It is hard to think of an area of political debate more emotionally charged than that of Israel and its relationship with the Palestinians. But it would be a step forward if there was free debate on the subject. That would open the possibility for misconceptions to be challenged rather than letting grievances fester.
I appreciate the opportunity to respond to Mark White’s blog in Plebity arguing that anti-Zionism is not antisemitism. I take up some but not all of Mark’s arguments. But Mark’s analysis is off base both conceptually and factually in several places.
When Jews discourage debate about Israel and Jewish identity, they prevent open conversation and legitimate criticism of Israel, which leaves the field open for real antisemites to use anti-Zionist language to promote and spread their actual antisemitism.
In this episode Sasha and Nesim have a conversation about the conflict in Israel and Palestine. Nesim begins the episode by providing some history of Israel and the Middle East, and then they discuss the events of May 2021 and share their thoughts on elements of the conflict such as antisemitism, the question of whether Israel is an apartheid state, and the role of U.S. imperial policy in the region.