Recognizing Anti-Zionist Anti-Semitism by Russell Shalev ~ The recent global wave of anti-Semitic attacks that accompanied the May 2021 conflict between Israel and Hamas has torn the mask off the disingenuous claim that anti-Zionism is unrelated to, not motivated by and wholly distinct from hostility towards Jews. The Anti-Defamation League recorded a 75% increase in antisemitic incidents in the United States during the 11-day conflict. Meantime, according to the Community Security Trust, there was a staggering 500% increase in anti-Semitic incidents in the United Kingdom since hostilities began. Opponents of Jewish self-determination took a short break from lecturing Jews that “anti-Zionism is not anti-Semitism,” only to vandalize Jewish institutions, threaten random Jews in heavily Jewish neighbourhoods and violently attack Jewish individuals. While this project has been in preparation for many months, the International Legal Forum has released, on the heels of this antisemitic onslaught, an unprecedented and comprehensive guide for policy-makers, entitled: “Recognizing Anti-Zionist Antisemitism.” The guide explains the nature, characteristics, and manifestations of anti-Zionist or anti-Israel anti-Semitism, as well as provides some practical tools to combat it. Indeed, the move from hostility towards the existence of the State of Israel to open attacks on Jewish communities in the Diaspora should come as no surprise to anyone who has followed the rhetoric, aims and methods of the anti-Zionist movement. Zionism is the Jewish people’s national liberation movement, dedicated to the establishment and maintenance of a Jewish homeland in the land of Israel. Beyond that, Zionism is an integral part of how many Jews see themselves today, flowing out of Judaism’s most sacred and fundamental texts, narratives, beliefs, history and practices, all of which uphold the centrality of the land of Israel to Jewish identity. Despite the myriad of national movements worldwide, and the various ethnic and national groups clamouring for independence, only Zionism, the Jewish national movement, is singled out, falsely condemned as racist, and delegitimized. Only Zionism, which most Jews view as integral to their Jewish identity, is disallowed, often by those who wish to erase and deny the Jewish people’s ancient connection to the land of Israel. Anti-Zionism engages in a systematic falsification of Jewish history, thus robbing Jews of their identity and heritage. It consistently denies thousands of years of Jewish history in the land of Israel and the centrality of Israel to Jewish identity. The ultimate goal of the anti-Zionist movement is the dismantling of the State of Israel. Of course, “dismantling” the State of Israel is a euphemism for its violent destruction. Given that the majority of the citizens of the State of Israel remain committed to its continued existence, and have proven themselves ready to fight for it, the “dismantling” of the state would require the subjugation of its population, and their subsequent expulsion or massacre. A constant feature of anti-Semitism in its many expressions throughout history is the association of Jews with the most heinous crimes or the violation of a society’s most sacred beliefs. In the highly religious Middle Ages, Jews were accused of deicide, and of colluding with the devil to undermine Christian faith. As nationalism replaced religion during the modern period, Jews were seen as a noxious racial element, undermining European nations from within. Today, Jews and the State of Israel are accused of violating the most sacred values of human rights and equality. For anti-Zionists, Israel has become the symbol of racism, apartheid and even genocide. Anti-Zionist anti-Semitism legitimises attacks on Jewish individuals and institutions due to their supposed affiliation with Israel’s purported war crimes. Given that modern society, post-Second World War and the civil rights movement, rightfully regards racism as repugnant, the branding of Zionism as racism invites discrimination and exclusion against Jews. Anti-Zionist campaigns create an atmosphere of toxicity and harassment for Jews. Historically, this form of anti-Zionism has made Jewish life impossible in societies where anti-Zionism was elevated to an ideological tenet. On college campuses, Jewish students are routinely faced with harassment and calls to be excluded and barred from aspects of student life, such as student councils. Anti-Zionism poisons and attacks other aspects of Jewish life, often tangentially related to Israel. For example, many kosher products worldwide are imported from Israel, especially in places with smaller Jewish communities. These kosher products, a basic necessity of orthodox Jewish religious practice, are often the target of anti-Zionist ire due to ties with Israel of the Jewish organization promoting the campaign. The recent attacks must serve as a wake-up call for policy-makers and civil society leaders – anti-Zionism, if tolerated, eventually seeps out into violent attacks on Jewish individuals and institutions. Anti-Zionist anti-Semitism is one of the most acute threats to the survival and flourishing of Jewish communities worldwide. As the ILF’s report shows, most states possess the necessary legal framework to combat hate and discrimination. The key is educating law enforcement and legal professionals of the characteristics and nature of anti-Zionist antisemitism in order to properly apply the laws that already exist. The report concludes with a number of key recommendations and practical legal tools for combating this virulent antisemitism: • Full adoption and implementation of the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) Working Definition of Antisemitism, as the basis upon which to identity antisemitism in all its manifestations. • Closer cooperation with law enforcement authorities. • Greater education and training of legal professionals, attorneys and judges, including with reference to the IHRA working definition. • Working closer with University administrations to actively affirm the right of Jewish students to express their Jewish and Zionist identities free from punishment, repercussion or harassment. The IHRA working definition of antisemitism should also be incorporated into university codes of conduct and anti-discrimination guidelines. Russell Shalev is an Israeli lawyer at the International Legal Forum. He’s worked at the Israeli Ministry of Justice, commenting and working on relevant policy. He also clerked at Herzog, Fox, Neeman in the International Public Law department, focusing on security export control, anti-bribery and anti-corruption compliance. Mr. Shalev has a BA in political science from McGill University, an MA in Middle Eastern studies from Bar Ilan University, and an LLB from Bar Ilan.