‘Criticism of Israel is Not Antisemitic!’ is a Deadly Straw Man Argument

“Criticism of Israel is not antisemitic!”

This tired refrain is a classic “straw man” argument.

It “sounds good” because it feels easy to agree with. The recipient of the statement is supposed to feel instinctively, “Of course criticism of Israel is not inherently antisemitic!”

But the fallacy in the pronouncement is that no one of any standing or credibility, anywhere, is saying that any and all criticism of Israel is automatically antisemitic.

That’s what makes “Criticism of Israel is not antisemitic!” a straw man argument — it presents a supposed position that is easy to “knock down”, like a straw man, but there is not actually anyone taking this supposed position.

This argument is analogous to saying, “Imprisoning innocent people is wrong!”

It’s obviously true, but it’s a statement of no value, because there is no one advocating for imprisonment of innocent people.

A recent example of the “criticism of Israel is not antisemitic” straw man argument comes from Professor Gregory Mann at Columbia University.

Professor Mann writes, “As in the past, we—students, faculty, and staff alike—have been asked to embrace the absurd notion that any criticism of Israel’s policies is antisemitic.”

By using the passive voice — “we have been asked” — Professor Mann avoids having to identify the source of this supposed call at Columbia University to embrace the idea that any and all criticism of Israel is antisemitic.

Professor Mann has not responded to my request for identification of a source for his claim.

For transparency and clarity, I have written to Professor Mann to ask for clarification of the sources of his claim.

Specifically, I wrote to Professor Mann:

Gregory, you’ve written:

As in the past, we—students, faculty, and staff alike—have been asked to embrace the absurd notion that any criticism of Israel’s policies is antisemitic.

Do you have a source or citation for that? Your use of the passive voice — “have been asked” — leaves unclear who has done this asking.

Who exactly has said that any and all criticism of Israel is antisemitic?

I’ve been studying and writing about these issues for a long time.

I’ve never seen a citation of someone saying that any and all criticism of Israel is antisemitic, but I have seen that kind of statement alleged often without anyone citing a source.

Has some person or group of standing at Columbia University said that any and all criticism of Israel is automatically antisemitic? If so, who was it, when did they say it, and can you offer a link or other citation?

I believe the reality is that much criticism of Israel is indeed tarnished by antisemitism, and much isn’t.

For example, I believe that the Likud coalition encouraging and allowing settlements in the West Bank is a horrendous barrier to peace, and I don’t think saying that is antisemitic.

I also think that the Likud coalition trying to usurp powers of the Israeli Supreme Court is an attempt to destroy Israeli democracy. And I don’t think saying that is antisemitic.

But most importantly, who exactly has asked you to embrace the notion that any and all criticism of Israel’s policies is antisemitic?

Do you have a source and citation?

If you choose to reply, please feel free to indicate whether your comments are on or off the record.

And please feel free to call me any time.

I provided Professor Mann with my contact information.

I’ve not heard back.

Meanwhile, the proliferation of antisemitic criticism of Israel continues to bombard us daily, with:

- Jew-hating tropes (control of the global media; control of US foreign policy; greed and use of money for power);
- inflammatory words applied unilaterally against Israel without thoughtful and rigorous application of definitions to facts or inclusion of relevant history and comparable situations (“genocide”, “apartheid”, “colonial settlers”); and
- egregious double standards that hold the only Jewish state in the world to “rules” and “principles” somehow never mentioned in the context of any other nation-states, even those whose history and conduct fits the cited rules and principles far better than those of the Jewish state.

And that kind of criticism of Israel is, by definition, Jew-hatred.

If any reader can cite a credible person, institution, or authority declaring that any and all criticism of Israel is automatically and always antisemitic, please share the information.

If no one can do so, let’s put away the divisive and inflammatory straw man argument and engage in serious conversation about how to end the ongoing, tragic conflict that has cost thousands of innocent lives and threatens to cost thousands more.