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How “Anti-Zionism” Is Creating Zionists
Joseph Bottum says activist anti-Zionism has led him to identify as a Zionist, arguing that rhetoric against Israel can blur into hostility towards Jews. He says this matters because Jews have faced incidents in which people or institutions were targeted with anti-Zionist language, and he sees a duty to oppose antisemitism.
Bottum cites a Philadelphia restaurant labelled with an antisemitic slur, a Jewish centre’s mural in California painted over with “Zionism is not welcome”, and a synagogue in Maryland defaced with initials for an anti-Zionist slogan. He invokes George Washington’s 1790 letter affirming religious freedom, while stressing that Zionism does not require uncritical support for Israel’s government. He argues that solidarity with Jews targeted as Jews should include standing up as Zionists.
In short
- Bottum says anti-Zionist activism has moved him towards Zionism.
- He cites incidents targeting Jewish people and institutions.
- He distinguishes Zionism from uncritical support for Israel’s government.
Steelman: both sides, in good faith
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The case for
Bottum’s case is that anti-Zionist language can, in practice, make Jewish people and institutions targets, even when its users intend to criticise Israel rather than Jews. Given the reported incidents and the history of antisemitism, he argues that identifying as a Zionist can express solidarity with Jews’ safety and self-determination without endorsing every Israeli government policy.
The case against
A good-faith countercase is that opposition to Zionism, understood as a political ideology or a particular account of Israel’s character and policies, is not inherently hostility towards Jews. Treating anti-Zionism broadly as antisemitism risks conflating criticism of a state or nationalist project with prejudice, and may deter legitimate debate; antisemitic attacks should be condemned on their own terms.