Anti-Zionism Isn’t Antisemitism

American college students have a Constitutional right to be idiots, but lines need to be drawn at abuse — and double-standards exposed

Congressional Circus

The Presidents of Harvard, MIT, and Penn were grilled in Congress this week by incensed politicans who claimed these institutions enabled and even encouraged antisemitism on their campuses.

Much has already been said expressed about how “Woke” American universities have become, sentiments Bill Maher and I largely agree with — wokeness exponentiating since October 7th.

All that said, this political theatre and media circus exposed other complexities. One of many challenges is conflating criticisms of Israel and support of the Palestinians with hatred of the Jews.

Consider this aspect of the debate:

Does Anti-Zionism = Antisemitism?

No.

HOWEVER:

Anti-Zionism IS often motivated by antisemitism.

That makes things complicated, especially when Israel is acting terribly. Can more than one idea exist in people’s heads at the same time? Usually not. For example, ALL of these statements are true:

• Hamas is a theocratic mafia that is bad for everyone, including and especially the Palestinians
• Hamas went full-ISIS on October 7th, shooting, beheading, burning, raping, and torturing 1,200+ Israelis, kidnapping 200+
• Hamas needs to be removed from power and influence, and the only way to do that is through force
• Israel was caught off guard on October 7th because it was focused on protecting illegal West Bank settlements
• Israel has retaliated in Gaza with callous disregard for Palestinian civilians, so far killing 15,000+ (likely an under-count)
• Israel can and should take a more targeted approach to removing Hamas, one that greatly minimizes Palestinian suffering
• The history of Israel and the Palestinians is contested and dependent on perspective — and is decades old and intractable
• The Jews and the Palestinians aren’t going anywhere, and need to figure out an end to these cascading cycles of violence

Since the truth of these statements becomes dependent on which tribe one belongs to, “oppressor” and “victim” also become interchangeable, and with them the justification for atrocities.

Tempers have risen, as have protests, especially on American campuses where the fine line between free and hate speech is blurring. Abuses have happened, and that line has often been crossed.

But a problem here, as exemplified by these hearings, is the base assertion that crticisms of Israel, including terminology such as “intifada” and phrases like “river to the sea” are de facto hate speech.

Consider the grilling of Harvard’s president Gay by representative Stefanik, who tried to equate the definiton of “intifada” with “genocide against the Jewish people” — amid reference to codes of university conduct.

“We embrace a commitment to free expression,” said Gay, “even of views that are objectionable, offensive, and hateful. It’s when that speech crosses into conduct that violates our policies against bullying — “

“Doesn’t that speech not cross that barrier?” shouted Ms. MAGA who not long ago was a proponent of Replacement Theory. “Call for the genocide of Jews and the elimination of Israel?… What action will be taken by Harvard?”

The core problem here is that “a commitment to free expression” must include free expression that might constitute hate speech. Again, it depends on your point of view, your tribe.

Representative Stefanik and her supporters seem to believe that anti-Zionism equals antisemtism. Sadly, that often is true — but criticisms of Israel and support for Palestine must be allowed.

Personally, I think colleges should let students say and protest as they choose. The action taken by Harvard and others should be stopping with the political agendas, and starting with the critical thinking.

Cancel culture works in both directions: Who’s the arbiter of what’s acceptable speech, and what isn’t? Stop taking sides, lately only those of certain disadvantaged minorities.

Even more so, the government needs to stay out of way, too. If university leaders should be called out, it’s not for allowing students to rant, but for censoring any of those who do.

Double Standards and Hypocrisy

What does need to stop is overt harassment and abuse. Impassioned student voices need to be heard, exemplified by Talia Kahn, a half-Jewish, half-Muslim MIT student.

Where to draw that line then? Focus on behaviors, not ideology. Focus on what’s being done, not being said. Obviously words and deeds cross over, too, but in this climate all nuance has been lost.

As Bret Stephens recently opined, the free speech double standard problem with the academy — especially elite institutions like Harvard and Penn — is the source of this turmoil.

When topics such as gender, sexuality, and race are at issue, then these same institutions and their leadership have few qualms about canceling speech — and firing staff.

But now that incendiary rhetoric related to Palestine and the Jews explodes across campuses, these same forces and actors deploy the free speech get-out-of-wokeness card.

The ultimate loser here is critical thinking, common sense, and any reference to objective reality or facts. That’s the death knell not only of universities, but democracies.

As Kurt Vonnegut wrote, “and so it goes…” into a future where the arbiter of truth will be the those who have power over the discourse. We can and should expect better from our universities.