Difference between revisions of "Combat Antisemitism Movement"

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(Additions: new sourced sections (FARA filings, IRS 990s, official records, press); existing content kept, refs and categories deduplicated)
(Words of Iron listed CEO Sacha Roytman's 7 Nov 2023 post (archived feed); 63+ ready-made replies; CAM Oct 2026 Nawfal bot study context)
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''[[The Guardian]]'' reported in June 2024 that [[Sima Vaknin-Gil]], a former Israeli intelligence officer and the government's liaison to [[Concert - Together for Israel|Concert]], told a [[Knesset]] committee in January 2024: "Combat Antisemitism Movement has championed the IHRA definition... We shifted the focus to work at the local level." The paper described CAM as "a dark money partner of the ISGAP, Concert and the ministry of diaspora affairs". It said CAM was chaired by [[Natan Sharansky]] and that Vaknin-Gil was a board member.<ref name="Guardian2024">[https://www.theguardian.com/world/article/2024/jun/24/israel-fund-us-university-protest-gaza-antisemitism Israeli documents show expansive government effort to shape US discourse around Gaza war] ''The Guardian'', 24 June 2024. Journalistic.</ref>
 
''[[The Guardian]]'' reported in June 2024 that [[Sima Vaknin-Gil]], a former Israeli intelligence officer and the government's liaison to [[Concert - Together for Israel|Concert]], told a [[Knesset]] committee in January 2024: "Combat Antisemitism Movement has championed the IHRA definition... We shifted the focus to work at the local level." The paper described CAM as "a dark money partner of the ISGAP, Concert and the ministry of diaspora affairs". It said CAM was chaired by [[Natan Sharansky]] and that Vaknin-Gil was a board member.<ref name="Guardian2024">[https://www.theguardian.com/world/article/2024/jun/24/israel-fund-us-university-protest-gaza-antisemitism Israeli documents show expansive government effort to shape US discourse around Gaza war] ''The Guardian'', 24 June 2024. Journalistic.</ref>
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== Words of Iron ==
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A post by CAM's chief executive, [[Sacha Roytman]], was among those picked for amplification by [[Words of Iron]]. Its founder described the tool as part of a joint initiative with Israel's [[National Information Directorate]] and the [[Ministry of Diaspora Affairs]].<ref name="CTechLokits">Ariela Karmel, [https://www.calcalistech.com/ctechnews/article/bj9qt8hzt Words of Iron: Combating propaganda and documenting the brutality of Hamas' crimes] ''Ctech'', 12 October 2023. Journalistic.</ref> The tool's feed for X, archived on 14 November 2023, lists Roytman's post of 7 November 2023 ("You can't erase the truth.").<ref name="WOIFeed20231114">Words of Iron, [https://web.archive.org/web/20231114211906/https://www.wordsofiron.com/api/posts?platform=twitter&intent=share X "share" feed (archived 14 November 2023)] ''Wayback Machine'', accessed 21 October 2026. Primary.</ref> The tool gave users ready-made replies tagged #wordsofiron.<ref name="WOIJS20231114">Words of Iron, [https://web.archive.org/web/20231114205225/https://www.wordsofiron.com/_next/static/chunks/app/%5Blocale%5D/%5Bintent%5D/%5Bplatform%5D/page-43e2540be146c703.js Reply page script (archived 14 November 2023)] ''Wayback Machine'', accessed 21 October 2026. Primary.</ref> At least 63 such replies from 43 accounts appeared under the post between 8 and 21 November 2023.<ref name="XRepliesRoytman">Replies containing "wordsofiron" to [https://x.com/SachaRoytman/status/1721935174546407504 Sacha Roytman's post of 7 November 2023], found by X full-archive search on 21 October 2026; examples: [https://x.com/offerrossman/status/1723359081346347015 1], [https://x.com/NettaGranot/status/1726635714555842596 2], [https://x.com/PatentChat/status/1726966482742259933 3]. Primary.</ref> A listing shows that the campaign picked the post. It does not by itself show that Roytman or CAM knew about it or took part.
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In October 2026 CAM's Antisemitism Research Center published a study of "bot-like" accounts amplifying the news aggregator [[Mario Nawfal]] on X. It said its model counts "duplicate text" and "generic or repetitive replies" among its signals, and it found "no copy-paste text across accounts" in Nawfal's case.<ref name="CAMNawfal2026">Combat Antisemitism Movement, [https://combatantisemitism.org/studies-reports/around-40-of-x-accounts-amplifying-news-aggregator-mario-nawfals-most-shared-posts-show-bot-like-signals-new-arc-analysis-finds/ Around 40% of X Accounts Amplifying News Aggregator Mario Nawfal's Most-Shared Posts Show Bot-Like Signals, New ARC Analysis Finds] ''combatantisemitism.org'', 13 October 2026, accessed 21 October 2026. Partisan.</ref><ref name="CAMBots2026">Combat Antisemitism Movement, [https://bots.combatantisemitism.org/reports/mario-nawfal Bots, Fake Profiles, and Inauthentic Accounts Amplifying Mario Nawfal on X] ''bots.combatantisemitism.org'', 13 October 2026, accessed 21 October 2026. Partisan.</ref> In November 2023 a Nawfal post had itself been listed by Words of Iron. At least 83 replies using the tool's ready-made texts appeared under that post.<ref name="WOIFeed20231102">Words of Iron, [https://web.archive.org/web/20231102055352/https://www.wordsofiron.com/api/posts?platform=twitter&intent=share X "share" feed (archived 2 November 2023)] ''Wayback Machine'', accessed 21 October 2026. Primary.</ref><ref name="XRepliesNawfal">Replies containing "wordsofiron" to [https://x.com/MarioNawfal/status/1719534365191839976 Mario Nawfal's post of 1 November 2023], found by X full-archive search on 21 October 2026; examples: [https://x.com/offerrossman/status/1722249111418884398 1], [https://x.com/GuyC47511653/status/1720110424207568911 2], [https://x.com/offerrossman/status/1722248945701986503 3], [https://x.com/RonenTalya/status/1719781035796246976 4]. Primary.</ref>
  
 
==Funding==
 
==Funding==
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*[[Voices for Truth: Influencers United Against Antisemitism]]
 
*[[Voices for Truth: Influencers United Against Antisemitism]]
 
*[[Voices of Israel – Together for Israel]]
 
*[[Voices of Israel – Together for Israel]]
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*[[Words of Iron]]
  
 
==Notes==
 
==Notes==

Revision as of 06:25, 21 October 2026

CAM is operated by the Combat Hate Foundation, a registered 501(c)(3) entity. Combat Hate Foundation, PO Box 957 Moundridge, KS 67107

Links to the Israeli state

The website of Voices of Israel states: "Voices of Israel has a joint venture agreement with the State of Israel led by the Ministry of Diaspora Affairs and Combat Antisemitism."[1] Writing in Al Mayadeen English in November 2024, David Miller noted that "there is no mention of this relationship on the website of Combat Antisemitism Movement". He concluded that CAM "is, in fact, a front for the Ministry of Diaspora Affairs".[2] (Critical.)

The Guardian reported in June 2024 that Sima Vaknin-Gil, a former Israeli intelligence officer and the government's liaison to Concert, told a Knesset committee in January 2024: "Combat Antisemitism Movement has championed the IHRA definition... We shifted the focus to work at the local level." The paper described CAM as "a dark money partner of the ISGAP, Concert and the ministry of diaspora affairs". It said CAM was chaired by Natan Sharansky and that Vaknin-Gil was a board member.[3]

Words of Iron

A post by CAM's chief executive, Sacha Roytman, was among those picked for amplification by Words of Iron. Its founder described the tool as part of a joint initiative with Israel's National Information Directorate and the Ministry of Diaspora Affairs.[4] The tool's feed for X, archived on 14 November 2023, lists Roytman's post of 7 November 2023 ("You can't erase the truth.").[5] The tool gave users ready-made replies tagged #wordsofiron.[6] At least 63 such replies from 43 accounts appeared under the post between 8 and 21 November 2023.[7] A listing shows that the campaign picked the post. It does not by itself show that Roytman or CAM knew about it or took part.

In October 2026 CAM's Antisemitism Research Center published a study of "bot-like" accounts amplifying the news aggregator Mario Nawfal on X. It said its model counts "duplicate text" and "generic or repetitive replies" among its signals, and it found "no copy-paste text across accounts" in Nawfal's case.[8][9] In November 2023 a Nawfal post had itself been listed by Words of Iron. At least 83 replies using the tool's ready-made texts appeared under that post.[10][11]

Funding

CAM is the public project of the Combat Hate Foundation (EIN 84-2208774), Moundridge, Kansas. In 2021 the Forward reported that the foundation was registered to Donna Stucky, chief financial officer of Berexco LLC, owned by Adam E. Beren.[12] The foundation's revenue grew from $2,784,178 in 2020 to $10,721,020 in 2023 and $9,857,892 in 2024.[13][14][15]

David Miller reported that the Beren Sea Foundation gave "$6.6 million to the Combat Hate Foundation in the three years from 2020-2022, nearly 70 per cent of its total income in the period".[2] The IRS returns bear this out: $2,000,000 (2020), $1,500,000 (2021) and $3,125,000 (2022), or 69.8 per cent of the foundation's revenue over the three years. They also show further grants of $3,592,222 in 2023 and $2,775,000 in 2024, a total of $12,992,222 for 2020–24.[16][17] See Combat Hate Foundation for officers and grants.

Funding declared to the EU Lobby Register Jan 2021 - Dec 2021[18]

Type Name Amount in €
Contribution Beren Sea Foundation ON BEHALF OF ANONYMOUS 1,500,000
Contribution Schwab Charitable 175,000
Contribution Vanguard Charitable 140,000
Contribution Community Foundation of Greater Memphis 115,000
Contribution Jewish Communal Fund of NY 80,000
Contribution Jewish Community of Oporto 50,000

Directors of the Combat Hate Foundation

The foundation's 2023 and 2024 returns list Elan Carr and Carrie Jablonski as directors. Donna Stucky is listed as president and Roger Barton as treasurer. Earlier returns (2020–22) list Misha Galperin as director, paid $119,000 in 2021 and $127,500 in 2022.[14][15][19]


People

  • Sacha Roytman-Dratwa is the CEO of the Combat Antisemitism Movement. He previously led the digital advocacy unit at the World Jewish Congress. He was also director of digital media communication for Rimon Cohen Sheinkman, a public relations firm in Israel. Before that, he worked on the Israel Defense Forces’ New Media Operations team.[20]
  • Arthur Maserjian is the chief of staff of CAM. He joined the group as the director of strategic content and international affairs. He worked with the organization since it was launched. Previously he was a non-profit and investment research consultant. [20]
  • Barney Breen-Portnoy is the editor-in-chief for CAM. He previously worked in both the United States and Israel as a journalist for media outlets including the Algemeiner, Israel Hayom, Haaretz, and Charlottesville Daily Progress. He is a former IDF spokesperson.[20]
  • Yigal Nisell is chief operating officer of CAM. Previously, Nisell worked in Australia as an official representative of KKL-JNF. Nisell previously practiced law in Israel. [20]
  • Meorah Ha-Me’ir is the chief marketing officer and creative director for CAM. Previously, she was CEO and creative director of an advertising agency in Boston, Massachusetts. [20]
  • Natan Sharansky is the chairman of the advisory board for CAM. He is an Israeli politician and human rights activist, where he rose to be deputy prime minister. He spent nine years in captivity in Soviet prisons. He is the chairman of the Institute for the Study of Global Antisemitism and Policy. [20]

Advisory board members include former U.S. Sen. Joe Lieberman (D-CT), the 2000 Democratic nominee for vice president; former Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada Irwin Cotler; former United Nations Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Religion or Belief Ahmed Shaheed; former Special Envoy for Monitoring and Combating Anti-Semitism Elan Carr, and the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Guatemala Mario Adolfo Bucaro Flores.[21]

Resources

Lobby spending

Related

Notes

  1. ↑ Voices of Israel, Who We Are Voices of Israel, accessed 20 October 2026. Partisan.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 David Miller, The Zionist regime front and the Beren family Al Mayadeen English, 9 November 2024; republished as Combat Antisemitism Movement Tracking Power (Substack), 18 December 2024. Critical.
  3. ↑ Israeli documents show expansive government effort to shape US discourse around Gaza war The Guardian, 24 June 2024. Journalistic.
  4. ↑ Ariela Karmel, Words of Iron: Combating propaganda and documenting the brutality of Hamas' crimes Ctech, 12 October 2023. Journalistic.
  5. ↑ Words of Iron, X "share" feed (archived 14 November 2023) Wayback Machine, accessed 21 October 2026. Primary.
  6. ↑ Words of Iron, Reply page script (archived 14 November 2023) Wayback Machine, accessed 21 October 2026. Primary.
  7. ↑ Replies containing "wordsofiron" to Sacha Roytman's post of 7 November 2023, found by X full-archive search on 21 October 2026; examples: 1, 2, 3. Primary.
  8. ↑ Combat Antisemitism Movement, Around 40% of X Accounts Amplifying News Aggregator Mario Nawfal's Most-Shared Posts Show Bot-Like Signals, New ARC Analysis Finds combatantisemitism.org, 13 October 2026, accessed 21 October 2026. Partisan.
  9. ↑ Combat Antisemitism Movement, Bots, Fake Profiles, and Inauthentic Accounts Amplifying Mario Nawfal on X bots.combatantisemitism.org, 13 October 2026, accessed 21 October 2026. Partisan.
  10. ↑ Words of Iron, X "share" feed (archived 2 November 2023) Wayback Machine, accessed 21 October 2026. Primary.
  11. ↑ Replies containing "wordsofiron" to Mario Nawfal's post of 1 November 2023, found by X full-archive search on 21 October 2026; examples: 1, 2, 3, 4. Primary.
  12. ↑ Arno Rosenfeld, Dark money, questionable partners behind new group fighting antisemitism The Forward, 22 April 2021. Journalistic.
  13. ↑ Combat Hate Foundation, Form 990 for 2020 IRS e-file data. Tax filing (primary).
  14. ↑ 14.0 14.1 Combat Hate Foundation, Form 990 for 2023 IRS e-file data. Tax filing (primary).
  15. ↑ 15.0 15.1 Combat Hate Foundation, Form 990 for 2024 IRS e-file data. Tax filing (primary).
  16. ↑ Beren Sea Foundation, Form 990-PF for 2023 IRS e-file data. Tax filing (primary).
  17. ↑ Beren Sea Foundation, Form 990-PF for 2024 IRS e-file data. Tax filing (primary).
  18. ↑ https://www.lobbyfacts.eu/datacard/combat-antisemitism-movement?rid=313306647241-59
  19. ↑ Combat Hate Foundation, Form 990 for 2022 IRS e-file data. Tax filing (primary).
  20. ↑ 20.0 20.1 20.2 20.3 20.4 20.5 “Meet the Combat Antisemitism Movement.” Combat Antisemitism Movement. Accessed October 27, 2023. https://combatantisemitism.org/about/
  21. ↑ 10
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