San Diego Teacher Fired for Antisemitic Rant

Nasreen Atassi made false claims about Israelis stealing organs in a viral video

Published on Feb. 9, 2026

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A San Diego special education teacher named Nasreen Atassi was fired after posting a video online in which she claimed that Israel steals "livers and kidneys and eyeballs" from people. The video quickly gained attention and led to complaints from the local Jewish community, prompting the San Diego Unified School District to terminate Atassi's employment less than a day after the video circulated publicly.

Why it matters

The incident highlights ongoing concerns about antisemitism in California schools, particularly following heightened tensions in the region. Jewish advocacy groups have reported a surge in antisemitic rhetoric, vandalism, and harassment on school campuses statewide, leading to increased scrutiny and a coordinated response from local communities.

The details

In the video, Atassi is seen ranting and accusing Israel of "hijacking protests in order to do the same BS that they're always doing — which is just stealing from people. And that includes everything from goods and services all the way down to the livers and kidneys and eyeballs." Her comments echoed long-standing antisemitic tropes that have historically been used to demonize Jews. The video was shared online by the U.S.-based watchdog group StopAntisemitism, which called for Atassi's removal. Within a day, the San Diego Unified School District confirmed that Atassi was no longer employed by the district.

  • On February 3, 2026, Nasreen Atassi posted the video online.
  • On February 9, 2026, Atassi was fired from her position less than a day after the video circulated publicly.

The players

Nasreen Atassi

A former special education teacher in the San Diego Unified School District who was fired after posting an antisemitic video online.

StopAntisemitism

A U.S.-based watchdog group that shared Atassi's video online and called for her removal.

San Diego Unified School District

The school district that confirmed Atassi's termination after the video went viral.

Dr. Halevi Feldman

A board member representing House of Israel–Balboa Park who said the local Jewish community has a system for documenting antisemitic incidents and forwarding them to authorities.

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What they’re saying

“Imagine this monster near a special needs Jewish child?”

— StopAntisemitism, U.S.-based watchdog group (X)

“There's no chance we would allow such a person to enter classrooms.”

— Local Israeli community member (N12)

“We're no longer shocked when we see things like this, but we absolutely do not intend to give up or remain silent — and certainly not to allow such a person to be part of San Diego's education system.”

— Dr. Halevi Feldman, Board member, House of Israel–Balboa Park (N12)

What’s next

The local Jewish community plans to continue monitoring and reporting antisemitic incidents in San Diego schools, working with authorities to ensure such behavior is not tolerated.

The takeaway

This incident underscores the ongoing challenge of addressing antisemitism in schools, particularly when it comes from educators. The swift action taken by the San Diego Unified School District sends a strong message that such hateful rhetoric will not be accepted, but the broader issue of antisemitism in California's education system remains a concern for many.