Thunberg named ‘Antisemite of the Week’ by StopAntisemitism for her stance on Israel-Hamas conflict
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StopAntisemitism, a U.S.-based watchdog group, has been giving out a weekly honour (of sorts) since 2019: “Antisemite of the Week.” The grassroots organization has awarded it to individuals who’ve made antisemitic remarks about Jews, Judaism, Zionism and Israel.
Some of this year’s winners include actor John Cusack, U.S. Democratic congressman Jamaal Bowman, former mixed martial arts fighter Jake Shields, conservative commentator Candace Owens, former U.S. Marine Corps intelligence officer Scott Ritter, comedian/surgeon Bassem Youssef and actress/comedian Amanda Seales.
One of the newest recipients of “Antisemite of the Week” is worth a few minutes of our time. Not only is this person deserving of this honour, but it’s been long overdue.
Who is it? Greta Thunberg.
 Photo by Levi Meir Clancy |
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The 21-year-old Swedish environmental activist first came into public view in 2018. She became interested in climate change and wanted to reduce her family’s carbon footprint. She started skipping school and protested in front of the Swedish Parliament in support of climate change mitigation in her country. Her actions motivated students in different parts of the world to hold similar rallies.
Thunberg addressed the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Katowice, Poland, in 2018. This led to weekly international climate change protests that were held every Friday for a spell. Her biggest moment occurred at the New York UN Climate Action Summit on Sept. 23, 2019, when she told world leaders at the General Assembly, “This is all wrong. I shouldn’t be up here. I should be back in school on the other side of the ocean. Yet you all come to us young people for hope? How dare you!”
Thunberg’s ability to attract significant media attention has continued. She’s participated in various global climate action protests and strikes, authored The Climate Book, spoke at the World Economic Forum, met Nobel Peace Prize laureate Malala Yousafzai at Oxford University, criticized the European Parliament for including fossil fuels and nuclear power as “green” energy, opposed Russia’s invasion of Ukraine – and more.
What most people were probably unaware of was Thunberg’s growing obsession with Palestine and the Israel-Hamas war. “Since the brutal 10/7 massacre, Greta has joined the ranks of keffiyeh-clad protesters, brazenly voicing her disdain for the Jewish state,” StopAntisemitism wrote on Sept. 13. “What began as a fight to protect the planet has devolved into a campaign of hatred against Jews.”
It’s impossible to say with any certainty that Thunberg is motivated by Jew hatred. At the same time, she’s clearly taken sides in this war – and it’s not with Jews and Israel.
In a now-deleted Oct. 2023 social media post, she’s seen sitting with other activists holding a sign that read, “Stand With Gaza.” Next to her was a toy octopus, which StopAntisemitism noted is an “anti-Jewish symbol of ‘control’ that was used primarily by the Nazis during (the Second World War).” When this was pointed out, she deleted the original photo and used a cropped version. Thunberg wrote that “the toy in the picture is a tool often used by autistic people as a way to communicate feelings,” which included her. At the same time, “we are, of course, against every type of discrimination, and condemn antisemitism in all forms and shapes. This is non-negotiable. That is why I deleted the last post.”
Some people gave her the benefit of the doubt. That didn’t last very long, however.
StopAntisemitism’s AS Week entry included a link to a video that showed Thunberg chanting “Krossa Sionismen” (Crush Zionism) at a Nov. 2023 pro-Palestinian rally in Sweden. There’s another link to a Dec. 5, 2023, op-ed in The Guardian she co-wrote with three activists. This piece largely blamed Israel for war crimes and an “unfolding genocide” against Palestinians. “The horrific murders of Israeli civilians by Hamas cannot in any way legitimize Israel’s ongoing war crimes,” the co-authors noted. “Genocide is not self-defence, nor is it in any way a proportionate response.”
Thunberg also participated in the protest against Israel’s participation in Eurovision 2024. “Greta, wrapped in her keffiyeh,” StopAntisemitism wrote, “was seen participating in the genocidal slogans, ‘From the river to the sea’ and ‘Sinwar, we won’t let you die.’” While she may argue with this description, several clips posted to social media suggest she was doing just that.
In the most recent example, Thunberg was arrested on Sept. 4 while participating in a demonstration organized by Students Against the Occupation. This far-left group has called on Denmark’s Copenhagen University to sever ties with Israel. As the New York Post wrote, one of the joint projects happens to be a student exchange program related to “Thunberg’s flagship cause – fighting climate change.”
Thunberg’s far-left politics, environmental obsession and public scolding song-and-dance routine have always been rather petulant and tiresome. Her position on Palestine and the Israel-Hamas war shows that her ignorance of most world issues has taken a decidedly nasty turn.
StopAntisemitism deserves credit for exposing Thunberg’s offensive views on Israel and the Middle East to a wider audience. Moreover, they made the young activist eat her own infamous words, “How dare you!”
Michael Taube is a political commentator, Troy Media syndicated columnist and former speechwriter for Prime Minister Stephen Harper. He holds a master’s degree in comparative politics from the London School of Economics, lending academic rigour to his political insights.
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