Anti-Semitism Weaponized to Silence Criticism of Israel
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Salma Hossein
- . November 6, 2023
- . Update: November 6, 2023 7:20 pm
The term anti-Semitism is being used to stifle the plight of Palestinians and the decades of injustice against them. Queen Rania Al Abdullah of Jordan reiterated that being pro-Palestinian is not being anti-Semitic. It doesn’t mean being pro-Palestinian is pro-Hamas or pro-terrorism.
“What we’ve seen in recent years is the charge of anti-Semitism being weaponized in order to silence any criticism of Israel. I want to be absolutely and wholeheartedly condemn anti-Semitism and Islamophobia…but I also want to remind everyone that Israel does not represent all the Jewish people around the world. Israel is a state and is alone, is responsible for its own crimes.”
Over recent weeks, voices speaking or daring to highlight the plight of Palestinian people and the IDF’s atrocities against them are being branded anti-Semitism. They are being targeted, condemned and censored.
Israel Justifying Civilian Deaths
On Sunday, Israel’s Ambassador to the UN Gilad Erdan said no pause was needed in Gaza because there’s no humanitarian crisis. This comes despite US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Arab leaders urging for immediate ceasefire. However, the US diplomat also said a ceasefire would give Hamas time to regroup for another attack on Israel.
The Jordan Queen said this is just endorsing and justifying the death of civilians in Gaza. “They are inherently dismissing the death, in fact, even endorsing and justifying the death of thousands of civilians, and that is just morally reprehensible.”
Reports highlight that in the US, sympathy for Palestine has been a minority position and supporters are being punished for speaking out about the inhumane indifference to the lives of Palestinian civilians. Some supporters have lost their jobs for tweeting or having views in solidarity with Palestine.
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Conflict Escalating Anti-Semitism
With Palestinians at the brunt of Israel’s hatred, Jews around the world are also seeing rise in anti-Semitism. The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) recorded 312 anti-Semitic incidents in the United States in the first two weeks following October 7. This was nearly a fourfold increase compared to the same period in 2022.
But then accusing every pro-Palestine of being anti-Semitic is dangerous and hard hitting on freedom of expression.
