Michal Cotler-Wunsh discusses the rise of antisemitism globally, bias against Israel at the U.N., the blurred line between anti-Zionism and antisemitism, challenges faced by Israeli citizens, the impact of foreign funding on academic freedom, and navigating anti-Zionism and antisemitism in social justice movements.
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Quick takeaways
Anti-Zionism is a modern form of antisemitism denying Israel's existence.
Misusing terms like apartheid and genocide distorts historical realities.
Identifying and dispelling false narratives is crucial in combating modern antisemitism.
Deep dives
The Mutation of Antisemitism: From Traditional to Modern Strains
Antisemitism has evolved over centuries, continually mutating to align with prevailing social constructs. The modern strain, exemplified by anti-Zionism, denies Israel's right to exist. This mutation intersects extreme ideologies, perpetuating hatred against Jews and Israel. The International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance definition serves as a benchmark to combat this form of antisemitism.
Combatting Misunderstandings: Dispelling Apartheid and Genocide Allegations
Misusing terms like apartheid and genocide to describe Israel undermines the suffering of those historically affected by these atrocities. Israel, a diverse nation where minorities are integrated in all aspects of society, refutes claims of apartheid. Accusations of a Holocaust or genocide by Israel in Gaza distort historical realities and perpetuate falsities.
Allegations of Israel perpetrating a Holocaust or genocide invert historical truths and sow discord. The Orwellian misuse of terminology like apartheid and genocide tarnishes real victims' memories and undermines efforts for mutual recognition. Identifying and dispelling these false narratives is critical to combatting modern antisemitism.
The Importance of Defining Antisemitism: Utilizing the IRA Definition
Understanding and applying the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance definition of antisemitism is crucial in identifying and combatting its various strains. The definition serves as a tool to recognize and address contemporary forms of antisemitism, ensuring a comprehensive approach to combating hatred and discrimination against Jews and Israel.
Addressing Antisemitism and Extremism
The discussion delves into the pressing need to identify and combat antisemitism, focusing on the implications of antisemitic rhetoric and actions, such as the Hamas charter's call to annihilate Israel. It emphasizes the dangerous spread of antisemitism, particularly through social media platforms, highlighting the importance of recognizing and addressing this issue as a broader societal concern that threatens the foundations of democracies.
Challenges and Responses on College Campuses
The podcast examines the challenges presented by antisemitism and calls for a proactive approach on college campuses, urging unequivocal condemnation of atrocities like those witnessed on 10-7. It advocates for universities to adopt and implement the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance definition to effectively identify and combat antisemitism. The discussion further underscores the importance of reclaiming and clarifying concepts related to antisemitism and extremism, aiming to transcend divisions and protect core democratic values.
Sam Harris speaks with Michal Cotler-Wunsh about the global rise of antisemitism. They discuss the bias against Israel at the United Nations, the nature of double standards, the precedent set by Israel in its conduct in the war in Gaza, the shapeshifting quality of antisemitism, anti-Zionism as the newest strain of Jew hatred, the “Zionism is racism” resolution at the U.N., the lie that Israel is an apartheid state, the notion that Israel is perpetrating a “genocide” against the Palestinians, the Marxist oppressed-oppressor narrative, the false moral equivalence between the atrocities committed by Hamas and the deaths of noncombatants in Gaza, the failure of the social justice movement to respond appropriately to events in Israel, what universities should have done after October 7th, reclaiming the meanings of words, extremism vs civilization, and other topics.
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