Greta Thunberg Named “Anti-Semite of the Week”: A Controversial Shift in Activism

Greta Thunberg Named “Anti-Semite of the Week”: A Controversial Shift in Activism

Edited by: Fern Sidman

In a move that has sparked intense reactions across the globe, climate activist Greta Thunberg was recently named “Antisemite of the Week” by the Jewish watchdog group, StopAntisemitism. According to a report in The New York Post, this designation followed her arrest at a high-profile anti-Israel rally, raising questions about the evolving scope of Thunberg’s activism. Once heralded as a voice of the next generation for her tireless efforts to combat climate change, the 21-year-old Swedish activist now finds herself embroiled in a deeply polarizing controversy.

StopAntisemitism’s ‘Antisemite of the Week’ Greta Thunberg –

“Sadly, Greta’s hatred of the world’s only Jewish nation eclipses her love of the environment.

Despite Israel being a global leader in tackling climate disasters and rushing to aid in crises worldwide, Greta sides… https://t.co/PIfuuPFa7m pic.twitter.com/bgao0INjdT

— StopAntisemitism (@StopAntisemites) September 16, 2024

Thunberg’s arrest took place on September 4th during a protest at Copenhagen University. As per the information provided in The Post report, the demonstration, led by Students Against the Occupation, called for the university to sever all ties with Israel, including collaborative academic programs that focus on climate change, the very cause that catapulted Thunberg into international fame. Danish police removed her and other protesters from the premises as tensions escalated.

Greta Thunberg, adorned in terror chic, or is it jew hate couture, or perhaps the woke hipster swastika; being arrested today at an anti-Israel protest at the University of Copenhagen.

She has swapped wailing and gnashing her teeth about climate change for demonising Israel… pic.twitter.com/A0Fjn6OMDZ

— Shaun Waugh (@culturewaugh) September 16, 2024

Her participation in the protest, and her vocal support for the Hamas cause in the context of Israeli-Palestinian tensions, led to strong criticism from pro-Israel groups. The watchdog group StopAntisemitism issued a blistering condemnation, asserting that Thunberg had crossed a line by allowing her activism to be co-opted by what they described as “vile Jew-hatred,” as was indicated in The Post report.  They stated that by joining forces with demonstrators sporting the keffiyeh, a symbol often associated with Palestinian resistance, Thunberg was promoting a hostile stance toward Israel, a country they regard as a global leader in environmental solutions and humanitarian aid.

Greta Thunberg’s rise to prominence began with her lone protest outside the Swedish Parliament, urging world leaders to take action against climate change. As a teenager, her message resonated across continents, inspiring millions of young people to participate in climate strikes and demand accountability from politicians. Yet in recent years, The Post reported that Thunberg has broadened her focus, expanding her critiques to include social justice issues. It was after Hamas’ October 7th attack on Israel that her activism took a sharp turn toward anti-Israel sentiment.

the only thing more tragic than her are the people that clapped, cheered, and hung on her every word while we older generation slapped our foreheads in disgust
‘Spoiled brat’: Greta Thunberg arrested at Gaza protest in Copenhagen https://t.co/AS1sgDGMv4 via @YouTube

— Sandra Douglas (@SandraD43687839) September 14, 2024

Liora Rez, the founder of StopAntisemitism, accused Thunberg of allowing her environmentalist platform to be “hijacked” by movements that champion terrorist organizations and advocate for the destruction of the Jewish state. “Sadly, Greta’s hatred of the world’s only Jewish nation eclipses her love of the environment,” Rez remarked when speaking to The Post. “Her actions speak louder than her words. She claims to care about the future of humanity but Greta’s hypocrisy is on full display as she’s been active in championing Hamas leaders who openly call for genocide.”

Critics argue that Thunberg’s involvement in anti-Israel demonstrations is inconsistent with her professed commitment to saving the planet. Israel, they point out, has made significant contributions to the global fight against climate change, particularly in areas like water conservation, clean energy, and agricultural innovation. The Post report also pointed out that the country is recognized as a pioneer in sustainable technologies and has offered aid during environmental crises worldwide.

This clear cut contradiction in Thunberg’s stance has only fueled the backlash. By supporting calls to boycott Israeli institutions — even when some of those institutions are directly involved in climate research — Thunberg has been accused of prioritizing political ideology over her environmental mission. Pro-Israel advocates have suggested that her actions represent a form of selective activism, where human rights abuses and environmental issues in other parts of the world are overlooked in favor of vilifying Israel.

In May, Thunberg attended a demonstration at Stockholm University, where she was vocal in her opposition to the university’s collaborations with Israel. According to the information contained in The Post report, during the protest, Thunberg demanded that the administration sever all agreements and partnerships with what she called “the genocidal, apartheid state of Israel.”

At the protest in Stockholm, Thunberg, along with other demonstrators, was carried away by police, an event that mirrored her previous arrests during climate protests. However, the nature of this protest — centered on Israeli-Palestinian relations — drew a far more politically charged response than her environmental actions, as was noted in The Post report. Thunberg’s demand for Stockholm University to end all ties with Israel highlights the broader trend of academic institutions being pulled into the global debate on Israel, with pro-Palestinian activists often pushing for boycotts and divestments.

גרטה תונברג ו”חברי אקלים” חוסמים את הכביש המהיר בהאג ועצורים משטרת הולנד לא צוחקת.

Greta Thunberg and “climate friends” block the highway in The Hague and are arrested. Dutch police are not joking. pic.twitter.com/FseKd8hV1f

— יוסי שחבר (@yosi_shahbar) September 12, 2024

Just days after Hamas’ attack on Israel on October 7, Thunberg took her activism online, posting a photo of herself holding a sign that read “Stand with Gaza.” Alongside the sign was a toy octopus, which quickly became the focal point of criticism. The report in The Post indicated that some observers pointed out that the octopus has been used in Nazi propaganda to depict Jewish control over the world, sparking accusations that Thunberg was using anti-Semitic imagery, knowingly or not.

Thunberg responded swiftly to these accusations, stating that she was “completely unaware” of the historical use of the octopus in anti-Semitic contexts. She explained that the toy in the photo was a tool used by many autistic people, including herself, to communicate emotions. The report added that Thunberg, who has been open about being on the autism spectrum, clarified that the octopus represented her personal feelings and had no connection to anti-Semitic symbolism.

Despite her explanation, the incident ignited a firestorm of criticism. Many questioned how a public figure of Thunberg’s stature, with access to a global platform, could have been unaware of the octopus’s anti-Semitic associations, especially given the heightened sensitivity around symbols in the context of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Critics argued that her use of the imagery, whether intentional or not, demonstrated a lack of awareness or, at worst, a veiled endorsement of harmful stereotypes.

While many supporters have defended her right to protest and to express solidarity with Hamas terrorism in Gaza, others have expressed disappointment, particularly in light of the longstanding and complex nature of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Thunberg’s critics argue that her focus on Israel, especially when she demands that institutions cut ties, ignores the nuances of the situation and reduces it to a simplistic narrative that demonizes one side.

The US announced sanctions today against Hezbollah’s main source of profits for terror: smuggling oil and gas to the Assad regime in Syria.

Paging CLIMATE ACTIVIST @GretaThunberg, this can’t possibly be what you’ve been getting arrested in support of, can it? 🤔 pic.twitter.com/nUNg5k2KTN

— Hen Mazzig (@HenMazzig) September 11, 2024

Thunberg’s actions are seen as part of a growing trend of singling out Israel for criticism while ignoring or downplaying the role of groups such as Hamas, which is designated as a terrorist organization by several countries, including the United States and European Union.

The issue is further complicated by the fact that Thunberg’s environmental activism — which once unified her supporters around a common cause — now intersects with one of the most divisive conflicts in modern geopolitics. The report noted that her move into this space has alienated some of her original backers, particularly those who see Israel as a key player in climate innovation and who view her actions as counterproductive to her environmental goals.