The Inside Story Podcast Do criticisms of Israel amount to antisemitism?
May 23, 2025
Phyllis Bennis, an International Adviser at Jewish Voice for Peace, and Saba-Nur Cheema, a Political Scientist specializing in Islamophobia and anti-Semitism, tackle the controversial issue of whether criticisms of Israel equate to anti-Semitism. They discuss the impact of U.S. narratives surrounding recent violence, the complexities of anti-Semitism in political discourse, and the importance of distinguishing between valid criticisms of Zionism and genuine hatred. The conversation reveals how these dynamics shape perceptions in the ongoing Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
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Conflating Criticism with Anti-Semitism
- Israel and Western officials quickly labeled the killing of embassy staff in Washington, D.C., as anti-Semitic.
- However, this framing conflates political protest over Israeli actions with religious hatred, which is misleading.
Violence Harms Palestinian Cause
- Individual acts of violence do harm the broader Palestinian cause.
- The pro-Palestinian movement advocates for rights rooted in dignity, not hatred or violence.
Israel's Strategy to Silence Critics
- Israel cynically labels all criticism as anti-Semitism to silence opposition.
- Many critics oppose Israeli actions out of conscience, not hatred toward Jews.