Those who harbor hostility towards Israel are increasingly blurring the lines between “anti-Zionism” and “antisemitism,” effectively challenging the notion that there’s a distinct separation between opposing Jews and opposing the nation established to safeguard them.

This was vividly illustrated on Wednesday at New York University during a large graduation celebration around Washington Square Park.

Amidst the festivities, an “activist” displayed a provocative banner resembling the Israeli flag, but altered with Nazi swastikas and the NYU emblem, casting a shadow over the event.

The banner was unfurled atop the Steinhardt building, named after a major university benefactor recognized for his dedication to Jewish causes and support for Israel.

Such actions — likening the Jewish people to the regime responsible for the devastation of Jewish life in Europe — followed closely on the heels of a “protest” outside a Brooklyn synagogue that turned into a hateful march through a predominantly Jewish neighborhood.

A screaming mob with rags wrapped around their faces waved the flag of Hezbollah and shouted disgusting slogans demanding that “Zionists” vacate Brooklyn.

These folks keep insisting We’re not against Jews — just Zionists!

But they were besieging a Jewish synagogue and a Jewish neighborhood in Brooklyn, and calling local Jews “babykillers.”

Claiming any meaningful distinction between “Zionists” and “Jews” in these cases is the equivalent of demanding that Jews prove themselves to be innocent, presumably by denouncing Zionism.

To paraphrase Jean-Paul Sartre, antisemites enjoy accusing Jews of theft to make them empty their pockets to prove their honesty.

It’s a humiliation ritual.

Whoever raised the Hakenkreuz at NYU wasn’t making some humanitarian gesture about suffering Gazans.

It was a gesture of hate, meant to make Jewish grads and their families feel scared and ashamed, with no right to celebrate.

NYU must find the culprit or culprits and prosecute them openly.

If they’re students or graduates, expel them or revoke their diplomas.

Normalizing bigotry leads straight to scapegoating and violence; civilized people must censure the haters.

Stop the infection before it spreads any more.

LOS ANGELES — Renowned for her iconic roles in science fiction classics such as “Alien” and “Avatar,” Sigourney Weaver celebrated a significant achievement in Hollywood with a hand and footprint ceremony at the TCL Chinese Theatre.

Soon, Weaver will extend her illustrious career into another legendary series, as she’s set to enter the “Star Wars” realm, appearing alongside “The Mandalorian and Grogu.”

During the event, Weaver received accolades from co-star Pedro Pascal and renowned filmmaker James Cameron, both of whom highlighted her extraordinary contributions to cinema.

Expressing her gratitude, Weaver remarked, “Joining this illustrious group of stars, this assembly of remarkable talents from all sectors of the industry, is the greatest honor I could imagine.”

Cameron lauded her enduring influence, stating, “Sigourney crafted the ultimate symbol of female empowerment in film, a legacy that endures. You were the insightful woman whose warnings went unheeded, leading to the downfall of others. Let that be a lesson for us all.”

Meanwhile, Pascal highlighted her influence within the genre.

“I’ve been playing a space dad in the ‘Star Wars’ universe for eight years now, but Sigourney Weaver is the original space mom,” he said.

The ceremony included moments reflecting Weaver’s ongoing contributions to film, including a preview clip tied to her upcoming role in the “Star Wars” franchise.

“I’ve been able to hummingbird my way from one story to another, from one amazing character to another, one decade to another, following great stories no matter where they lead me, and I’ve worked with the most wonderful people,” Weaver said.

She went on to say, “You know, if you’re gonna end up on your knees on Hollywood Boulevard, this is by far the best scenario,” she added, garnering laughter and applause.

Disney is the parent company of this station.

Former Washington Governor Christine Gregoire has openly criticized her party’s millionaire tax, which she claims is prompting affluent residents to leave the state as Seattle grapples with ongoing crime issues.

Gregoire, who served as governor from 2005 to 2013, addressed these concerns during a recent business summit. She was asked whether the Democratic majority in the state legislature was aware of the impact their tax policies were having on Washington.

“No, I really don’t, as evidenced by, you mentioned the estate tax,” Gregoire responded, pointing out that the estate tax had once soared to a staggering 35 percent, the highest in the country, before it was reduced to 20 percent.

Currently, Washington is neck and neck with Hawaii for having the highest estate tax in the nation and has introduced a 9.9 percent tax on household incomes exceeding $1 million.

Gregoire expressed her hope that this situation would prompt state Democrats to re-evaluate their approach to taxation.

‘Because here’s what you can expect. Those people are not homeless. They will not pay. They’re leaving,’ she said.

Gregoire added: ‘When they leave, they stop paying capital gains. When they leave, they stop giving significantly to philanthropy, which would otherwise be necessary by government. So you understand, do you see the consequences of what you’re doing? And the answer is no.’

The former governor believes the problem is that there are no Democrats in the state house with any business experience or awareness of how their policies hurt small businesses. 

The Democrat former governor of the state of Washington slammed her party’s millionaire’s tax over fears it’s causing the wealthy to flee the state while Seattle remains riddled with crime

Christine Gregoire, who ran the state from 2005 to 2013, was asked at a recent business summit if the Democrat-led state legislature understood how the impact of their tax policy

‘I would suggest to you, we don’t really have an income problem. We have a spending problem, and we’re answering it by stacking one more tax, one more rule, one more regulation,’ she said. 

‘And the one thing that the business community doesn’t need is that lack of predictability. That’s how businesses grow, that’s how they thrive. That’s not healthy for our business community at all.’

The millionaires’ tax was passed earlier this year, but will not take effect until January 1, 2028. 

Longtime Seattle fixture Starbucks announced shortly after that they would move 2,000 corporate jobs to a new headquarters in Nashville. 

Gregoire is unlikely to get any sympathy from Seattle’s new socialist Mayor Katie Wilson.

The Daily Mail was in the Emerald City in January as Seattle drug addicts praised the city’s new mayor for allegedly telling cops not to arrest people doing illegal substances on the crime-ridden city’s streets.

One 36-year-old local, who gave his name as Brandon, told the Daily Mail that Wilson is ‘cool’ after her office and Seattle’s progressive city attorney Erika Evans reportedly plotted to avoid prosecuting most public drugs use cases.

Brandon, who lives on the streets because he prefers them to his taxpayer-funded apartment, said of Wilson’s new plans: ‘They tried to do that already during Covid. We went buck wild! I’m not gonna lie. We blew it up.’

Homeless tents surrounding Seattle’s famous Space Needle earlier this year

Gregoire is unlikely to get any sympathy from Seattle’s new socialist Mayor Katie Wilson

The Daily Mail was in the Emerald City in January as Seattle drug addicts praised the city’s new mayor for allegedly telling cops not to arrest people doing illegal substances on the crime-ridden city’s streets

Clearly excited by a return to the lawless summer of 2020 when a huge swathe of downtown Seattle was taken over by anarchists, fentanyl and meth user Brandon said the government ‘should not be going around and telling everybody what to f**king do.’

Last month, 43-year-old Wilson joked that she would welcome the departure of high earners from her beleaguered city.

‘I think the claims that millionaires are gonna leave our state are super overblown, if the ones that leave, “bye,”‘ the Democratic Socialist said while waving her right hand. 

The remark was warmly received by the audience, who applauded her for the statement. 

Her response came after being questioned over whether or not progressive tax stances are an ‘easy’ and ‘promising’ solution. 

Wilson contended that implementing such changes was not easy but welcomed the recent millionaire tax in the state, which is aimed at the super-rich. 

The move comes after Microsoft president Brad Smith raised the alarm on the state of the business climate in Washington last year.  

He told KOMO News: ‘I’m probably more worried right now about the business climate in Washington than at any point over the last 30 years.

The new mayor of Seattle has caused some controversy regarding open air drug use in public by the cities large homeless population. In a city that is seen as progressive with a huge ongoing drug issue

Last month, 43-year-old Wilson joked that she would welcome the departure of high earners from her beleaguered city

‘If other people are paying for jobs to leave and we’re taxing them to stay, that will make everything harder.’

State Republicans criticized the move all the way up until Ferguson signed it in, warning that large corporations like Starbucks and T-Mobile would leave the state. 

Ferguson said that he had a ‘lengthy’ conversation with Starbucks after they announced they plan to build a new headquarters in Nashville, Tennessee. 

He told reporters: ‘Starbucks is an important part of the fabric of our community here in Washington state, to put it mildly’, adding that he would support the firm ‘in every way possible’.

Several other businesses, including Amazon and Meta, have already cut jobs in the state.

Wilson is now in charge of the city, where Starbucks was founded in 1971, after being voted in last year.

That was despite critics labeling her privileged and out of touch after it emerged she regularly receives checks from her professor parents to pay for childcare. 

Wilson and her husband spend $2,200 per month on daycare for their toddler, and another $2,200 to rent their apartment, it emerged during her campaign.

She acknowledged her privileged upbringing and said she became aware of it while attending public schools, where she had friends without the same means.

Chloe Cole, a prominent detransitioner and speaker, has promised to revisit the University of Washington after canceling her scheduled appearance due to alleged threats from Antifa. In an exclusive interview with Fox News Digital, Cole expressed her determination to speak at the university despite the recent disruptions.

Cole, who has become an influential voice in discussions about gender transition and its implications, was set to address audiences at UW. However, her plans shifted after receiving what were described as credible threats from Antifa, leading her to prioritize safety and postpone her engagement.

In a separate incident, privacy concerns have surfaced in Loudoun County, Virginia. A high school student is currently under investigation for allegedly recording peers in a bathroom without their consent. This incident has sparked outrage and intensified debates around student privacy and safety within the school district.

These events unfold against the backdrop of ongoing discussions in Loudoun County regarding transgender rights and protections. Just two years ago, Policy 8040 was introduced, aiming to enhance protections for transgender students within the school system. The policy’s supporters, who celebrated its adoption with signs and advocacy at school board meetings, continue to push for a safe and inclusive environment for all students.

Supporters of Policy 8040 celebrate with signs as the transgender protection measures were voted into the school system’s policies during a school board meeting at the Loudoun County Public Schools Administration Building on August 11, 2021 in Ashburn, Va. (Ricky Carioti/The Washington Post via Getty Images)

LEADERSHIP BACKED: Cornell board clears president of wrongdoing after confrontation with anti-Israel students

GENDER FLASHPOINT: UVA installs tampon dispensers in men’s restrooms; students call move ‘absurd’

Whether feminine hygiene products should be available in men’s restrooms has become a divisive topic in places like college campuses, as only women can menstruate. (Men’s room sign by Roberto Machado Noa/LightRocket via Getty Images and Tampon dispensary by Klaus-Dietmar Gabbert/picture alliance via Getty Images)

SCRUBBED: Liberal arts college drops prof’s name from campus hall after grave dig controversy

YOUR TAX DOLLARS: San Francisco university hosts genital piercing workshop with sex toy giveaway for students

Governor Kathy Hochul has introduced a controversial pied-à-terre tax, initially touted as a solution to New York City’s budget challenges, but it has become a complex issue akin to a Gordian knot.

Amidst a slowdown in private job creation and New York’s ranking as the least competitive state for taxes, the focus has shifted to debates over imposing taxes on luxury second homes, overshadowing discussions on fostering investment and economic growth.

On Thursday, Hochul revealed details of the tax, originally set to target secondary properties valued over $5 million. However, the plan has since expanded to include all second homes with a “market value” exceeding $1 million for the first two years, exacerbating concerns over its potential negative impact.

Currently, New York’s intricate property tax system assesses levies on co-ops and condominiums not based on their sale price, but on a “market value” determined by evaluating rental values of comparable units in similarly aged and sized buildings.

Under New York’s current labyrinthine property-tax formula, levies on co-ops and condominiums are assessed not on the sale price of a unit, but on a “market value” arrived at by examining what units in buildings of a similar age and size would rent for.

But because comparable buildings might include rent-stabilized units, and adjustments to a unit’s property taxes must be phased in gradually, the assessed value of an apartment for tax purposes sometimes differs wildly from that apartment’s actual sale price.

Hence Hochul lowering her threshold to $1 million

She claims that a $1 million “market value” is “equivalent” to a $5 million sale price — which of course can’t be verified unless and until the property is actually sold.

For example, a condo that sold for $18.6 million in 2021 has a “market value” of $2.2 million on which its taxes are calculated.

In two years, her office says, the state will transition to an entirely new system, deploying a yet-to-be-developed additional assessment of pricey condos and co-ops to determine their “potential sale value.”

Those owners would then be hit with a 6% tax hit — every year.

The convoluted process would complicate an already confusing tax system — and would doubtless require hundreds of additional bureaucrats to run.

Even City Comptroller Mark Levine seems dubious that the scheme can work.

Many high-end properties are registered as LLCs, he’s noted, making it hard to identify which would even be subject to the tax.

That and other complications mean the measure will raise far less than the $500 million Hochul has projected, Levine says.

In other words, the tax is just another expensive distraction that’s unlikely to raise a significant amount of revenue for the city — while simultaneously deterring investment.

Since owners of these apartments already pay full property taxes and presumably use far fewer services than full-time residents, the tax might well end up costing New York money by pushing high earners out.

On top of all this, as my colleague Ken Girardin has written, a tax of this kind — based not on the assessed value of a home but on the status of the owner — carries troublesome implications.

That’s not a property tax, it’s an identity tax — and it opens the door to further targeted taxes.

The only way to address New York’s affordability crisis is to encourage investment, in jobs and in new housing.

This boondoggle does neither.

Depressing equity value, as owners try to sell, won’t address housing costs; it’ll just drive investment into other states.

And threatening up to 10,000 construction jobs won’t make New York any richer; it’ll just put more people on the welfare rolls.

It’s time for New York’s leadership to stop the tiresome charade of “taxing the rich” — and get on with actually governing.

Adam Lehodey is an investigative reporter at the Manhattan Institute’s City Journal.