Disclaimer: I am not claiming to be any kind of expert on anything. I am just a Jewish woman who is terrified by the antisemitism I see today. I support the self-determination of Jewish people and want to fight for Palestinian liberation – these movements are not incompatible.
Introduction
When we say it’s complicated, that doesn’t mean there is a moral dilemma regarding what’s happening. Of course, Palestinian civilians don’t deserve this. There is no argument in the fact that both Israelis and Palestinians deserve justice, safety, and peace, that doesn’t come at the expense of the other. Otherwise, you are not on the side of human rights for all, you’re just politicizing human lives. If your “activism” makes me wish I was born differently then you should re-evaluate what you’re actually fighting for, or at least how you’re going about it. If you’re advocating for human rights, you can’t pick and choose which people get rights.
Alienating Jewish people by not understanding the most widely accepted definition of antisemitism /by/ Jewish people (and endorsed by every mainstream Jewish organization around the world) is not the way to help anyone (see next slide for this definition). We are already constantly dismissed when we say something is antisemitic and letting others define our oppression, a standard held to no other marginalized group, is just wrong.
You can fight for Palestinian justice and freedom without spreading harmful, antisemitic misinformation; you’re hurting Jewish people AND the cause. I think it would be difficult for anyone to deny that Palestinians are unfairly suffering (no matter the reasoning), and there’s no need for additional “reasoning” to advocate for Palestinians. Things do need to change. But too many “pro-Palestine advocates” are alienating Jewish people by also spreading so much harmful misinformation, not to mention fueling rising antisemitism (it is no coincidence that antisemitic attacks increase around the world whenever Israel is in the news cycle).
Defining Antisemitism
In 2016, the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) adopted the working definition of antisemitism:
“Antisemitism is a certain perception of Jews, which may be expressed as hatred toward Jews. Rhetorical and physical manifestations of antisemitism are directed toward Jewish or non-Jewish individuals and/or their property, toward Jewish community institutions and religious facilities.”
They go on to provide examples, some of which include:
Making mendacious, dehumanizing, demonizing, or stereotypical allegations about Jews as such or the power of Jews as collective — such as, especially but not exclusively, the myth about a world Jewish conspiracy or of Jews controlling the media, economy, government or other societal institutions.
Denying the fact, scope, mechanisms (e.g. gas chambers) or intentionality of the genocide of the Jewish people at the hands of National Socialist Germany and its supporters and accomplices during World War II (the Holocaust).
Denying the Jewish people their right to self-determination, e.g., by claiming that the existence of a State of Israel is a racist endeavor.
Applying double standards by requiring of it a behavior not expected or demanded of any other democratic nation.
Drawing comparisons of contemporary Israeli policy to that of the Nazis.
Holding Jews collectively responsible for actions of the state of Israel.
When Antizionism Becomes Antisemitism
I would like to point out that this definition does not define criticisms of Israel to be inherently antisemitic, because it isn't. However, criticism refers to specific policy and actions by the government, not holding Jews around the world accountable for these actions. Contrary to popular belief, I don't have easy access to talk with Israeli government officials as a Jewish woman living in Canada. I can't believe this needs saying, but blaming Jewish people for the actions of the Israeli government is antisemitic.
I’m tired of people saying it’s not antisemitic to criticize the Israeli government (correct), but then be blatantly hateful towards Jewish people. You can't say that antizionism ≠ antisemitism to justify your antisemitic rant.
Stop saying that you “don’t hate Jewish people, only Zionists.” This is interesting when you consider that more Jewish people than not are Zionists. Although the "95% of Jewish people are Zionists" statistic was based on an extremely small sample size yet used frequently to explain this, it may not be far off. One study found that over three quarters of Jews said they were at least somewhat emotionally attached to Israel.
Anyhow, it may be time you talk to a Jewish person about what Zionism means to them and you would understand that it is not a threat to Palestinian liberation. Zionism means different things to different people, but ultimately it is about having an independent Jewish state, not how we go about it. There is much work to be done to achieve justice, but that doesn't make our right to self-determination less valid.
Additionally, Zionism does not mean that one supports every action the Israeli government makes. Zionism started as a response to growing antisemitism. It doesn’t mean that Israel has done no wrong, or that Zionists desire sole possession of all the land relevant to this conflict. All it means is the acknowledgement of the need for a Jewish state, as we have not been safe anywhere. We want to return home.
Jewish People Are Not "White Settlers"
First off, if you believe all Jewish people are white, I already don't trust anything you have to say. It is clear you have not interacted with Jewish people or done any kind of research to understand our diversity. You are alienating Jews of color.
Secondly, white Jewish people did not all come from Europe. We are indigenous to Israel; you ignoring the scientific and archeological proof dating back thousands of years doesn’t make our history go away. Some history for you: We have been expelled from our homeland many times throughout history. Diasporic experiences are described by various sub-ethic groups. You may have heard of some of these, including Ashkenazi, Sephardic, and Mizrahi Jews.
Ashkenazi: Describes the diasporic experience of Jews whose ancestors came together in the Roman Empire during the first millenium, later migrating northward and eastward due to persecution and ethnic cleansing.
Sephardic: Describes the diasporic experience of the Jewish people that settled in Spain and the Iberian Peninsula prior to the Spanish and Portuguese Institutions, then expelled following the Inquisition in 1492.
Mizrahi: Describes the experiences of those who remained in the Land of Israel and those who existed in diaspora throughout and around the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) from biblical times into the modern era.
So, who are we? @rootsmetals has an amazing post titled ''EVERYONE TALKS ABOUT JEWS. NO ONE KNOWS WHO THE F WE ARE' from June 2022 that I would highly recommend to anyone committed to listening and learning about who Jewish people are. In summary, we are a nation, a tribe, and an ethnoreligious group who originated in the Land of Israel (modern Israel-Palestine). This is not to say we are the only ones deserving of the land that is now Israel-Palestine, but that to call us settlers or engaging in 'settler colonialism' is antisemitic. You can't shout about how Palestinians are indigenous to the land while ignoring Jewish history. Why does ours matter less?
Jewish People are Terrified When You Yell from the River to the Sea
Listen to Jewish voices when we tell you what this chant is used to call for - our genocide. And maybe you don’t mean it like that, but that is how it is used and that is what Jewish people hear when you say that.
It symbolizes Palestinian control over the entire territory of Israel’s borders, from the Jordan River to the Mediterranean Sea (calling for a one-state solution, rather than a two-state solution). This calls for the destruction of Israel, the place with the highest population of Jews. Not to mention the fact that this chant is used by terrorist groups such as the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP), designated as such by Canada, the United States, Australia, Japan, and the European Union.
Know that a one-state solution in which Palestine controls all of the land relevant to this conflict is one where Jewish people are ethnically cleansed from the land. The ethnic cleansing of Jewish people from neighbouring Arab countries explains the need for a Jewish state. For example:
In 1948, there were 150,000 Jews living in Iraq. Today, that number falls to just 4. Similarly, Egypt had 75,000 Jews in 1948, with now less than 10, Yemen with less than 32 from 55,000, and Libya having 0 Jews left compared to 38,000 in 1948.
If you listened to Jewish people you would come up with a new phrase to chant that isn’t antisemitic / doesn't terrify Jews. Also, be sure to always investigate catchphrases before sharing them.
Stop Pretending Antisemitism Only Exists on the Right Side of the Political Spectrum
Jewish people only make up 0.2% of the world population, yet we take up a whole of headspace of non-Jews.
You denying antisemitism on the left as 'just antizionism, not antisemitism' tells me that you aren't open to unlearning and relearning. It tells me that you aren’t listening to Jewish people and only care about a political agenda. Antisemitism is tricky. It’s easy to spot on the right side of the political spectrum because those people are proud of it, but antisemitism on the left is unique, as it can be disguised as 'social justice.'
There are many incredible Palestinian groups working to improve the lives of Palestinians or work towards peace with Israelis. However, there are also people further dividing us and spreading propaganda (we can thank the USSR for slowing down productive dialogue by equating Zionism with Nazism and spreading the false notion of apartheid in this context).
Using buzzwords does not help anyone better understand the movement. The Israeli military occupation of the West Bank is unjust, but that does not make it apartheid. @politicaljew has a great post from June 2022 explaining what this means in any context, which makes it easy to see that this isn't the case here. I do want to add that in no way do I mean to diminish the inequalities Palestinians in the West Bank face in occupied areas by calling this a 'conflict,' I just lack a more accurate term.
There is much antisemitism in the Pro-P movement to be addressed. The fact that I fear for my safety in my own neighborhood whenever Israel is in the media tells me this. This isn't me trying to discredit the entire movement, Palestinians still need justice, but things do need to change.
Some General Antisemitic Things to Stop Doing
Stop pretending antisemitism is a thing of the past
Antisemitic attacks on the rise and ignoring this is harmful
Stop saying that religion or race have nothing to do with it
Even white Jews are not deemed to be "white enough" by Nazis, so yes it is relevant even to white Jews
Stop starting the story in the middle when it comes to sharing current events
This is not to say that context always matters, for example in police brutality it is of minor importance, but some situations do warrant context
Stop “condemning” antisemitism and then sharing content created by known antisemites
Stop attending protests arranged by known antisemites
Maybe at least condemn the antisemitism of people you were just marching beside?
Stop supporting BDS, who actively put Jewish people in danger while doing nothing to help Palestinians
Example: The "mapping project" is rooted in antisemitic tropes and threatens the lives of Jewish people
Stop sharing those inaccurate maps of Israel-Palestine
Palestine did not exist as a sovereign state for Palestinians before 1948, they were occupied by the Ottoman and the British most recently
@rootsmetals has a great post from September 2021 on this titled 'LET'S TALK ABOUT WHY THOSE MAPS DON'T MAKE SENSE'
What Does Peace Look Like?
There are 3 outcomes. This conflict continues and Palestinians and Israelis suffer the consequences, peaceful coexistence in which Israel and Palestine both exist, or the elimination of the Jewish people. Contrary to popular belief, there was not peace for Jewish people in the Middle East prior to 1948. Stop erasing our history and stop listening to non-Jewish people talk about who they think we are.
·I don’t know how to make peace happen, especially when Palestinian leaders have rejected several peace proposals over the years. Or because whenever the restrictions imposed on those living under (unjust) Israeli military occupation in the West Bank, Israeli civilians die. However, freedom cannot come at the expense of one another. Israelis, Jewish people, and Palestinians can coexist. We have to. Stop tokenizing Jewish people and actually have conversations with us, we must do this together.
I can’t pretend to know what goes on in the minds of those part of the Israeli government, or even Israelis, but I can tell you what many Jewish people are thinking - we just want our right to self-determination to be respected and we want peace that provides Israelis, Palestinians, and Jewish people with justice. Palestinians deserve better too. Hamas' main mission is about eliminating Israel, and all Jewish people, not Palestinian liberation. Go read their original 1988 charter if you don't believe me.
You can and should be pro-Palestine and pro-Israel. The “sides” should not be Palestine vs Israel, but for justice and peace vs hate and political agendas. The side for justice and peace has no place for Islamophobia, antisemitism, or xenophobia. I feel like a lot more of us are on the same side than we think and it’s time we use that to work towards justice for all.
References
Anne Frank House. (n.d.). Are all Jews Zionists? Retrieved from https://www.annefrank.org/en/topics/antisemitism/are-all-jews-zionists/
International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance. (2016). What is antisemitism. Retrieved from https://holocaustremembrance.com/resources/working-definitions-charters/working-definition-antisemitism
Jewish Virtual Library. (n.d.). The Arab/Muslim world: Jews in Islamic countries. Retrieved from https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jews-in-islamic-countries
Newport, F. (2019). American Jews, politics, and Israel. Retrieved from https://news.gallup.com/opinion/polling-matters/265898/american-jews-politics-israel.aspx
Pew Research Center. (2013). A portrait of Jewish Americans. Retrieved from https://www.pewresearch.org/religion/2013/10/01/chapter-5-connection-with-and-attitudes-towards-israel/?utm_source=link_newsv9&utm_campaign=item_265898&utm_medium=copy
Posner, M. (2018). Ashkenazi and Sephardic Jews. Chabad Retrieved from https://www.chabad.org/library/article_cdo/aid/4095674/jewish/Ashkenazi-and-Sephardic-Jews.htm#Where
Roots Metals. (2022). LET'S TALK ABOUT THE WORD "DIASPORA." Retrieved from https://www.rootsmetals.com/blogs/news/lets-talk-about-the-word-diaspora?_pos=1&_sid=59f462e7f&_ss=r
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