The US-based pro-Israel organisation Stop Antisemitism, which claims to track and expose people who have been involved in antisemitic behaviour, has named ten candidates for their ‘Antisemite of the Year’ annual competition, including pro-Palestine voices with no history of anti-Jewish bigotry.
While it includes far-right figures who have a history of anti-Jewish statements, most are progressive activists who appear to be only on the list for criticising Israel’s war on Gaza.
Among them are left-wing Twitch streamer Hasan Piker, Democratic lawmaker Cori Bush, actor John Cusack, activist Jess Natale, Egyptian comedian Bassem Youssef who has been outspoken about Israel’s war on Gaza, and Swedish environmental activist Greta Thunberg.
Former UFC fighter and right-wing conspiracy theorist Jake Shields is also included, as is controversial social media personality Jackson Hinkle, conservative commentator Candace Owens, and poker player Dan Bilzerian also make an appearance.
Several of the candidates hit out at the list on social media site X, including Piker, who called Stop Antisemitism “unserious” for conflating those who criticise Israel’s occupation of the Palestinian territories with genuine anti-Jewish racists.
“There are progressives who are anti Israel, lumped in with anti-semites who are anti Israel. No one is buying this sh*t anymore,” he said.
Cusack also criticised the list, saying “every single thing these lunatics have said about me is a ridiculous lie”.
The organisation has previously received strong criticism for doxxing groups and individuals who express any form of criticism against Israel.
After announcing the candidates on Sunday, the group said it would reveal the winner on 6 January 2025.
Competition mocked online
In a bid to mock the competition, some of the candidates jostled to win.
“If Candace and Dan win I will not accept the results and storm the X headquarters,” said Youssef.
Shields called the nomination a “massive honour and hopefully I’ll win antisemite of 2024.”
Stop Antisemitism has been hosting the ‘Antisemite of the Year’ contest since 2019, with previous “winners” including congresswomen Ilhan Omar in 2019 and Rashida Tlaib in 2023, and rapper Kanye West in 2022.
The group also organises “antisemite of the week”, with winners varying between white nationalists, pro-Palestine activists, as well as Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and former Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh.
