By: Jack Borins
Anti-Zionism denies Jews the right to self-determination in their ancestral homeland, Zion. No country in the world attracts the same level of criticism that Israel faces. Studies consistently show Israel as one of the most disliked places on Earth. Many people who have been accused of anti semitism argue that their fight is not with the Jewish people but rather the concept of a Jewish state, founded on ethnic nationalism. They argue that the creation of Israel led to the displacement of hundreds of thousands of Palestinians. Anti-Semitism is the oldest form of hate in human history. Today, it takes the form of hatred towards Israel.
Since 2016, there has been a rise in religiously fueled hate crimes, particularly towards Jews and Muslims. According to Statistics Canada, such crimes grew by 63 percent between 2016 and 2017. Even though institutionalized Anti-Semitism is a relic of the past, the rise of nationalist policies around the world have given way to the politics of fear. Many of the perpetrators of these crimes claim they are in response to Israel’s policies. Israel is the only democracy in the Middle East, yet it is constantly singled out for criticism. Anti-Zionists often rehash ancient anti-Semitic tropes, painting the “Israeli lobby” as the enemy as part of the “all powerful” Jewish conspiracy. Congresswoman Ilhan Omar recently drew scrutiny due to her comments towards AIPAC, the American pro-Israel lobby. She claimed America’s pro-Israel policy was “all about the benjamins”, arguing that Jewish money is the cause of the two countries’ great relationship. Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib stated to Yahoo News that the Holocaust “gives her a calming feeling.”
In the past there have been many who have opposed Israeli government policies but respected the country’s right to exist as a Jewish homeland. You may not believe that Benjamin Netanyahu’s government has been effective in its pursuit of peace, but to say that the country as a whole is “ethnic nationalist” or “apartheid” is blatant Anti-Semitism in its modern form. Today, with Anti-Semitism on the rise around the globe, the stakes are higher while the rhetoric continues to get more divisive.
