PARCEO and JVP offer this explainer to our beautiful movement on what antisemitism is, what anti-Zionism is, and why the conflations between antisemitism and anti-Zionism are dangerous and harm our movements for justice. This conflation, and the vicious attacks escalating against those supporting justice in Palestine, are rooted in virulent anti-Palestinian racism. We know that our struggles for justice are deeply intertwined, one to the other. Please see our explainer below.
What is antisemitism?
Antisemitism is grave, serious, and totally incompatible with movements for collective liberation, and we stand against it in any form.
Antisemitism is discrimination, targeting, violence, and dehumanizing stereotypes directed at Jews because they are Jewish. In the past decade alone, some examples of the horrifying white nationalist antisemitic violence we have witnessed include the murder of 11 congregants at the Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh in 2018; synagogue shootings at a Chabad synagogue in Poway, California in 2019; Nazi symbols at the January 6, 2021 US capitol insurrection,; antisemitic hate groups and rallies; and the desecration of cemeteries. We have also seen the use of Jewish stereotypes and conspiracy theories as part of racist ideologies. Visibly observant Jews have been especially harassed and harmed.
We understand antisemitism as historically contextual, situated amidst interrelated conditions and struggles. That’s why we fight antisemitism within, and as part of, broader struggles against oppression and for collective liberation. For instance, white nationalist violence has been on the rise in the U.S., fueled by anti-immigrant and racist manifestos, sentiments, and conspiracy theories, such as the great replacement theory. Jews are among the targets of white nationalist violence along with Black people, immigrants, Muslims, and trans and queer people, among others. Our safety is bound together with the safety of all people, and none of us is free if we aren’t all free.
Attacking Jewish individuals or communal spaces for being Jewish, or blaming the Jewish people for the actions of the Israeli government, is antisemitic and unacceptable and flatly contrary to the values of our movement.. Our movement for justice in Palestine stands firm as an anti-racist movement, which of course includes opposing all acts of antisemitism.
What is anti-Zionism?
Being an anti-Zionist means opposing the political ideology of Zionism, which resulted in the expulsion of 750,000 Indigenous Palestinians from their land and homes. It means standing against the creation of a nation-state with exclusive rights for Jews above others on the land. Anti-Zionism supports liberation and justice for the Palestinian people, including their right to return to their homes and land. Anti-Zionists believe in a future where all people on the land live in freedom, safety and equality.
Zionism suggests Jews require a supremacist nation state to answer the real question of Jewish safety. We believe that everywhere in the world, Jews belong and should be safe. Real safety does not grow from guns, checkpoints, walls and a police state. True safety is built through forging real solidarity with all those fighting for a more liberated world.
Why is it dangerous to confuse antisemitism with anti-Zionism?
At a time when white supremacists and white nationalists take advantage of this moment to sow confusion and promote antisemitism, Islamophobia, and racism, misstating what antisemitism is harms all of our work for justice and endangers our communities.
Opposition to the political movement of Zionism and/or the policies of the state of Israel is no different from criticism of any other political ideology or policies of any other nation state, such as the settler colonialism, imperialism and white supremacy at the foundation of the United States.
But the Israeli government, US government, and anti-Palestinian organizations run concerted campaigns to re-define and mis-state the meaning of antisemitism, aiming to falsely conflate it with criticisms of Israel or Zionism. They do this so the Israeli government can avoid accountability for its policies and actions that violate Palestinian human rights.
Conflating antisemitism with opposition to the Israeli government’s policies or ideology is especially dangerous right now. Supporters of Palestinian rights are losing their jobs, being doxxed and harassed online, being attacked physically, and facing congressional censure for trying to save lives.
In fact, the agenda of white nationalists, war profiteers, and anti-Palestinian organizations has nothing to do with protecting Jewish people, and all to do with harming our intersectional movements for justice.
War mongers try to make it hard, but it’s actually really clear and simple: Fighting for Palestinian freedom and against antisemitism are intertwined. We are deeply committed to both.
For a full training on antisemitism from a framework of collective liberation, contact PARCEO at antisemitismcurriculum.org
PARCEO is a resource and education center that provides training and support toward meaningful social change.
Jewish Voice for Peace is an organization of Jews and allies who envision a world where all people — from the U.S. to Palestine — live in freedom, justice, equality, and dignity.