Russia is attempting to conquer Ukraine. China is engaged in genocide against the Uyghur people, and it continues to persecute the Tibetan people. The rap sheet of the United States includes slavery of Africans and the slaughter of Native Americans.

I accuse all these countries, and many others, of committing atrocities, but I do not feel an ounce of hate for their citizens. I do not wish harm upon Russians, Chinese, or Americans. I love these people and their cultures. I simply wish their countries would respect the human rights of all.

Why do so many struggle with this basic concept? I frequently encounter people casting unfounded accusations of bigotry at those who dare criticize the actions of their homeland. Nowhere have I seen this behavior more prevalent than among my fellow Jews defending the State of Israel.

Israel

Anti-Zionism is not anti-Semitism. As with all those countries mentioned above, it is simple, and correct, to denounce the abhorrent actions of the State of Israel without harboring any hate for the Jewish people. It is also simple and correct to denounce the terrorist actions of Hamas without harboring any hate for Palestinians.

It is a waste of time to relitigate history. In the present conflict both sides have performed horrendously evil acts, yet it is clear that Israel has done worse. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) are modern and well equipped. Palestine is overpowered and outmatched. It is not a war. It’s a massacre.

Since the attack of October 7th, fewer than two thousand Israelis have been killed. That number is heinous, but it pales in comparison to the sixty thousand murdered Palestinians, of which a third are estimated to be children. Even a barbarian can recognize the injustice of thirty eyes for an eye. Proportionality matters.

If someone violently breaks into a home and attacks a family, only the most pacifist among us would find it unacceptable to violently thwart the intruder. But what moral code can justify a campaign of vengeance against the intruder’s innocent extended family members? Israel could have had a valid claim of self defense, but it chose genocide instead.

To say that anti-Zionism is equivalent to anti-Semitism is to hold all Jews responsible for Israel’s war crimes. People take this position in the hopes of protecting Jews, but it only further endangers us. It gives permission to all those who rightfully condemn the actions of Israel to direct their grievance at Jews everywhere.

Zohran and the Real Anti-Semites

Last week my representative in the New York State Assembly, Zohran Mamdani, handily won the Democratic primary for Mayor of New York City. Zionists, much of the media, centrist Democrats, and Republicans have suddenly found something they can all agree on. They all seek to cast Zohran as an anti-Semite who must not become mayor.

His detractors desperately latch onto the most minute semantic arguments in an attempt to portray him as a villain. They put words in his mouth, and twist them as they come back out. They stretch further than taffy to find any scrap supporting their prejudiced conclusion.

Why go through such lengths to cast a man as a demon when true evil stands before us? Anti-Semites are to be found everywhere. They are Proud Boys, Klansmen, militias, and other white supremacists. They are the people who attempted an insurrection against the United States on January 6th, 2021. These people will readily admit they want to kill everyone who is not a cis straight white Christian. We have enough enemies already. There is no need to build more.

Largely because of 9/11 many people in the United States are terrified of international Islamic terrorism. The reality is that domestic terrorism is a much greater threat. Occurrences have increased greatly, and show no signs of slowing. The overwhelming majority of domestic terror attacks are committed by far right extremists. They have already murdered many Jews, and we are right to fear they will do so again.

In the United States, white supremacist groups enthusiastically support the Republican party. Trump intentionally kneecapped FBI programs to infiltrate, monitor, and disrupt these groups activities. He granted pardons to the insurrectionists, releasing violent criminals back into society. The Republican Party continues to implement policies that delight their bigoted supporters. Why has the media not pressured Republicans with accusations of anti-Semitism as much as they have Zohran?

Republicans strongly defend Israel. Their white supremacist supporters also stand with Zionists against Palestine. How does this make sense? How can a group of people who admittedly want to exterminate all Jews stand arm in arm with a Jewish state?

It can only be understood after accepting the fact that anti-Zionism is not anti-Semitism. The far right loves Israel’s war crimes, but they hate Jews. They are thrilled that Israel’s actions justify increased hatred of Jews worldwide. The far left condemns Israel’s actions, but they love all people, including Jews and Palestinians. These are polar opposites, and only one of the two sides has guns in their hands and swastikas on their skin.

Do not be fooled by our true enemies. Rest assured a vote for Zohran is a vote against anti-Semitism.