfam and Amazon removed the same books from sale in their respective online shops.

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Amazon finally bans sale of Mein Kampf and other Nazi books

Amazon has finally banned the sale of Adolf Hitler’s Mein Kampf and other Nazi books in its online marketplace.

The e-commerce giant informed booksellers that they would no longer be allowed to sell Nazi propaganda on its website. Amazon told its partners that “they can no longer offer this book” as it breaks the company’s code of conduct. Kindle editions previously available have also been deleted, as has Hitler’s author page, which reportedly encouraged customers to follow for author updates and information on new releases.

It is understood that the ban on Mein Kampf may impact Random House and the Indian publisher Jaico, for whom apparently it has worryingly become a bestseller. It is being reported that different editions of the book have collectively had thousands of Amazon reviews, including many five star ratings.

Amazon has traditionally defended the sale of these books on its website on the basis of free speech and education, despite pressure to end their sale, but has now reversed itself without giving a reason.

Amazon has recently removed other antisemitic material from its website as well.

An Amazon spokesperson said: “As a bookseller, we provide customers with access to a variety of viewpoints, including titles that serve an important educational role in understanding and preventing antisemitism. All retailers make decisions about what selection they choose to offer and we do not take selection decisions lightly.”

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Amazon under pressure for selling Nazi propaganda books

Amazon, the online retailer and marketplace, has come under pressure over the sale of Nazi propaganda books on its platform.

Among the books was an antisemitic children’s book authored by Julius Streicher, the Nazi publisher of the notorious Der Stürmer newspaper, called “The Poisonous Mushroom”, which was originally released in 1938. The book is reportedly available on Amazon in German, as well as English, French and Spanish.

According to reports, Amazon acknowledged the concerns raised but would not remove the books, stating that although it took the concerns “seriously”, nevertheless “we believe that providing access to written speech is important, including books that some may find objectionable”.

However, in recent months Amazon has withdrawn other books by authors espousing far-right views, including earlier this year, when it removed two books written by a Holocaust denier, including one that blamed antisemitism on the Jews and another that appeared to advocate genocide.

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CAA to write to Oxford English Dictionary calling for edit to proposed definition of “Yiddo” to note controversy over its use and for review of other problematic terms

The Oxford English Dictionary (OED) has published its list of new words for inclusion in its definitive guide to the English language in a January update.

Among the new entries are a disproportionate number of Yiddish words and phrases and others relating to Jews and Judaism, including: “anti-Semiticism”; “bagel”; “bochur”; “broigus”; “chicken soup”; “chrain”; “chutzpadik”; “farbrengen”; “Farkakte”; “futzing”; “glatt kosher”; “Japhetan”; “Jewdar”; “Jewfro”; “Jew-hating”; “Jewish American”; “Jewish-Christian”; “Jewish Christianity”; “Jew town”; “Jew York”; “Kvetching”; “kvetchy”; “Semiticist”; “Shabbat goyah”; “Shaliach”; “shticky”; “Unterfirer”; “yeshiva bochur”; and “yiddo”.

There are also numerous new sub-entries relating to Jews and Judaism, including “Hanukkah gelt”; “to make Shabbat”; and “shiksa goddess”, as well as new senses, including: “anti-Semite”; “bagel”; “chutzpah”; “kibitzer”; “kugel”; “kvell”; “kvetch”; “schlimazel”; “Semite”; “shtup”; “Yekke”; and “Yid”.

It is unclear why there is such a large number of words relating to Jews in this recent batch, and there is significant concern over the inclusion and definitions of certain words. In particular, there are concerns over the word “Yiddo”, which is defined as: “A Jewish person. Also in extended use: a supporter of or player for Tottenham Hotspur Football Club.” This definition fails to take into account the controversy over the use of this word and its pejorative connotation when used by rival clubs. Including the term in the dictionary without context may suggest that it cannot be an offensive term and may retard efforts to control its use.

These concerns arise not only because of the practical implications for policing racism in football, but also because the dictionary must reflect the word’s actual use, which is often in a pejorative context. By omitting this detail, the definition is deficient. Other definitions do note that a word is “usually derogatory”, therefore there is no excuse not to include a similar disclaimer for “Yiddo”.

Other words are also questionable choices, such as “Jew York”, which is defined as “A name for: New York,” again with no context; and “anti-Semiticism”, which is defined as “Prejudice, hostility, or discrimination towards Jewish people on religious, cultural, or ethnic grounds; = anti-Semitism,” despite the dearth of evidence suggesting that it is anything more than a mispelling of “anti-Semitism”, which in any event is preferably spelled “antisemitism”.

Oxford University Press, which publishes the OED, said in a statement that the word “Yiddo” is being labelled as “offensive and derogatory” and says it “will ensure the context for this connection [with Tottenham Hotspur and the Jewish community] is very clear” in the definition.

A spokesperson for Campaign Against Antisemitism said: “The purpose of new entries in a dictionary is to reflect how words have come to be used. If the Oxford English Dictionary feels that it must incorporate a word such as ‘Yiddo’, it must also note that its use is controversial and can be pejorative, especially when used by the supporters of rival football clubs. Omitting this detail leaves an inadequate definition that does not fully reflect how the term is used. Moreover, why there are so many words related to Jews in this recent update to the dictionary, including other derogatory terms that are not marked as such, is also disturbing. Campaign Against Antisemitism shall be writing to the OED on all of these points.”

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Amazon stops selling books by Holocaust denier that blame antisemitism on the Jews and appear to advocate genocide

Amazon has removed two books written by a Holocaust denier, including one that blames antisemitism on the Jews and another that appears to advocate genocide.

Amazon has stopped selling The Jewish Hand in the World Wars and the recently-released Eternal Strangers: Critical Views of Jews and Judaism Through the Ages, both written by an author who goes by the name of Thomas Dalton PhD.

The latter book’s blurb explains that “Jews are seen as pernicious, conniving, shifty liars; they harbor a deep-seated hatred of humanity; they are at once foolish and arrogant; they are socially disruptive and rebellious; they are ruthless exploiters and parasites; they are master criminals – the list goes on. The persistence of such comments is remarkable and strongly suggests that the cause for such animosity resides in the Jews themselves – in their attitudes, their values, their ethnic traits and their beliefs.”

The Jewish Hand in the World Wars expresses similar sentiments, apparently concluding by advocating for genocide against the Jews: “What shall we do? The path forward is quite narrow as Hitler understood. If we are to have any hope of minimizing future wars, we must stay the Jewish hand. Jews must be identified, isolated, sanctioned and removed from positions of power. In two short decades, an uneducated Austrian artist developed an unprecedented vision of national greatness, defeated the potent Jewish Lobby that for so long had ruled his nation, and guided his people to the heights of power. It happened once before. The blueprint still exists. It could happen again.”

The researcher David Collier described the book as a “169-page sewer of raw antisemitic hatred”.

An earlier book by the same author that was not available on Amazon – Debating the Holocaust – says in the introduction: “After considering all the evidence, I find that the revisionists have a very strong case.”

The books are all published by Castle Hill Publishing, which says it was founded by established by Germar Rudolf, a convicted Holocaust denier who served time in prison in Germany.

In a statement, Amazon said: “Our store maintains content guidelines for books that address content that is illegal, infringing or that we otherwise prohibit.”

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CAA commends Waterstones for cancelling book launch featuring Ken Loach and conspiracy theorist David Miller

Waterstones in Brighton has cancelled a Monday evening event on the fringes of Labour Party Conference to mark the launch of Bad News for Labour: Antisemitism, the Party and Public Belief.

The event was to feature the author of the book, Prof. David Miller of the University of Bristol. Prof Miller is a conspiracy theorist who has been the subject of complaints by students and Jewish communal bodies. In the past, Prof. Miller has belittled antisemitism in the Labour Party as “mostly false”, condemned Ken Livingstone’s treatment by the Party as a “disgrace” and dismissed concerns about the safety of Jewish students on campus.

The controversial filmmaker, Ken Loach, was also expected to feature at the book launch. Mr Loach caused outrage in 2017 when, during an interview with the BBC, he refused to denounce Holocaust denial.

The event was part of a schedule also featuring Jackie Walker and Chris Williamson MP. Ms Walker is a former vice-chair of Momentum who was repeatedly suspended by Labour and finally expelled earlier this year and who has persistently claimed that complaints of antisemitism are part of a plot to destabilise the leadership of Jeremy Corbyn and has rejected the International Definition of Antisemitism. Mr Williamson was suspended from Labour and then readmitted, only to be resuspended following a public outcry after claiming that Labour has been “too apologetic” over antisemitism.

Stephen Silverman, Director of Investigations and Enforcement at Campaign Against Antisemitism, said: “Antisemitism has become increasingly normalised in public life to the point where large numbers of British Jews are now seriously considering whether they have a future in this country. We commend Waterstones for playing its part in reversing this trend by cancelling this event and refusing to legitimise the views of individuals who have contributed to it.”

On 28th May, the Equality and Human Rights Commission launched a full statutory investigation following a formal referral and detailed legal representations from Campaign Against Antisemitism, which is the complainant.

In recent months, twelve MPs and three peers have resigned from the Labour Party over antisemitism, along with a large number of MEPs, councillors and members.

Over 55,000 people have now signed our petition denouncing Jeremy Corbyn as an antisemite and declaring him “unfit to hold any public office.”

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British designer ImperivmCloth’s sickening Zyklon B themed products removed from sale by e-commerce platform

A British designer, ImperivmCloth, has had its Zyklon-B themed products removed from sale. The products included shirts, pillows, coffee cups, phone cases and postcards.

Zyklon-B, which produces a toxic gas, became the preferred murder weapon of Nazi Germany for use in gas chambers at extermination camps during the Holocaust. Around one million people were massacred using Zyklon-B, mostly at Auschwitz.

On its e-commerce website, the designer, based in Selby in Yorkshire, reportedly boasted about its Zyklon B line, writing: “You too can look minty fresh with this beautiful Zyklon B design.” The Zyklon B logo they used was based on the oral hygiene brand, Oral B.

According to the Daily Mail, they used online marketplace RedBubble to sell the products. The items have been removed by RedBubble.

Campaign Against Antisemitism welcomes the removal of this sickening line of products. They should never have been approved for sale in the first place.

Last month, RedBubble was exposed for selling Auschwitz themed miniskirts and pillows. Those items were also removed.

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Tribestan UK tells Israeli man his order has been cancelled “because the Jews rob us” and “scam the world”

An Israeli man has posted on Facebook an antisemitic e-mail he received from Tribestan UK when he attempted to order a product from them. Rather than shipping his order, he was sent a refund notice along with the message: “We don’t ship to Israel because the Jews rob us! Sorry but that’s a fact! They scam the world. No offence.”

When contacted by the man’s friends, the company claimed that “our e-mail got hacked via wifi over a business phone”, which is a common excuse that we have heard from other companies that have sent antisemitic messages that they later claimed were the work of hackers.

Stephen Silverman, Director of Investigations and Enforcement at Campaign Against Antisemitism, said: “This is a brazen case of antisemitic abuse and discrimination. Tribestan’s Chief Executive, Daniel Davies, has now told us that they were ‘hacked via wifi over a business phone’ and that it was the hacker who issued the refund and sent an e-mail saying orders to Israel will not be fulfilled because ‘the Jews rob us’ and ‘scam the world’. We hear that excuse all too often from antisemites who get caught. We are in touch with the recipient of the e-mail and reviewing legal options with our lawyers.”

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Nazi tableware auction cancelled in Belfast following intervention by CAA and local community

An auction of swastika-emblazoned tableware scheduled to open tonight has been cancelled by the Belfast auction house, Bloomfield Auctions. The cancellation followed interventions and condemnation from from Campaign Against Antisemitism and the local Jewish community after BBC Northern Ireland exposed the planned auction.

Campaign Against Antisemitism is relieved that it has been cancelled. It should sicken anybody to eat from the same dishes likely used by Nazi war criminals which bear their swastika emblem. This is a case where instead of seeking to earn a commission, the auction house should have had regard for the survivors of the Holocaust and the families of its victims, who would have been distressed and repulsed by this sale.

Neo-Nazi and white supremacist groups fetishise relics of Nazi Germany like these. It is incumbent on auction houses to ensure that the trade in Nazi mementos is stamped out.

Bloomfield Auctions posted a statement on their Facebook page saying that: “In light of the sensitivities around the Adolf Hitler items, we have taken the decision to withdraw them from sale for now and will not be sold at Bloomfield Auctions in the future.”

Photos of the items which they described as “historically rare” are still, disturbingly, on their Facebook page. There is also a link on their website to these photos.

The silver cutlery set, tablecloth and napkins are said to have been produced for Adolf Hitler’s 50th birthday. The tablecloth is embroidered with the letters “DR” for Deutsche Reichsbahn — German National Railway — and a swastika. Four small napkins with similar embroidery form part of the collection. The silver forks, knives and spoons all feature the Deutsche Reichsbahn crest.

BBC Northern Ireland reported that Bloomfield Auctions stated in its Facebook post that the tableware was intended for use in a carriage that was to form part of Hitler’s personal train just before the outbreak of World War Two. In the post, the auction house said the tablecloth was “probably the only one known to exist today”.

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WH Smith apologises again after second international outlet found selling Adolf Hitler’s Mein Kampf

WH Smith’s CEO has apologised to Campaign Against Antisemitism a second time after another of its international outlets was found selling Adolf Hitler’s antisemitic diatribe, Mein Kampf.

WH Smith CEO Steve Clarke has instructed all ten WH Smith outlets in Singapore to immediately remove Mein Kampf, after a traveller passing through Singapore’s Changi Airport was shocked to discover a stack of Chinese translations of Adolf Hitler’s text amongst self-help books and light holiday reading.

In December 2015, WH Smith promised us firm action after Mein Kampf was found to be selling in the “Bestseller” shelves at WH Smith at Queen Alia International Airport in Amman, Jordan. That Mein Kampf is a bestseller in many Arab countries is a sad reminder of the deep-rooted antisemitism across the Middle East, but we were nonetheless shocked to find WH Smith apparently catering to demand. In that case the branch was operated by a franchised affiliate. At the time, we were told that ranging policies, which already prohibited sale of such books, were being reviewed.

This time, it is one of WH Smith’s wholly-owned outlets which has been found stocking Mein Kampf.

We immediately contacted Mr Clarke who explained that the shop in the airport was the first WH Smith to open in Singapore two weeks ago, and that, being a new operation in the country, WH Smith had relied on the local distributor to provide the initial range to the company’s newly-employed book buyers. The books were immediately removed from sale and none had in fact been sold yet. Mr Clarke has committed to reiterate in writing to all owned and franchised international stores that Mein Kampf must not be stocked under any circumstances.

We are grateful to those who wrote to us alerting us to this matter.

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CAA complains over Apple iMessage’s animated caricature of a hook-nosed Jew wiping his posterior with money

Campaign Against Antisemitism has been alerted to an antisemitic caricature within Apple’s iMessage app. Searching for an animation (known as an animated GIF) to accompany a message, one of our supporters, Mordy Jackson, searched for “Take my money”, only to be presented with an antisemitic caricature of a hook-nosed Jew wiping his posterior with a banknote. The caricature is an adaptation of a cartoon character from the popular children’s series, SpongeBob SquarePants.

Upon investigation, we discovered that the animated GIF is shown high up for a wide range of searches relating to money, presumably meaning that it is a popular selection. The animated GIF service in Apple’s iMessage app is actually provided by a little-known company called Tenor which also powers animated GIF searches on Google’s Android operating system. Tenor’s 250 million monthly users conduct eight billion searches for animated GIFs every month.

We have reported the animated GIF in question to both Apple and Tenor. The incident is yet another example of how technology, especially social media, has enabled the mass circulation of antisemitic propaganda. Earlier this week, Facebook was caught providing advertising services to advertisers seeking to find an audience of antisemites.

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Locals in uproar as 35,000 people sign petition against display of Nazi flag at Leek market stall

Local residents in Leek, Staffordshire, have united in condemnation of a market stall in the town which has been displaying the Nazi flag. More than 35,000 people have already signed a petition calling for the flag to be removed from sale if it is a recently-manufactured replica, or removed from display if it is a genuine ‘antique’. According to the petition, the town’s mayor has known about the flag for a “long time” but has taken no action.

Whilst there are of course legitimate reasons to sell and purchase Nazi artefacts, for example for academic purposes, there are many cases in which the collection of Nazi ‘memorabilia’ is related to neo-Nazi beliefs. For example the murderer who killed Jo Cox MP had a collection of Nazi artefacts and a neo-Nazi teenager convicted of building a bomb to spark a “race war” was found to have a Nazi flag hanging in his bedroom.

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Auction house caught selling Nazi propaganda claims “A lot of Jewish people actually buy Nazi memorabilia”

A director of Southgate Auction Rooms has declared that “A lot of Jewish people actually buy Nazi memorabilia” in response to being caught auctioning Nazi propaganda.

Jim Noland made the comment when asked by the Enfield Independent.

Two election posters, one declaring “Only Hitler”, were adorned with swastikas and were listed for auction last week. One of the posters was sold for £90 and the other is still listed on the Southgate Auction Rooms’ website.

The sale of Nazi memorabilia is illegal in a host of countries but not in Britain. However, established British auction houses, refuse to sell Nazi memorabilia as does online auction site eBay.

Robert Dulin, the chairman of the Southgate Progressive Synagogue, told the Enfield Independent: “I think it’s despicable not only that people auction it, but that people buy these things. I’d understand if it was in a museum as they are historical artefacts – but for someone to want something associated with such a regime is unthinkable.”

Campaign Against Antisemitism strongly opposes the sale of Nazi memorabilia.

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Still no arrest as Amazon fires employee who put “Greetings from Uncle Adolf” note in Jewish customer’s parcel

Amazon has fired one of its employees who wrote “Greetings from Uncle Adolf” on a scrap of paper and left it in a parcel for a Jewish customer. The note referencing Adolf Hitler was reportedly left in the parcel because the woman has a surname which is common among Jewish people.

Police are now investigating, but nobody has been arrested. The parcel, its contents and the note have been taken for examination by police forensic experts.

The Jewish woman who received the parcel had ordered a toy from Amazon for her niece, but was so upset by the incident that she had to take two days off work. The woman, who is in her 30s was said to have been left shaking after discovering the note.

Amazon reportedly did not take the incident seriously until a friend of the victim posted about in on social media and the post started to attract attention.

An Amazon spokesman said: “We take this incident seriously and have apologised to the customer. We have investigated the matter and dismissed the individual involved.” A Metropolitan Police Service spokesman added: “Police were called to an address on 22nd December 2016 to reports of an offence of malicious communications. Officers attended and spoke to the female victim, aged in her 30s, who reported receiving an antisemitic note inside a package she ordered. This is being treated as a hate crime. No arrests have been made. Inquiries continue.”

We are following the case with interest.

Perhaps the perpetrator drew inspiration from Amazon’s extensive assortment of antisemitic literature.

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“Nutzy” smoothie with swastika branding removed from sale after CAA intervenes

On 16th November, a Jewish member of the public contacted Campaign Against Antisemitism after entering Nin Com Soup at Old Street Tube Station in London, only to discover among the smoothies on offer one called “Nutzy”, emblazoned with a swastika.

She told us: “I entered the coffee shop Nin Com Soup in Old Street Tube Station to get a drink. In their fridge they had various smoothies, each with a big number on them to differentiate the flavours. One drink didn’t have a number but a large swastika, and the label said it was called ‘Nutzy’. I went to the staff at the counter to discuss this and they called their manager.

“He explained that it was an inverted swastika which was a Hindu symbol of health and prosperity, which is indeed right but the swastika was not inverted, and the Hindu sign includes dots within the symbol. When I asked about the name of the drink, he said it was a play on ‘having the nuts’, meaning ‘having the courage’ and was a pun as the drink contains nuts. I told him how offensive that was for certain people. He asked why I would find that so offensive, to which I responded that I lost my family to the Nazi regime and that despite the Hindu use of the symbol, this along with the name of the drink was extremely offensive. He said that London is a free city.

“I left the shop almost in tears and shivering as it proved to me how much antisemitism and fascism is still utterly present. That man had no shame whatsoever to tell me that I should not be offended by what I saw, when the use of the swastika and the name of that drink is clearly not a coincidence.”

The next day and the day after, Campaign Against Antisemitism sent volunteers from our investigations team to the shop and found that “Nutzy” was still listed, but out of stock. The following Monday, we found that, “Nutzy” was back in stock, but the swastika had bizarrely been replaced with an image of the Pope waving.

It beggars belief that this shop created a Nazi-branded drink by unwitting coincidence. The Nazis murdered six million Jewish men, women and children during the Second World War as well as almost half a million people from Britain alone in the most devastating war and genocide ever committed. It was unavoidable that this would be immensely offensive to Jewish people and anyone who lost members of their family to Nazi brutality.

Mockery of the Holocaust is not a criminal offence in and of itself, and so our only options were to contact the shop’s landlord, Transport for London, and the media, following which the drink has been removed from sale.

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WH Smith removes Mein Kampf from branch in Jordan and promises franchise policy review in letter to CAA

Following the shocking revelation that a WH Smith branch was stocking Adolf Hitler’s antisemitic diatribe, Mein Kampf, on its “Bestselling Books” shelf, WH Smith’s CEO has written to Campaign Against Antisemitism promising swift action.

We were contacted by supporters who had read an article in The Jerusalem Post which showed photographs of an Arabic translation of Mein Kampf for sale at WH Smith at Queen Alia International Airport in Amman, Jordan. That Mein Kampf is a bestseller in many Arab countries is a sad reminder of the deep-rooted antisemitism across the Middle East, but we were nonetheless shocked to find WH Smith apparently catering to demand.

We immediately contacted the retailer and received a swift and unequivocal apology from CEO Steve Clarke.

WH Smith’s branch in the airport is operated by a franchised affiliate, and WH Smith can take no punitive action against the staff involved. The book has however been removed from the shelves and WH Smith has confirmed that stocking Mein Kampf is already banned under the company’s ranging policy which franchisees must obey. The company’s international management team are now reviewing their franchise policies following the incident to ensure that they are sufficiently robust should this reoccur.

We regret that the person who decided to stock Mein Kampf will almost certainly go without sanction or education, but we accept that is not within WH Smith’s power. We welcome WH Smith’s speedy and appropriate response.

We are seeking to recruit a Video and Content Creator to join our London office

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Campaign Against Antisemitism is a volunteer-led charity dedicated to exposing and countering antisemitism through education and zero-tolerance enforcement of the law. Everything that we do is done by people who volunteer their time, using donations contributed by members of the public. Join the fight against antisemitism by subscribing to our updates, volunteering, or donating.