Berkeley council candidates condemn harassment as campaign tensions rise

Palestinian candidate Majdi Gaith and incumbent Igor Tregub, who are running for Berkeley City Council, have condemned harassment as allegations of vandalism and campaign interference surfaced before Election Day in California, The Daily Californian reported on November 3.

Flip the Berkeley City Council 2026, which endorsed Gaith, alleged in an October 26 statement that his campaign and supporters faced harassment, vandalized cars and pro-Israel stickers outside Jaffa Coffee Roasters, a cafe he co-owns. The newspaper also described a video posted November 2 showing a woman confronted after allegedly taking Gaith campaign signs.

Gaith said he had no direct evidence that Tregub’s campaign was responsible. Tregub said the person in the video was not affiliated with his campaign, condemned hate and vandalism, and said he had also faced threats, antisemitic slurs and sign removal. Gaith condemned harassment or violence against Tregub. Tregub said Islamophobia and antisemitism have no place in Berkeley.