When Palestinian Nationalism Becomes Antisemitism

Moreover, Palestinian terrorism is often directed not only against Israelis but Jews in general. When such hatred and violence extends to entire groups of people, not just nations with specific policies, it is simply classic racism—in this case, antisemitism. When Palestinians claim to oppose the Israeli “occupation” of Judea and Samaria, but have no problem with attacking Jews around the world, they’ve crossed the line between Palestinian nationalism and Jew-hatred.

There is nothing inherently insidious about Palestinian nationalism, but the ideologies and methods it has adopted over the past century—including outright collaboration with Nazism—have been more antisemitic than nationalist. When Palestinians define their movement’s objective as the destruction of the State of Israel and its millions of Jews, rather than the founding of a Palestinian state alongside Israel, it becomes clear that they are more interested in hurting and killing Jews than realizing their national aspirations.

There is nothing in Zionism that negates the idea of a Palestinian state. Some of Israel’s greatest Zionists, including various prime ministers, have endorsed the idea of a such a state. There is no compelling reason for Palestinian nationalists to demand the replacement or destruction of the Jewish state rather than agree to peaceful coexistence.

Clearly, it is time for the anti-Zionism that masquerades as Palestinian nationalism to stop pretending it is anything other than antisemitism. It must come to an end.

The opinions and facts presented in this article are those of the author, and neither TheJ.Ca nor its partners assume any responsibility for them.