The Myth that Anti-Zionism is Anti-Semitic

Global discussions surrounding the Israel-Palestine conflict have erupted once again and it appears that the majority of the media holds a pro-Palestine stance. This is the almost objectively ethical conclusion to come to given the facts of the case. Israel has made it quite clear that it does not intend to bring peace, only to further its Zionist agenda by enacting an ethnic cleansing. Its defense minister, who likely accurately represents Israeli military causes, has said that Israel will not stop the attacks against Gaza until there is “complete quiet.” Besides the debate of what exactly to label this crisis - an ethnic cleansing, a genocide, an apartheid, etc. - what is strikingly obvious from this is that Israel is not merely practicing self-defense against Hamas. Its objective is to completely eradicate Palestine.

This evident humanitarian crisis has naturally sparked global movements. Protests (mostly peaceful) have been occurring in European cities such as Paris, Vienna, and Berlin in solidarity with Palestine. Active protests supplement the wide-scale circulation of pro-Palestine discourse on social media, to which Jewish individuals and groups have responded with claims of anti-Semitism. However, there is a notable distinction between criticizing Judaism and criticizing Israel as a sovereign state, and the overwhelming majority of pro-Palestine efforts are not anti-Judaism. Yes, Israel exists as a sanctuary for the Jewish population and anti-Semitism is a generally prevalent issue, but condemnations of the Israeli government do not target the nature of Judaism to any extent. They target Israel’s abuse and oppression of the Palestinian people. They target Israel’s Zionist motives and policies. Holding Israel accountable is the necessary thing to do as a global citizen, and accusations of anti-Semitism are flimsy attempts to shield Israel from liability.

Further, it is hypocritical of Israelis to cultivate the claim that the global community is anti-Semitic for its censuring of Israel’s actions against the Palestinians. Palestinians are directly targeted for their ethnic and religious background - Arab Muslim. Of course, anti-Semitic atrocities have historically taken place to eliminate the Jewish population, but that is not the situation right now. What is actually happening, however, is a federally endorsed, decades-long Israeli attempt to exterminate the Palestinians. In its blatant Islamophobia and xenophobia, Israel is currently the party that is practicing rampant discrimination and prejudice against a religious group.