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Counter Extremism Project

Counter Extremism Project webinar

Webinar: Transnational Connections Between Antisemitic Extremist and Terrorist Actors | September 17, 2025

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On Wednesday, September 17, 2025, the Counter Extremism Project (CEP) will host a webinar “Transnational Connections Between Antisemitic Extremist and Terrorist Actors”.

This is the first webinar of a three-part series focused on highlighting various aspects of the role of antisemitism in the mobilization to violence by extremist and terrorist actors, which is supported by the Federal Foreign Office of Germany.

The webinar will explore how antisemitic actors from different ideological backgrounds—right-wing, left-wing, Islamist, and foreign ideology movements—interact across borders and ideological lines to amplify antisemitic narratives and actions. Attendees will gain insight into the mechanisms and platforms facilitating these transnational linkages, including coordinated protests, shared symbols and slogans, and digital propaganda networks. Drawing from cross-country findings, the webinar will highlight how seemingly distinct extremist milieus converge around antisemitism as a unifying narrative and tactical framework.

The webinar will be conducted in English via Zoom.

Date: Wednesday, September 17, 2025

Time:

  • U.S.: 9:00 am to 10:30 am ET
  • Europe: 15:00 to 16:30 CET

EVENT PROGRAM:

Introductory Remarks:

  • Ms. Gabriele Scheel, Head of Division “International Cooperation against Terrorism, Drug Trafficking, Organized Crime and Corruption,” Federal Foreign Office of Germany

Presentations:

  • Mr. Alexander Ritzmann: Transnational Right-Wing Extremism and Terrorism / Antisemitism, Senior Advisor, Counter Extremism Project (CEP)
  • Ms. Patricia Teitelbaum: Transnational (Pro-)Palestinian Extremism and Terrorism / Antisemitism, President, International Movement for Peace & Coexistence (IMPAC)
  • Dr. Hans-Jakob Schindler: Transnational Islamist Extremism and Terrorism / Antisemitism, Senior Director, Counter Extremism Project (CEP)

The presentations will be followed by a Q&A-session open to all participants.

REGISTRATION:

To participate in this webinar please register via this link: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_gv2rmx4TQZu1-Ao-HxaxBg

Please register up to one hour before the webinar start so that your registration can be approved in time.

Please feel free to forward this invitation to colleagues with an interest in the subject.

To read our latest CEP report “The Role of Antisemitism in the Mobilization to Violence by Extremist and Terrorist Actors”, click here.

To learn more about CEP’s new Auschwitz Research Center on Hate, Extremism and Radicalization (ARCHER) at House 88, the former home of the commandant of the concentration camp, Rudolf Höss, and how to support this new effort, please check here.

For media inquiries, please contact: media@counterextremism.com.

Elliott Broidy - Dukla

Counter Extremism Project and ARCHER Statement on Antisemitic Vandalism in Dukla, Poland

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This press release was originally published on the Counter Extremism Project’s website:

(New York, NY) – The Counter Extremism Project and the Auschwitz Research Center on Hate, Extremism, and Radicalization (ARCHER) at House 88, fully condemn and denounce the vandalization of two Jewish sites in Dukla, Poland that took place over the weekend.

CEP CEO Ambassador Mark D. Wallace issued the following statement:

These vile acts occurred next to sites where Jewish life once thrived in Poland, and where Jewish lives were later annihilated. These are not random crimes but deliberate assaults on Jewish memory, dignity, and history.

Such incidents have multiplied in the wake of October 7, as global antisemitism has proliferated, often parading itself as “antizionist” or merely concerned with human rights. But when “Palestine” and a swastika together are smeared across a Holocaust memorial at a Jewish cemetery, there can be no pretence. This is Jew-hatred, plain and simple.

ARCHER director Jacek Purski said:

This desecration follows closely on the heels of inflammatory remarks by Polish Member of European Parliament (MEP) Grzegorz Braun, whose grotesque rhetoric continues to incite antisemitism. Braun’s recent inflammatory actions such as denying the existence of gas chambers at Auschwitz and disrupting a Hanukkah ceremony in parliament that took place in 2023 have absolutely no place in Polish society.

This is not just about provocative statements or acts of mere vandalism and defacement. This is an assault on the memory of those who were murdered, and on the living who honor them.

For CEP’s report on antizionism, click here.

For CEP’s report on contemporary manifestations of antisemitism, click here.

For CEP’s report, The Role of Antisemitism in the Mobilization to Violence by Extremist and Terrorist Actors, click here.

About ARCHER at House 88

ARCHER at House 88 has been created to shatter the normalization of antisemitism and extremism. The Auschwitz Research Centre on Hate, Extremism, and Radicalization is sited at the former residence of Rudolf Höss, Commandant of the Auschwitz concentration camp from 1940-1944. House number 88 sits a few meters from the camp wall and across from Auschwitz’s original gas chamber and crematorium. The Counter Extremism Project (CEP) has acquired House 88 to repurpose it from the epicenter of the “Final Solution” into a unique global bulwark against antisemitism, hate, extremism, radicalization, and terrorism.

elliott-broidy-stop-extremism

Evil hides in plain sight. It’s our job to stop it.

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This article was originally published on:

Evil hides in plain sight. It’s our job to stop it. | GUEST COMMENTARY

Vice President JD Vance recently visited the Dachau concentration camp, and it’s clear he got the right message.

After touring the camp with 97-year-old survivor Abba Naor, Vance said: “I’ve read a lot about the Holocaust in books, but being here and seeing it up close in person really drives home what unspeakable evil was committed … It’s very important that those of us who are lucky enough to be alive can walk around, can know what happened here, and commit ourselves to prevent it from happening again.”

In line with Vance’s goal of preventing hate from spreading and devolving into extraordinary evil, the Counter Extremism Project (CEP) — a nonprofit aimed at combating extremist groups — recently purchased House 88, home of the infamous Auschwitz commandant Rudolf Höss and his family, which sits just beyond the walls of the Auschwitz extermination camp in Poland. The number 88 was code for Heil Hitler — the letter “H” is the 8th letter of the alphabet.

CEP plans to turn the house and its grounds into the Auschwitz Research Center on Hate, Extremism and Radicalization — “ARCHER at House 88.”

All post-war elements have been removed, leaving the house as the Höss family knew it between 1941 and 1944, with views of the horrific barracks, the gas chamber and the crematorium, but with one notable exception: In honor of Auschwitz’s Jewish victims and to reclaim the house from its evil past and put it on the path of doing good, a mezuzah has been added to the front door. Renowned architect Daniel Libeskind has designed a new building for the grounds outside of House 88 that will house and inspire the organization’s activities.

But ARCHER at House 88’s mission is not to just remember what hate can accomplish but to find ways to prevent hate from starting and spreading. As ARCHER board member Kenneth B. Mehlman said, “Never Again must be more than a slogan. It requires active engagement, education, and vigilance.” In service of that mission, the center will host a fellowship program for leading scholars focused on extremism research, develop educational programs for policymakers, educators and the public and devise, advocate for and implement strategies to combat hate.

This will be done first by recognizing that hate is taught by charismatic and well-funded leaders through propaganda — extremely negative, one-sided representations of a group in words and pictures, stated over and over by leaders, academics and influencers and spread by a forced, willfully blind or sympathetic and willing media.

To stop hateful ideologies from spreading, social media companies cannot let extremism flow freely under the guise of free speech. Teaching people via social media accounts or YouTube videos how to create bombs or how to ram cars into as many people as possible is not protected free speech. Posting messages on X, Instagram or TikTok encouraging students to harass, attack or exclude others is not protected free speech. Putting those of like-minded hate together in chatrooms or groups on their platforms so they can rev each other up further to commit more violent actions is not something decent companies that care about civil society do.

ARCHER at House 88 will use AI technology to expose those videos and chat groups, putting public pressure on platforms to remove dangerous content. ARCHER at House 88 will push for enforcement of anti-discrimination laws and new laws making clear that inciting hate or violence is illegal and will not be tolerated. Archer at House 88 will also work to disrupt the funding of all terrorist organizations, organizations that pose as nonprofits but fund terrorist groups, as well as all corporations that violate U.S. sanctions and all those who knowingly send donations to organizations that support extremist agendas.

Ultimately, ARCHER at House 88 isn’t about looking evil in the face — it’s about recognizing hate and evil when you hear or see it and doing something to end it. After all, as chairman of the Institute of Social Safety Jacek Purski once said, “A house is a house, but it is in uninteresting, regular houses like this where extremism is happening today.”

It is our collective responsibility to not turn away if we see another Höss in our own neighborhoods or an extremist philosophy spread into our feeds. Only once we confront hate can we be sure that the powerfully destructive results of hate never happen again.

Elliott Broidy is an entrepreneur, investor, philanthropist and co-chair of the Fund to End Antisemitism, Extremism and Hate, which supports the ARCHER at House 88 initiative.

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Elliott Broidy and Dr. Thomas Kaplan Co-Chair Fundraising Initiative to Convert Nazi Commandant’s Home Adjacent to Auschwitz into a New Global Center for Combating Antisemitism, Extremism, and Hate

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Launch event held on January 27th marks the 80th Anniversary of the Liberation of Auschwitz.

On January 27th, International Holocaust Remembrance Day and the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz, entrepreneurs, philanthropists, and co-chairs of The Fund to End Antisemitism, Extremism, and Hate, Elliott Broidy and Dr. Thomas Kaplan announced the launch of a major fundraising campaign to help fund the Auschwitz Research Center on Hate, Extremism, and Radicalization (ARCHER) at House 88.

Spearheaded by the Counter Extremism Project (CEP), ARCHER aims to transform the former residence of Auschwitz Commandant Rudolf Höss in Oświęcim, Poland, from a center of hate to a center against hate in all forms. In addition to the residence, famed architect Daniel Libeskind has designed an extraordinary new building on the grounds of House 88 to house the organization’s research, education, and advocacy activities.

“This historic initiative represents a crucial step in our fight against extremism,” said Ambassador Mark D. Wallace, CEO of the Counter Extremism Project. “ARCHER at House 88 will serve as a vital hub for research, education, and—crucially—action in countering hate, antisemitism, and extremism globally.”

“The lessons of history demand that we do more than just remember—we must act,” said Dr. Thomas Kaplan. “ARCHER at House 88 is not just about preserving history; it is about changing the future. By transforming this house—once a symbol of unimaginable evil—into a center dedicated to combating extremism and hate, we are sending a powerful message. But we cannot do this alone.”

Elliott Broidy added, “This is a call to action—our fundraising efforts are critical to ensuring that this initiative succeeds in its mission to create a world free from extremism. I am thrilled that leaders and philanthropists Aryeh Bourkoff, Senator Norm Coleman, Eric Herschmann, Kenneth B. Mehlman, George Schaeffer, Lenny Sands, Ambassador Mark D. Wallace, and Dr. Herbert Wertheim have all joined the Board of the Fund.” (Board In Formation)

Senator Norm Coleman said, “I am honored to stand in support of ARCHER at House 88 and its mission to confront antisemitism and extremism head-on. Converting the former Auschwitz Commandant’s residence into a global center for education and advocacy sends a resounding message: antisemitism, extremism, and hate will never prevail, and we are committed to building a future defined by tolerance and understanding.”

Businessman Kenneth B. Mehlman said, “Never Again must be more than a slogan. It requires active engagement, education, and vigilance. ARCHER at House 88 will honor Auschwitz’s victims by educating, engaging, and warning future generations about the evils of genocidal hatred.”

The ARCHER initiative is now actively seeking additional support to expand its programs, including:

  • A fellowship program for leading scholars focused on extremism research
  • Educational programs for policymakers, educators, and the public
  • Policy advocacy implementing actionable strategies to combat hate

To learn more about ARCHER at House 88 or to make a donation, visit https://www.counterextremism.com/donate.

For fundraising inquiries:
Robert Benton – rbenton@counterextremism.com

About Elliott Broidy
Elliott Broidy is an entrepreneur, investor, and philanthropist with a career spanning four decades. As Chairman and CEO of Broidy Capital Holdings, he has invested in over 160 companies across multiple industries. Since 9/11, his investments have focused on companies in the public safety and national security sectors. Through his philanthropic efforts, he has supported numerous organizations dedicated to countering hate and extremism, including The Simon Wiesenthal Center-Museum of Tolerance, The Counterterrorism Education Learning Lab (CELL), the George Washington University Program on Extremism, and StandWithUs.

About Dr. Thomas Kaplan
Dr. Thomas Kaplan is a philanthropist, entrepreneur, and advocate for global education, cultural preservation, and the fight against extremism. As the former President and Chairman of New York’s 92nd Street Y, a world-renowned Jewish community and cultural center in New York, Dr. Kaplan has long supported initiatives that promote Jewish history and cultural awareness. He is also the founder of the Recanati-Kaplan Intelligence Fellows Program at Harvard’s Belfer Center and co-creator of a similar program at Yale’s Jackson School of Global Affairs, furthering advancements in intelligence and geopolitical strategy. Through his philanthropic work, Dr. Kaplan is committed to fostering education, historical preservation, and impactful global change.

About ARCHER at House 88
ARCHER at House 88 is a global research and education center dedicated to combating extremism, antisemitism, and hate. Established by the Counter Extremism Project (CEP) in collaboration with the Auschwitz-Birkenau Museum and UNESCO, the center serves as a hub for scholarly research, policy development, and public education.

About the Counter Extremism Project (CEP)
The Counter Extremism Project (CEP) is a nonprofit, non-partisan policy organization formed in 2014 to combat extremism by pressuring financial and material support networks; combating online recruitment and communications; and promoting progressive laws, policies, and, regulations.