Dr. Sebastian Ben Daniel, a lecturer in Computer Science at Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, uses the pseudonym “John Brown” on the social media platform X and in various opinion columns, alongside his real name.
He has repeatedly published defamatory accusations and blood libels against IDF soldiers, made racist remarks targeting Jews of Mizrahi origin, referred to members of the Religious Zionist community as neo-Nazis, and made other statements that have raised concerns about antisemitism.
Among his reported statements are:
“The reality is that IDF soldiers are baby killers acting on orders.” (10 February 2025)
“IDF soldiers were raised to be baby killers.” (10 February 2025)
“IDF soldiers murder because they enjoy immunity from the IDF, the Military Advocate General’s Corps and the High Court. Only The Hague will be able to hold these murderers accountable.” (3 April 2024)
“This is, of course, the dangerous axis in Israel today: the alliance between Nazis from the Religious Zionist camp and the Israeli periphery, due to their similar primitive values.” (3 September 2024)
“Once again, we must remind everyone of the religious neo-Nazis who tried to prevent supplies from reaching Gazans and didn’t care how it affected the female hostages.” (14 February 2025)
“All night long, religious and traditionalist baboons have been cursing me, but this crosses the line.” (26 February 2025)
“And what did Israelis expect? That the IDF would murder thousands in 2014 and their children wouldn’t seek revenge? That IDF henchmen would administer an apartheid regime for decades and send religious neo-Nazis to murder and steal, and nobody would resist? I think it’s time to break this cycle.” (24 October 2024)
“When the West Bank explodes, and it will explode, people will say how barbaric the Palestinians are. But they will forget the barbarity of apartheid, the murderous IDF soldiers, and the religious neo-Nazis.” (10 January 2025)
“IDF soldiers murdered children and shot innocent people in order to ethnically cleanse the West Bank, long before October 7.” (26 January 2025)
“Let every Hebrew mother know that she entrusted her sons to commanders who would send them to die for the murderous delusions of Jewish Hamas.” (25 December 2024)
“Jewish Hamas is an existential threat. Islamic Hamas is not.” (16 May 2024)
“Religious settlers see the massacre in the South as an opportunity to murder Palestinians. They are Hamas in every respect. You have to choose a side.” (13 October 2023)
“Religious people claim they serve in a security capacity in the apartheid territories. Therefore, they are legitimate targets of armed resistance by a people seeking its freedom.” (21 June 2023)
“Religious people murder because that’s how they are educated in their yeshivas by their filthy rabbis.” (21 July 2024)
“I live in Be’er Sheva, 99% [of the people here are] Bibi supporters and neo-Nazis who want to kill me in the street.” (4 November 2024)
“Mizrahim blocked roads and wouldn’t let Ashkenazim pass, only Mizrahim. They forced them to say they love Bibi. Just like the Nazis they are.” (28 March 2023)
“The park near my home was destroyed to build a synagogue for one type of Mizrahim, the shelter near my home was taken over to build a synagogue for another type of Mizrahim, and the garden opposite my home was appropriated to build a synagogue for yet another type of Mizrahim. Across the street, they built a mikveh for brainless women.” (1 July 2022)
In response to someone on Twitter who wrote, “I have a suitcase to pack for you,” he replied: “Not Mizrahi, Arab… Arab first of all; what religion you are and which mezuzahs you lick is secondary.” (2 November 2022)
“The Zionist left will continue serving in the reserves because, ultimately, they too are willing executioners.” (30 November 2024)
“Traditionalists and religious people are ignorant and therefore murderers, especially when combined with a right-wing ideology, as happens in Israel.” (6 October 2023)
“The mere fact that you are traditionalist and religious is a good enough reason to murder educated, secular people.” (6 October 2023)
“I wouldn’t bet a single shekel on traditionalist voters in the periphery. I’m just trying to suppress their voting by every means possible. They are a stupid and lost generation. All the money must go toward ensuring their children don’t turn out like their parents’ generation.” (23 November 2024)
Ben Daniel was briefly removed from his position at Ben Gurion University in March 2025 before being reinstated.
