As expected, Jewish communities are experiencing again a big wave of antisemitism in light of the war in Israel. Anti-Semitic slogans and symbols appear at protests worldwide, and only in the past couple of days were petrol bombs thrown at a synagogue in Berlin and Police investigating the murder of the President of a Detroit synagogue.
The war in Israel is not just like another clash of fighting between Israel and Hamas. It raised the level of antisemitism and delegitimization, but its unique circumstances also created some opportunities. Here's a breakdown of the opportunities that have arisen during this challenging time:
Widening Gap between Delegitimizers and Critical Progressives: The automatic support of some progressives for Hamas has been shaken. The recent violence has prompted many to reconsider their stance, realizing that Hamas's core commitments are fundamentally inconsistent with progressive principles. The war has driven a wedge between those who delegitimize Israel and many of those who are critical of Israeli policies. The Hamas pogrom has made it clear that those who do not unequivocally condemn brutal acts against innocent civilians are not true human rights supporters but ideological radicals. This disruption may reduce the ability of ideologues to grow their camp and collaborate with the left of center.
Awakening of Progressive Jews: Many progressive Jews have become increasingly aware that the current progressive discourse singles out Israel unfairly. Those who don’t, will pay a price. Jewish Voice for Peace, e.g., have failed to differentiate between intentional murders of Jewish children and elderly civilians and the tragic collateral damage that occurs during a war initiated by Hamas. This realization may lead to a decline in support for such organizations.
Challenging the "Jewish Erasure" framework: The binary discourse that labels Jews as "white" and "privileged" has downplayed the severity of the antisemitism threat in recent years. The automatic support for Hamas by some progressives has made many progressive Jews recognize that this discourse erases their unique identity and the challenges faced by Israel. It fails to capture the nuances around the establishment and existence of the State of Israel and Jewish identity.
Opportunities for Alliance Between Jewish Communities and Arabs/Muslims: Prominent voices in the Arab world and among Arab communities have denounced the sadistic murder of innocent people. This could boost a year-long dynamic for bringing together many Muslims and Jews against radicalism in the West, resembling the "Abraham Accords initiatives."
Solidarity Among Jewish Communities: Jewish communities have shown strong solidarity with Israel during this conflict, which could lead to significant opportunities. This aspect will be explored further in a separate newsletter.
While it is concerning that some within the global left have reacted with indifference or even justification for Hamas's actions, these opportunities offer a chance to reshape the discourse and combat antisemitism more effectively.
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