A Muslim Antisemite Becomes A Zionist--And Challenges Jews To Face Anti-Israel Hatred

Kasim Hafeez, a British Muslim and the founder of the website theisraelcampaign.org, writes about his transformation From Antisemite to Zionist:

Growing up in a Muslim community in the UK I was exposed to materials condemning Israel, painting Jews as usurpers and murderers. My views were reinforced when I attended Nakba Day rallies where speakers predicted Israel's demise.

My hate for Israel and for the Jews was fuelled by images of death and destruction, set to the backdrop of Arabic melodies about Jihad and speeches of Hizbollah leader Hasan Nasrallah or Osama Bin Laden.

There was also constant, casual antisemitism around me. My father would boast of how Adolf Hitler was a hero, his only failing being that he didn't kill enough Jews. Even the most moderate clerics I came across refused to condemn terrorism against Israel as unjustified.

The turning point for Hafeez came when he bought a copy of Alan Dershowitz's The Case for Israel with the intent to refute it:

As I read Dershowitz's systematic deconstruction of the lies I had been told, I felt a real crisis of conscience. I couldn't disprove his arguments or find facts to respond to them with. I didn't know what to believe. I'd blindly followed for so long, yet here I was questioning whether I had been wrong?

But the point is not to encourage a warm and fuzzy feeling that a Muslim has seen through the lies and now sees Israel for what it is--Hafeez's point is to confront Jews who themselves have fallen prey to the lies and have lost sight of what Israel is and means.


Hafeez confronts the Union Of Jewish Students (UJS) in Great Britain--a group that has taken to cancelling pro-Israel speakers on the advice of Muslim groups and hands out Palestinian flags.

Hafeez challenges:

As an outsider, I ask why so many in the Jewish community are closing their eyes to the constant stream of anti-Israel hated spewed out from all facets of British society.

And while pro-Palestinian organisations burn Israeli flags, urge boycotts of Israel and protest against appearances by Israeli politicians or artists, UJS's response is shameful. It is not the time for UJS or any other group to engage in hollow flag-waving to show their "progressiveness". Let Israel's democratic history speak for itself.


Instead of meekly trying to avoid coming across as too pro-Israeli or too Zionist, it is time to make the facts known, to defend Israel against delegitimisation. It is time to stem the tide of Israel bashing before it becomes even more mainstream and consumes even more people like me.

Read more about the conflict in Great Britain on how best to advocate for Israel on campus.

Technorati Tag: Antisemitism.