Understanding Antisemitism and Anti-Zionism

What is antisemitism?

Antisemitism refers to prejudice, discrimination or hostility directed at Jewish people. It is generally based on negative stereotypes, myths, or misinformation about Jews, Judaism or Jewish identity.

Antisemitism can range from offensive or biased comments and behavior based on that person’s Jewish identity (or perceived identity), to language, rhetoric or actions that demonize, delegitimize or apply a double standard to the Jewish state, Zionism and Zionists. It can also include physical aggression or acts of vandalism targeting Jewish people or institutions.

Antisemitism sometimes targets Jews not as individuals but as a collective – whether that is Jewish organizations, movements like Zionism or the Jewish State of Israel.

A tool that can be helpful in understanding antisemitism is the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance or IHRA definition.

What is anti-Zionism?

Zionism is the movement for self-determination and statehood of the Jewish people in their ancestral homeland, the land of Israel. By contrast, anti-Zionism rejects Israel’s right to exist as a Jewish state and downplays or negates the nearly 4,000-year Jewish connection to the land of Israel.

Anti-Zionism is antisemitic, in intent or effect, and can take on several different forms, including:

• Targeting, vilifying or punishing Jews, Jewish institutions or others who feel a connection to Israel. 
• Applying classic antisemitic tropes to the Jewish state.
• Exploiting Jewish trauma by invoking the Holocaust in order to position Israel as akin to Nazis.
• Rendering Jews less worthy of nationhood and self-determination than other peoples.

Anti-Zionism is distinct from criticism of the policies or actions of the government of Israel in that it attacks the foundational legitimacy of Jewish self-determination and statehood. Some people may mistakenly use the term anti-Zionism to describe those who oppose specific policies of the Israeli government, but who still uphold and support Israel’s right to exist.

Is criticism of Israeli policies antisemitic?

In most cases, it is perfectly acceptable to criticize the policies and actions of the Israeli government, just as one can criticize the actions of the US or any other government.

Israel is a country like any other, and much like all governments around the world, the Israeli government enacts policies that range from laudable to condemnable. There are a wide range of views regarding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and vigorous debate and activism on this complex situation is an important component of public discourse and the free exchange of ideas. And indeed, many Israelis and Jews around the world have at times expressed criticism of Israeli government policies yet do so as committed Zionists.

At the same time, criticism of Israel can be antisemitic if the criticism includes anti-Jewish rhetoric, promotes views aimed at delegitimizing Israel and Jewish nationhood, or uses language or slogans that demonize the Jewish State and its supporters.