The term antisemitism is increasingly misused to silence legitimate criticism of Israeli policies, and it’s time to set the record straight. Restricting antisemitism to Jewish people and Israel misrepresents history and undermines efforts to combat all forms of bigotry.
Why This Misuse of Antisemitism Is Dangerous
1. Historical Distortion – Antisemitism historically referred to hatred of a broad group, including Arabs. Narrowing it to Jewish people erases its meaning and perpetuates a misleading narrative.
2. Silencing Political Dissent – Equating criticism of Israel with antisemitism suppresses political debate. Opposing Israel’s policies is not inherently antisemitic and must be protected as free speech.
3. Overlooking Other Forms of Racism – Defining antisemitism solely around Jewish people or Israel ignores prejudice against other Semitic peoples, particularly Arabs. Islamophobia and anti-Arab racism stem from similar biases but are treated separately.
A Call for Honest Terminology
To combat hate effectively, we need precise language:
"Anti-Jewish racism" – To address prejudice specifically against Jewish people.
"Anti-Zionism" – To discuss opposition to Israeli policies without falsely labeling it antisemitism.
"Discrimination against Semitic peoples" – To reflect the broader historical context of Semites.
Immediate Recommendations
1. Stop Using Antisemitism as a Political Tool – Recognize that criticizing Israel is not the same as hating Jewish people.
2. Protect Free Speech and Political Debate – Ensure activists, students, and citizens can dissent without false accusations.
3. Address All Forms of Racism Equally – Stand against Islamophobia, anti-Arab bigotry, and antisemitism with equal vigor.
4. Make Policy Based on Facts, Not Political Pressure – Don’t let political manipulation define hate speech or dictate foreign policy.
Legislation Fueling This Misuse
In recent years, several U.S. bills have conflated criticism of Israel with antisemitism:
● Antisemitism Awareness Act (2019)
● H.Res. 894 – Condemning Antisemitism (2023)
● Combating Antisemitism Act (2020)
● Anti-BDS Legislation: Anti-BDS Act (S. 720 / H.R. 1697, 2019), Combating BDS Act of 2020 (S. 1881 / H.R. 4475), Israel Anti-Boycott Act (S. 1727, 2017).
More than 30 U.S. states (AZ, AR, CA, CO, CT, FL, GA, IL, IN, IA, KS, KY, LA, MD, MI, MS, MO, NE, NV, NJ, NY, NC, OH, OK, PA, SC, TN, TX, VA, WI) have passed or introduced laws restricting BDS participation.
For too long, the U.S. government has shielded Israel from accountability under the guise of combating hate. It’s time to stop the manipulation and uphold justice for all.
