Anti-Semitism vs. anti-Zionism

Anti-Semitism is generally defined as hostility, prejudice or discrimination against Jews, for no other reason than being Jews.

Any such attitude should be condemned. No individual or community should be the target of any form of prejudice or discrimination for what its members are. 

If human history is marred by such intolerable trends, there is no place today except for absolute equality among all peoples.

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights of 1948 leaves no room for any kind of compromise on its very first article: “All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. They are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood.”

Article two affirms that “everyone is entitled to all the rights and freedoms set forth in this Declaration, without distinction of any kind, such as race, colour, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status”.

Every country and society should be working positively to reduce and outlaw such discrimination, including by governments that may engage in various forms of racial or religious profiling, especially, these days, against Muslims.

And while there has been much progress in that direction, our world is hardly free from xenophobia, hatred, racism, chauvinism and outright bias against others.

But with the broad recognition of the need to end bias, there is a new problem: the tendency of some to seek immunity for their actions under the claim that accountability is also a form of discrimination.

In the same manner as when a Muslim who commits a crime cannot complain that his punishment was for being Muslim, rather than for being criminal, an Israeli who is blamed for illegal aggression and violation of others’ legitimate rights cannot complain that criticism of his behaviour is a form of anti-Semitism.

Yet, Israel has been trying for years to establish new norms that would shield it in precisely this manner: any criticism of Israel’s behaviour, regardless of its source, and even if meant to help Israel free itself of the consequences of its dangerous conduct, is instantly condemned as anti-Semitic.

Palestinians who for the last few months have been demonstrating their rejection of a cruel occupation by attacking its symbols — soldiers and settlers — are being demonised as extremist Islamic elements that attack Israelis not because they rule them by tyranny but simply because they are Jews.

Would Palestinians be any happier to live under a brutal military occupation if its perpetrators belonged to any other faith?

Of course the Israelis know better, but that is the last line of defence when all other excuses for occupation are exhausted.

Israel and its supporters worldwide are engaged in a high-gear intimidation campaign to discourage any criticism of its ruthless atrocities against the Palestinians as hatred of Jews, as Jews. 

That may work for some time, but it will not help cover up Israel’s crimes forever.

Moreover, by considering any condemnation of its constant violation as anti-Semitism, Israel is implicating all Jews in the very crimes it is committing.

Palestinians, and indeed the Arab states that condemn its continued occupation and colonisation, have been careful not to generalise their blame to include Jews as Jews.

It is in fact the opposite, as Palestinians and Arabs more generally appreciate greatly and rely heavily on the support of Jews who also disagree with Israel’s ongoing dangerous policies.

Jews lived peacefully and harmoniously in all parts of the Arab and Muslim world for centuries, while they were being persecuted and eventually exterminated in great part in Europe.

Anti-Semitism was unknown in the Muslim or the Arab worlds. In Palestine, both communities lived together in peace and tranquillity. Only when the Zionist programme targeted Palestine did trouble start.

The resulting discord was political: a dispute for rights and land. It was never religious or ethnic, though some have tried to push it in that direction, not least Israel.

Palestinians were so determined to live in peace that they made an unprecedented sacrifice, agreeing to accept just 22 per cent of their historic homeland — the West Bank and Gaza Strip — for a state.

Unfortunately, Israel, in its zeal and backed by its so-called friends in the West, rejected this immense compromise and denied the Palestinians even that.

Instead, Israel continued its relentless theft and colonisation of Palestinians’ land, massacring, maiming or jailing any Palestinian who resists, all the while crying that it is the victim and anyone who objects to its crimes is nothing more than a bigot.
It is essential for everyone who opposes real bigotry and racism to reject this twisted logic.