By Talia Naamat, Adv.
This research paper, prepared by the Kantor Center at Tel Aviv University, was initiated and funded by the Israeli Ministry of Diaspora Affairs in congruence with the ministry’s cardinal task: “To ensure thriving Jewish personal and communal life, free from all forms of discrimination with strong and legitimate connection to Israel”.
During the past decade, we have witnessed time and again the destructive effect of the delegitimization movement against Israel has on the daily lives of the Jewish communities.
The delegitimization movements against Israel use tactics and rhetoric imbued with inciting, at times overtly antisemitic language. The movement applies distinctive and discriminative standards on the actions of the state of Israel and on Israeli citizens. Moreover, in calling to annihilate Israel as the Jewish State, it undermines Jewish people’s universal right to self-determination.
Most striking were calls of political leaders to make their cities “Israel-free zone”, that is – free of Israeli tourists as well. Given such incendiary proposals it is no surprise to see that well-known antisemitic activists take part in the movement’s activities.
The situation across university and college campuses is one of the clearest examples of the negative impact the delegitimization campaign has had on the Jewish minority.
As the AMCHA Report’s findings consistently show, the presence of anti-Zionist student groups, faculty boycotters and anti-Israel Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions (BDS) activities are each strong predictors of antisemitic activity in general, and incidents targeting Jewish students in particular.
These findings echo in the words of the French Prime Minister Manuel Valls:
“Traditional Antisemitism is joined by a new Antisemitism that cannot be denied or concealed.” “Too often, anti-Zionism hides behind legitimate criticism of the policy of the State of Israel and turns into antisemitism.”
To be clear, we aim to combat the antisemitic manifestations of the Delegitimization movement, not silence or muffle any political criticisms or debates. Israel is a vibrant, multi-ethnic and multi-religious democracy, filled with on-going, open and often heated criticism and debate. We only wish to clarify where expressions and actions aimed at Israel do not constitute legitimate criticism but rather cross the threshold into inciting antisemitic hate and discrimination against the Jewish people and the State of Israel as the Jewish homeland.
