Where and How to Attack Jews

The Case of Beverly Hills

by Ari Bussel

2025 Israeli Film Festival. Screengrab via Youtube [Cropped]

In preparation of the Israeli Film Festival (Feb 4-19, 2026), the mythological organizer was looking for an infusion of capital.  Many of the sponsors have not been as generous as before.

Realizing that now is more important than ever to stand up publicly and state “ISRAEL IS STILL HERE,” I urged support of the Film Festival, despite the fatigue, the many other causes that vye for money, and predominantly the hesitancy of being “too vocal” or “too visible” two year into the October 7th War.

The organizers face a heftier bill than usual, in part because of increased security costs.  To my surprise, the regular venues were not so much a problem, and in the City of Angels where there are numerous screening locations, that would not to be a real issue:  If one refuses to screen, others would step up – the Academy, the Writers Guild, the Directors Guild, Harmony Gold, Real D, CAA and many others.  Just in Beverly Hills there are quite a few venues, both “public” and private.   Not because they are owned, managed or operated by Jews, simply because it is the right thing to do if one truly cares about freedoms on which this great experiment called the USofA started a quarter of a millennium ago and is still going strong.

Little did I expect that not even ten days before the annual Israeli Film Festival, exactly in Beverly Hills, a screening hall would refuse an engagement that was pre-arranged unless the performer, an Israeli comedian on a North American tour, Guy Hochman, would “release a press release and post on his social media that he did not support the genocide, rape, starvation, and torture of Palestinian civilians.”  Apparently, even if it turned out he did not commit any and all these vile atrocities himself, he was presumed complicit.  Except, these accusations are true with respect to Hamas-ISIS, Hizbollah, the Houthis and Iran; not Israel.  And the focus is only on Israel, as if tens of thousands were not butchered in Iran just days ago.

Assuming something that is not true is not unique to the venue’s owner.  Rather, several recent similar incidents in Japan and in the Swiss Alps involved locations that required tourists from Israel to sign an affidavit they did not commit or participate in similar actions (genocide, rape, torture, …) or turned them away outright.  Apparently, it is assumed that Israel is guilty as charged – guilty by definition – and so anyone who is Israeli or Jewish is guilty by association.

Allow me to briefly skip the vocal “protest” of various Jewish organizations.  Apparently, they start feeling uncomfortable only when the fierce hatred against them actually manages to reach their doorsteps.  Not that they really care about this particular Israeli, but the fact it arrived Beverly Hills is likely alarming to them.

Worry not!  Nothing will happen.

Beverly Hills, the Bastion of Israel

Beverly Hills with its 34,000 residents is a city with majority Jews, and every elected official is Jewish.  In the last election to the City Council, a candidate was “disqualified” by the voters because she does not have the right qualifications:  She is of Iranian origin and not Jewish.

The City has been vocal in its support of Israel.  The annual 9/11 Commemoration includes the Jewish organization “Jewish National Fund.”  Israel’s Independence Day is celebrated in the City Gallery.  The flag of Israel is projected onto City Hall on numerous occasions.  Immediately post October 7th, a public exhibition of more than 1,200 flags was on display; each flag representing one of the victims of that horrible day.  The City has even appropriated both public space across the 9/11 Memorial and likely will cover a huge budget fall for the creation of an 10/7 Memorial with public discretionary funds (the 9/11 Memorial was funded completely by private donations).

When American mayors visit Israel, it is usual to see the Beverly Hills Mayor at that time running after the Prime Minister to bestow a proclamation unto him and gain a photo-op (two of the current council members did so and made sure to have the picture appear in the local papers).  In the City there are hundreds of events every year raising money for various Israeli and Jewish causes, both at the world-renowned Beverly Hills hotels and at mansions throughout the City.

Thus, hitting the City is an ingenious idea:  If Jewish and/or Israeli performers are not safe and not welcome to appear in Beverly Hills, USA, they are likely unwelcome and will not be invited to other places throughout the USA.  Imagine!

Similarly, a few years ago, a screening of an anti-Israel propaganda movie was hosted by the neighboring City of West Hollywood, who refused the pleas of Jewish residents and others from neighboring cities calling for the WeHo City Council to use some commonsense.  By officially sanctioning the screening, the City essentially said that gays are safe in Gaza and “Palestine,” and that the root-cause of all evil is the very existence of the Jewish State.  The organizers then were able to go from city to city throughout the USA and demand to screen the movie.  Apparently persecuting gays, hanging them in town squares or throwing them from rooftops are just a figment of imagination; and anyway Israel is at fault.  [Those who do not know:  October 7th was also Israel’s fault.]

Then and Now

Had the current incident happened some years ago in Beverly Hills, the City leaders would have taken immediate, effective action.  After all, refusing service and inflicting fear on the general population is an act of terrorism and must not be tolerated.  Not only the venue that refused service, also those who threatened the venue and initiated this entire incident should be investigated and held accountable.  Other business owners will from now on be afraid to host Israelis or Jews, or will refuse it outright.  Israelis, after all, commit all those unspeakable atrocities and Israel’s agents (why do they really come here?) should be banned and punished most severely.  We remember there are international arrest warrants against the Israeli Prime Minister and the former Israeli Defense Minister.  The same arguments then hold against every other Israeli, young, old or in-between.  They are guilty by definition, whether or not any actions are their doing.

Today, the City Council might issue a resolution which is not worth the paper on which it is written, for it is not backed up by any action.  In the past, though, action came first; there was no need for resolutions.  Action was backed up by resolve.

One example that comes to mind is of then Mayor MeraLee Goldman.  In a series of speakers that she invited to Council Chambers (Millennium Lecture Series) was one Steve Emerson, a known authority on anti-terrorism (he was one of only a handful of people who warned the US against the threat of 9/11-like attacks, as he went into mosques in NYC and elsewhere and reported what was spewed there).  When the Jewish Mayor (well, everyone was Jewish then) invited Emerson a second time, a group demanded “equal time.”  MeraLee outright refused.  She took an unwavering stand, with conviction and strength.

But these days are gone and today’s leadership is lacking, well, leadership.  The current Mayor states “Safety is our top priority,” so let us see how that translates into action in Beverly Hills.

First, there were several rounds of flyers distributed throughout the City with Antisemitic rants and raves.  These were followed by spillover into the City from a hate-filled, well-planned in advance demonstration against a presentation about real-estate opportunities in Israel.  The hostile demonstrations took place in the heart of the Orthodox Jewish community of Pico-Robertson in front of the hosting synagogue.  From there, the demonstrators spread, hunting for Jews with metal rods and other weapons in broad day light in the streets of Beverly Hills (my colleague bunkered at home for safety and others called 9-1-1 for the City to help).

If hunting Jews in the streets of BH is not enough, how about accosting them as they sit at one of the top restaurants in the very crowded Business Triangle of Beverly Hills?  A person with a camera did not let the diners off the hook, demanding they denounce Israel and support Palestine.  The Beverly Hills Police responded; and did nothing.  Its hands were “tied.”  The City Attorney is still looking for a way to fight it, and he reported to my colleague he and the City are “committed” to fighting and finding a solution.  [Do not have your hopes up for any real action – none is forthcoming.]

A religious woman was walking with her kids when occupants of a passing car stopped and targeted her; likewise a father walking his children back from Synagogue on Shabbat morning.  Since it was just outside City limits, the Deputy City Manager to whom the Mayor turns for action would direct them to write to their favorite politician and bid them to “take care.”  Until it reaches Beverly Hills, nothing will be done.  And when it crosses over, you guessed it, nothing will be done.

But the City is not at fault.  After all, it is the center of glitz where camera flashes are everything – click, attention, and the moment passes.

Pamela Geller & Guy Hochman

When people do not stand up against evil, evil spreads and will eventually hit them.  Some years ago, something very similar had happened.  But then, it had nothing to do with Gaza or the Palestinians, although much like today, it had everything to do with Israel and the Jewish people.

A speaker from NY had a speaking arrangement scheduled at the Board Room of the Jewish Federation of Greater LA, just two buildings over from the the edge of Beverly Hills and a few blocks away from the current center of attention – the privately owned BH Fine Arts Theater.  The event which was well publicized caused a stir, and the Federation leadership received both criticism and rebuke (by the likes of the Council of American Islamic Relations, the American Arab Anti Discrimination Committee and the Muslim Public Affairs Council) for allowing the speaker to cross the threshold of the building.  They immediately caved instead of standing ground.  The speaker had to scramble to find an alternate venue.

Why would anyone be surprised if the same thing happens now, when the Jews who refused to take a position and bowed to threats are now the victims of the very same terrorism?

Our very system is being used against us:  those who demand free speech, the freedom of assembly, academic freedom etc. are the very first ones to deny these to everyone else.

What do we take from the Guy Hochman episode?  It has been many years since I have been in touch with the BH Fine Arts owner, Michael Hall, so I do not know if he turned Antisemitic or did not think twice before caving in.  I doubt very much the City would do anything other than yet another press release or photo-op, or maybe wait for the storm to simply pass over and be forgotten.  I know that the Israeli comedian can appear in multiple other locations, including some of the mega-mansions in the City, and will be welcomed with open arms, hefty checks and much love.  The organized Jewish world has long left Israel and has become one of her great detractors.  So what should we learn?

Years ago, the Jewish Federation acted against one of its own instead of protecting her.  It was Pamela Geller, a fierce activist against Radical Islam.  Similarly, the Jewish Federation of Orange County fought a Jewish mother, Dee Sterling of blessed memory, who single handedly fought radical Islam on the UC Irvine campus (until the visit by Amb. Prof. Michael Oren).  In Beverly Hills in recent years, Antisemitic leaflets, hunting Jews in the streets, accosting them at restaurants etc. all go unanswered.  Thus, the escalation and success of these Antisemitic actions are a natural progression.

Evil Flourishes

Are there any negative repercussions?  After all, alternative venues pop up like mushrooms after the rain, press conferences are held, promises are made, and the photo opportunities are great (if meaningless).

Allow me to draw a parallel to what happened on American university campuses.  Kids who graduated from high schools and entered a university were unequipped to deal with the hostile environment that greeted them with sharp teeth.  They quickly stripped any Jewish sign (Star of David, Yarmulke, …) and even more quickly distanced themselves from anything remotely related to Israel.  Being Jewish or pro-Israel (or even open minded) was very dangerous.  The situation continued to escalate, the Jewish organized world did not close its eyes, it actively participated.  Until one fine day, everyone was shocked to discover what was happening.

Likewise in Beverly Hills.  Gone are the days where leadership took a public stand and fought tooth and nail, shoulder to shoulder with the truth.  In today’s environment, when the center of gay-America identifies with those who publicly execute and persecute gays, and with the most visible center of Jews in America (sharing its position with NYC and Bal Harbor Florida) does nothing meaningful as attacks and rhetorics intensify and escalate, we can expect more articles, like the one in The Hollywood Reporter – “Israeli Comedian Banned in Beverly Hills Amid Cries of Antisemitism.”  (Since people usually do not have the patience to read, they deduct from the title that it is yet another case of Jews shouting “Antisemitism” without any basis, just to gain attention or demand something in return.)

If I were an Islamist, I would continue targeting Beverly Hills.  It is effective; and there is no risk associated (other than, possibly, too many flashes at a press conference).  The Jews there will not do a thing until it will hit them directly and really badly, and then it will be late, all too late for them. 

And as a Jew in Beverly Hills, it is time to start having an alternative.  Your multi-million (or multi tens-of-millions) dollar home will not protect you when the day comes.  The dispatcher will tell you, as they did during the riots, leave, if you can, we will respond when we can.

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Foreign Correspondent Ari Bussel writes extensively about Israel and the Jewish world.  Bussel is the son of Holocaust Survivors who are still alive – the last of the Survivors.  Bussel is a graduate of UCLA and Stanford.

© Israel Monitor, January, 2026

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First Published January 25, 2026

Contact:  bussel@me.com