Climate activist Greta Thunberg has been labelled “Antisemite of the Week” by the Jewish watchdog group StopAntisemitism, following her arrest during an anti-Israel rally. The group criticized Thunberg for aligning herself with protesters who oppose Israel, accusing her of using her platform to promote anti-Semitic views, according to a report by the New York Post.
The 21-year-old activist was arrested on September 4 while protesting with Students Against the Occupation, a group urging Copenhagen University to sever ties with Israel, including its climate programs. StopAntisemitism founder Liora Rez condemned Thunberg, accusing her of prioritizing animosity towards Israel over environmental activism, despite Israel’s contributions to climate action.
“Greta’s hatred for the world’s only Jewish nation overshadows her environmental efforts, even though Israel is a leader in tackling global climate disasters,” said Rez.
Thunberg, who has participated in previous anti-Israel protests, also faced criticism for holding a sign some interpreted as containing antisemitic imagery. She later removed the image, explaining that the toy octopus in the photo was a communication tool commonly used by autistic people, and denied any antisemitic intent.
“The toy in the picture is a tool often used by autistic people to communicate feelings,” Thunberg clarified.