Comedian Trevor Noah wrote a book titled “Born a Crime” because, in apartheid South Africa, being biracial was considered a crime. Similarly, by Israel’s standards — and by those who weaponize accusations against Palestinians — I was “born antisemitic” simply because I am Palestinian.
These demonizing labels and accusations have been deliberately used to silence and suppress Palestinian voices, no matter where they live.
Antisemitism is horrific, immoral and unjustifiable. Nothing should excuse hatred toward Jewish people. However, the weaponization of antisemitism — and the expanding redefinition of the term — has too often been used to shut down criticism of Israel and the Zionist movement, regardless of their actions.
Take, for example, the remarks made by Derek Peterson during the May 2 commencement ceremony at the University of Michigan. As part of a speech honoring the courage of marginalized people throughout the university’s history — including courageous Jews, women, Black Americans and others — he praised pro-Palestinian student activists, saying they had “opened our hearts to the injustice and inhumanity of Israel’s war in Gaza.”
For those comments, he faced admonishment, threats and attacks he does not deserve. And he is not alone. Palestinians and many of our supporters are constantly bombarded with accusations, vilification, censorship and professional intimidation. Many people remain silent out of fear that speaking honestly could cost them their careers, reputations or livelihoods.
Throughout my career as a civil rights advocate working in government and nonprofit organizations, I, too, have been the target of these accusations. The hate mail I have received throughout my life for speaking honestly about my experiences living under Israeli occupation is beyond comprehension.
The University of Michigan claims that student protesters — many of whom are Jewish themselves — created fear among Jewish students. No one should ever live in fear. But, at the same time, what about the protesters whose lives were altered by people in power because they dared to speak about the suffering and tragedy experienced by their families in the Palestinian territories and Lebanon? Their fear is dismissed. They are punished and targeted by agencies and institutions that malign their names, destroy their reputations and threaten their livelihoods.
The hypocrisy and double standards applied to Israel’s actions are mind-boggling. Israel and many of its supporters want to ethnically cleanse us, bomb us and silence our voices. For the time being, they may believe they are succeeding. In reality, it is not the Palestinians who are putting Jewish lives in danger; it is Israel and its apologists who are endangering both Jewish and Palestinian people through oppression, occupation and bombs. Yet the attacks on our lives must remain hidden so that we do not create waves. I ask those who are alarmed by our calls for justice to stand in our shoes for a moment.
Antisemitism is real, just as anti-Palestinian, anti-Arab and anti-Muslim hatred are real. And regarding Zionism: can I not criticize a political movement that advocates for the ethnic cleansing of my family and me from our homeland? My family has lived continuously in Palestine since the 1300s, yet because I am not Jewish, Israel does not even allow me to visit my homeland. Meanwhile, my Jewish cousins, whose families came from Eastern Europe, can obtain citizenship and live with subsidies in settlements built on land taken from Palestinians.
Am I antisemitic for stating these facts? Apparently, according to the University of Michigan and those who seek to silence us, the answer is yes. For the sake of the oppressed, we will not be silent and we are not afraid of false labels. As for those who equate Israel with the Jewish people, shame on you.
Terry Ahwal is educational fund secretary at American Federation of Ramallah, Palestine.
This article originally appeared on The Detroit News: Criticism of Israel is not hatred of Jewish people | Opinion
Reporting by Terry Ahwal / The Detroit News
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