Antisemitism VS. Antizionism
Many people do not understand what either of these terms means. Many mistake them for being the same thing, and many do not know what they are saying when they support Antizionism and how that term is inherently antisemitism.
What are these terms?
Antisemitism
Antisemitism is prejudice against or hatred of Jews - Oxford Dictionary
Zionism
Zionism is derived from the word Zion, referring to the Biblical Land of Israel. In the late 19th century, Zionism emerged as a political movement to reestablish a Jewish state in Israel, the ancestral homeland of the Jewish People. Today, Zionism refers to support for the continued existence of Israel, in the face of regular calls for its destruction or dissolution - American Jewish Committee
Antizionism
Anti-Zionism is opposition to Jews having a Jewish state in their ancestral homeland, and denies the Jewish people’s right to self-determination - American Jewish Committee
Antisemitism VS. Antizionism
While criticism of Israeli government policies is not inherently antisemitic, denying the Jewish people’s right to self-determination through a Jewish state—known as anti-Zionism—often is. Antisemitism involves hostility or prejudice against Jews, including harmful stereotypes, Holocaust denial, and acts of violence or intimidation. Anti-Zionism becomes antisemitic when it applies double standards to Israel, demonizes its existence, or blames Jewish individuals or communities for the actions of the Israeli state. For many Jews, Zionism is deeply connected to their cultural, religious, and historical identity. Therefore, attacks on Zionism often feel like attacks on their very existence. Supporting a Palestinian state while opposing the existence of a Jewish one reflects a discriminatory double standard and undermines the principles of equality and self-determination. In this context, anti-Zionism is not merely a political position—it frequently serves as a modern guise for antisemitic beliefs.
Antizionism on College Campuses
Jewish students on campus live in fear due to anti-Israel riots becoming Antisemitic.
At campuses across the U.S., anti-Zionist rhetoric has increasingly crossed into antisemitism, creating hostile and unsafe environments for Jewish students. At Cornell University, anonymous online threats incited violence against Jewish students. At Tulane, students were physically assaulted and an Israeli flag was set on fire. At the University of Maryland, “Holocaust 2.0” was found chalked on campus sidewalks. While universities are intended to foster debate, discourse around Israel and Zionism has often escalated into harassment and hate.
Anti-Zionism, which questions the legitimacy of the Jewish state, frequently manifests through protests, BDS campaigns, and inflammatory rhetoric. Though not inherently antisemitic, anti-Zionism often blurs the line when it invokes Holocaust denial, antisemitic tropes, or targets Jewish individuals and communities. Jewish students who identify with or express support for Israel may face social exclusion, intimidation, or verbal abuse, undermining their sense of safety and belonging on campus.
This growing hostility not only marginalizes Jewish voices but also suppresses open dialogue and academic freedom. To ensure the safety and rights of all students, university administrations and government agencies must take urgent action to address antisemitism disguised as political activism and uphold protections for Jewish communities on campus.
