The Myth Of Zionist Racism--And The Cover It Provides

Robert S. Wistrich, director of The Vidal Sassoon International Center for the Study of Anti-Semitism and the author of A Lethal Obsession: Anti-Semitism from Antiquity to the Global Jihad, recently wrote an op-ed in Ynet.News about The myth of Zionist racism

The apartheid analogy and the myth of Zionist racism are classic examples of cynical political warfare aimed purely at stigmatizing or delegitimizing Israel out of existence. Such fabrications totally disregard the context and content of South African apartheid, based on an institutionalized discrimination anchored in a formidable array of strictly enforced racial laws.


From birth to death it was always skin color and statutory race classification that determined human and civic rights in white-controlled South Africa. The black majority (90% of the population) had no right to vote or to be elected; it could not freely choose its place of residence, work or occupation. Mixed marriages or even sexual relations across the race barrier were criminalized, there were separate benches in parks for whites and blacks, separate buses, hospitals, libraries, restaurants, as well as segregated places of entertainment.

Any person even casually acquainted with Israel’s vibrant democracy knows that there is not even the remotest comparison between its free and open society and the grim reality of South African apartheid.

This of course raises the question as to what is behind the motives of those who make these claims of Israeli Apartheid.

There are those who use the term as freely--and loosely--as the term "disproportionate force": they use such language for emotional effect without really having a clue as to what such terms actually refer to.

And of course, there are those who claim they are merely offering constructive criticism in the interest of encouraging debate--

But then ideological delegitimization and slanderous misuse of the apartheid analogy is not about the “criticism” of Israel, let alone “learning the lessons of history” or achieving freedom for the Palestinians. The objective is not to help solve an intractable national conflict (made even more difficult by the rise of Islamic fundamentalism) but to demonize Israel as the embodiment of ultimate “racist evil” – an accusation designed to remove any moral grounds for its existence.

Those engaged in de-legitimization initiatives – whether Iran, the Palestinians, Arab states, left-wing militants or members of Western academic elites – are engaged in propaganda and politicide, not the pursuit of truth.

In fact, the use of the "Zionism is Racism" mantra has a history--a short history, but one whose roots reveal the intent of those whose righteous indignation are a cover for something very different.

In an interview with Shmuel Rosner a year ago about the new antisemitism, Wistrich pointed out:

The “Israel Apartheid” mantra is an important part of the hinterland in demonizing Israel. A totalitarian fabrication born in the 1970s, it was an integral part of the Soviet anti-Zionist/anti-Semitic campaign under Brezhnev. It led directly to the notorious November 1975 UN resolution branding “Zionism as racism.” Like the “Apartheid State” blood libel which has been projected on to Israel, its initial purpose was to promote Soviet goals in Africa and Asia by stigmatizing Israel as the embodiment of racist evil. The Western left, since the demise of the USSR, has inherited this poisoned legacy which is also a standard theme in Palestinian and Arab propaganda. We are talking about an ideologically and politically-driven inversion of reality, which hypocritically nourishes antisemitism in the name of “justice” and “human rights”.

Inversion of reality is right: in a video I posted yesterday, we are treated to a woman advocating BDS against Israel and claims that the mob breaking through barriers to get into Israel while throwing rocks at the IDF--are peaceful protesters. No mention of what she thinks of the "protesters" that the Syrians paid to show up.

Not to be outdone is the journalist who participated in last year's flotilla, and wrote that the IDF ships resembled "hyenas hunting"--but now claims he was just referring to the shape of the shadow, and meant no disrespect to the IDF.

He also thinks that boycotting stores is a great way to encourage dialog--though he tends to favor Jewish stores. No mention of boycotting Muslim stores to encourage dialog on putting an end to Palestinian terrorism.

He also leaves out how yelling, screaming mobs outside Jewish stores encourages dialog.

So much for "justice" and "human rights".

Technorati Tag: Zionism and BDS.