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An antisemitic cartoon by Brazilian cartoonist Carlos Latuff.

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There is a sentiment among some that criticism of Israel will automatically draw the ire of Jews making the claim that such criticism makes one anti-Semitic.  Thus, the question posed is one that many of us face from non-Jews and by Jews alike.  Frequently, the response to those whose comments are labelled as anti-Semitic is that anyone should be free to criticize any government, including Israel and its policies, and that criticism of the government and its policy is not anti-Semitic because it is not criticism of the religion of Judaism.  Only when it is criticism of the religion should it be declared to be anti-Semitic.

               The response above is only partially correct.  Criticism of Israel, its policies, its government or its politicians is not in and of itself anti-Semitic.  Criticism of Israel, even harsh or strident criticism, just like the criticism of any country’s actions or policies, including what happens with respect to Palestinians, is not in and of itself antisemitic.  Israelis do this all the time.  However, there are circumstances where such criticism crosses the line into antisemitism.

               Perhaps the most well-known test of when criticism of Israel crosses the line into anti-Semitism has been laid out by Natan Sharansky[1] in a 2004 essay 3D Test of Anti-Semitism:  Demonization, Double Standards and Delegitimization.[2]  Sharanksy describes the 3D Test, as follows:

• "The first "D" is the test of demonization: When the Jewish state is being demonized; when Israel's actions are blown out of all sensible proportion; when comparisons are made between Israelis and Nazis and between Palestinian refugee camps and Auschwitz - this is anti- Semitism, not legitimate criticism of Israel.
• The second "D" is the test of double standards: when criticism of Israel is applied selectively; when Israel is singled out by the United Nations for human rights abuses while the behavior of known and major abusers, such as China, Iran, Cuba, and Syria, is ignored; when Israel's Magen David Adom, alone among the world's ambulance services, is denied admission to the International Red Cross - this is anti-Semitism.
• The third "D" is the test of delegitimization: when Israel's fundamental right to exist is denied - alone among all peoples in the world - this too is anti-Semitism.”

               The International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (“IHRA”)[3] clearly considered the Sharansky’s 3D test of anti-Semitism when it adopted its working definition of antisemitism in 2016.  The definition is, as follows:

• “Antisemitism is a certain perception of Jews, which may be expressed as hatred toward Jews. Rhetorical and physical manifestations of antisemitism are directed toward Jewish or non-Jewish individuals and/or their property, toward Jewish community institutions and religious facilities.”[4]

To provide better understanding of the working definition, the IHRA adopted a number of examples to serve as illustrations, including the following:

• “Denying the Jewish people their right to self-determination, e.g., by claiming that the existence of a State of Israel is a racist endeavor.
• Applying double standards by requiring of it [Israel] a behavior not expected or demanded of any other democratic nation.
• Using the symbols and images associated with classic antisemitism (e.g., claims of Jews killing Jesus or blood libel) to characterize Israel or Israelis.
• Drawing comparisons of contemporary Israeli policy to that of the Nazis.
• Holding Jews collectively responsible for actions of the state of Israel.”[5]

The United States State Department has adopted the IHRA’s working definition of antisemitism with the illustrative examples.[6]

The Anti-Defamation League has a program for college students online that will help them understand when criticism of Israel is antisemitic and provides a way for them to deal with it.  The program is called Think, Plan, Act and can be helpful for anyone in understanding and dealing with this type of antisemitism.[7]  The training tool contains information on real life examples of what may occur on campus and is something that can be shared with children and grandchildren who are in college or are high school seniors preparing to go to college.

The BDS movement is supported by some Jewish organizations while condemned by most.  It is supported by some people who are not antisemitic.  Is the BDS movement itself antisemitic?  We believe it is antisemitic.  Some of the reasons for its founding and its activities are clearly antisemitic.  The BDS movement founding principle and chant supporting that principal is “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free.”

The meaning of the chant is the establishment of a Palestinian state from the Jordan River to the Mediterranean Sea, rejecting the existence of the Jewish state and calling for the destruction of Israel.[8]  It also denies the Jewish people of the right of self-determination.  Under the Sharansky standard, it is double standard.  Under the IHRA and US State Department standard, it also denies the Jewish people of self-determination.  By those measures, it is antisemitic.

What about the United Nations, is it antisemitic?  On February 12, 2020, the UN Human Rights Commission published a blacklist of 112 companies operating in Judea and Samaria (the West Bank) in support of the BDS movement.  The United States Secretary of State Mike Pompeo condemned the action as a “delegitimization” of Israel.[9]  The UN Human Rights Council has a long history of singling out Israel for alleged human rights abuse, including Israel on its agenda at every meeting.  No other country is treated this way.[10]  It is not only a demonstration of bias against Israel, but applies a double standard. 

Another UN agency, the Economic and Social Council voted in September 2020 to rebuke only one country, Israel, for allegedly violating women’s rights through its “continuing systemic violation of human rights of the Palestinian people” in the West Bank.[11]  Singling out of Israel (regardless of whether the charge is accurate or not) is a clear double standard.

Cartoons demonizing Israel,[12] comparing it to Nazis, is not legitimate criticism, but constitutes antisemitism.  See some examples below:

Gerald Scarfe published a cartoon using antisemitic trope of the “blood libel” in a Sunday Times (of London) depicting Netanyahu using Palestinians and blood to build a wall to protect Israelis to help him in elections.

SUMMARY

Criticism of Israel, its policies, its officials or its treatment of Palestinians is not in and of itself antisemitic.  However, when such criticism is used to delegitimize Israel, or draw upon antisemitic tropes, or apply a double standard by singling out Israel, or demonize Israel, it crosses the line into antisemitism.