Friends,
Over a year ago, I invited people on this forum to read the book Mapping the
New Left Antismitism
<https://www.routledge.com/Mapping-the-New-Left-Antisemitism-The-Fathom-Essays/Johnson/p/book/9781032344713?srsltid=AfmBOoqtg66VC-kIiEw-o7nAl0t4hAyahYJb5iqrIlIr1Urdo5PPCVOc>,with
a note that I would be happy to discuss the issues over coffee or tea with
anybody at any time. Nobody took me up on that offer. As someone who concurs
with the legitimacy of many criticisms that have been leveled in this forum
about Israel’s actions, I remain dismayed at how critically unexamined some of
the rhetoric around the criticism has been. The result has been a perpetuation
and normalization of antisemitic rhetoric that is wholly unoriginal, and very
purposefully divisive to unfortunate effect, damaging the fabric of this
community, in which I now find myself deeply uncomfortable after 20+ years of
so many warm relationships.
The language used by GRALTA, which initiated these difficult conversations, is
a prime example. Take this claim that GRALTA has put out in its public
massaging here on this forum: "Zionism today, as ideology, theology, and
political project, has emerged as an expression of neocolonialism, Christian
nationalism, and fascism.”
This statement reflects a troubling alignment with narratives rooted in
Soviet-era antisemitic propaganda, which rebranded attacks on Jews as attacks
on Zionism. While it purports to critique a political ideology, it uses
rhetoric designed to demonize and dehumanize, perpetuating harmful stereotypes
that have long been used against Jewish people.
During the Cold War, the Soviet Union systematically reframed its antisemitic
agenda as anti-Zionist rhetoric. Zionism, a movement for Jewish
self-determination born out of centuries of persecution and exile, was
portrayed as a form of neocolonialism and racism. The Soviets accused Zionism
of being an imperialist conspiracy, using antisemitic tropes about Jewish
control over global systems like finance, media, and politics. By associating
Zionism with fascism, Soviet propaganda created a morally repugnant equivalence
that ignored the Jewish people's experiences of genocide and displacement
during the Holocaust. This tactic was not only deeply ahistorical but also
dehumanizing, casting Zionists—and, by extension, Jews—as existential threats
to global justice.
The original Hamas Covenant (1988) echoed Soviet propaganda, conflating Zionism
with conspiratorial global domination. Article 22 of the charter accused
Zionists of orchestrating wars, revolutions, and economic oppression—directly
mirroring Soviet antisemitic narratives. It presented Zionism not as a response
to Jewish persecution but as a force of imperialist aggression, erasing the
historical and spiritual connection of Jews to the land of Israel. This shift
from targeting Jews explicitly to demonizing Zionism has made antisemitism more
palatable in political discourse. By focusing on Zionism, the same dehumanizing
tropes and stereotypes about Jews were perpetuated under a different guise.
The phrase from GRALTA directly reflects this legacy. Zionism is reduced to a
colonial project, ignoring its roots as a liberation movement for a persecuted
people with deep historical ties to their ancestral homeland. Associating
Zionism with fascism invokes the Soviet tactic of aligning Jewish
self-determination with ideologies of oppression and genocide. The claim
mirrors narratives of Jewish conspiratorial power, subtly dehumanizing Jews who
identify with or support Zionism. By framing Zionism as a uniquely evil force,
such rhetoric legitimizes exclusion, marginalization, and even violence against
Jews in the name of opposing Israel.
While legitimate criticism of Israeli policies is necessary and valuable,
language like this moves far beyond policy critique. It perpetuates harmful
stereotypes and fosters division within communities, as it has ours. There are
now many Jews in our town - friends, neighbors, classmates - who, like me, feel
deeply uncomfortable in it. This is highly regrettable and deeply troubling.
And I would like to thank the neighbors of mine who, over the past 15 months,
have reached out with expressions of concern for our safety and well-being.
As a practical matter, I would endorse using a #POLITICAL tag for any emails
that have political content, with the possible exception of matters related to
town governance.
Best wishes,
Stephen Brown
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