I Am a Jew: The Line Between Anti-Zionism and Antisemitism

“I am not antisemitic, only anti-Zionist.” For years, the anti-Israel community has tried to differentiate between their anti-Zionism and antisemitism. Despite repeated attempts to separate the two, this group consistently fails to explain the extreme spike in antisemitic incidents following any conflict in Israel. Since October 7th, 2023—the deadliest attack on Jews since the Holocaust—antisemitic incidents in the United States have surged by 200%, according to the ADL. What explains this? If people were truly making a distinction between the two, why would there be such a dramatic rise in antisemitism?

The International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) defines Antisemitism as “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.” This definition has often unreasonably been the subject of dispute for conflating criticism of Israel with antisemitism, with working examples such as “denying the Jewish people their right to self-determination” at the spotlight. Assuming this is true, it is in fact pro-Palestinian circles that end up conflating the two. Is asking a Jew on the street what he thinks of killing babies not merging the two? Is drawing swastikas on synagogues not merging the two? Or is forcing any Jew to have to defend Israeli policies not mixing the two? Is vandalizing Jewish cemeteries over the world not an attack on Jews? Take into account that the same people rejecting the IHRA definition are those who, through their actions, accept the definition.

This week, I was horrified to see the flag of Palestine hanging at the entrance of the Jewish Ghetto in Venice, Italy. Being the first Jewish Ghetto in the world, it resonates symbolically that in the place where Jews were oppressed and segregated hundreds of years ago, the animosity remains the same. In essence, there is nothing intrinsically wrong with flying the flag of Palestine, but by hanging it in the ghetto, it becomes a way of exploiting the Palestinian cause to express centuries-old hate under the guise of standing with Palestine. The message is clear: the flag is not there just to support Palestine but to attack Jews. It is not merely the fact that thousands of Israeli Jews have died at the hands of those supporting the flag that is concerning, but where it was decided to be exhibited. If anti-Zionism is not antisemitism, there would be no connection between Israel and a centuries-old Jewish ghetto in Italy. People would be able to distinguish between Jews in Europe or America and the policies of the Israeli government. Moreover, protests against Israel would not be held in Jewish neighborhoods or Kosher restaurants but outside an embassy or simply in the streets, as is the case when there is criticism of the policies of any other country. If the pro-Palestinian claim that Zionism is a modern concept of the 1900s, then why does a ancient Jewish ghetto, where supposedly no Zionists ever lived, become a place of target?

What do Israel, “baking with the blood of children,” and moneylending have in common? At a glance, one would be overwhelmingly confused by the connection between all these words—and for good reason. All of the above have historically been used to justify the persecution and the hatred toward Jews. Much like a virus, antisemitism spreads and adapts over time, but the hate remains the same. These long-standing tropes, used to dehumanize Jews, have come in various forms through the centuries and continue to this day.

Ironically, these people who are “against Zionism, not Jews” may be among the most Zionist of all. They are unable to separate their rejection of Zionism from their targeting of the Jewish people, therefore they implicitly acknowledge the indisputable connection of Jews to Israel.

If Pro-Palestinian protesters distinguished their resentment of Jews from their raison d’etre, if Palestinian flags were not erected at Jewish sites, if supporting Palestine included accepting a Jewish state alongside it, if there were no double standards toward Israel, and if criticism of Israeli policy did not lead to increased antisemitism, anti-Zionism would not be antisemitism. But until then, anti-Zionism will continue to be a pernicious form of antisemitism and a threat to Jews across the globe.

“He hath disgraced me, and hindered me half a million; laughed at my losses, mocked at my gains, scorned my nation, thwarted my bargains, cooled my friends, heated mine enemies, and what’s his reason? I am a Jew.” (Merchant of Venice)

If the IHRA definition did not include anti-Zionism, the actions of the hostile pro-Palestinian crowd would leave no choice but to add anti-Zionism to the working definition.