Ending the Slippery Slope of “Antisemitism”

On college campuses and in corners of Capitol Hill, the barbaric acts of Hamas in Israel — murder, rape, torture and kidnapping — have wound up on a slippery slope of moral equivalency. The Hamas terrorists who planned and perpetrated these barbaric acts? Those blinded by the reality of these atrocities argue “let’s refer to them as ‘militants,’or even worse, ‘freedom fighters.’”  Calling them “terrorists” would be impolite to their sensitivities.

But this warped perspective also has fueled the flames of the most original sin of all — antisemitism — which dates back to the early history of Jews, several thousand years ago. Unfortunately, within a matter of days since the heinous attacks, we are beginning to see another slippery slope emerge. On a recent “Face the Nation” interview with Florida Governor Ron DeSantis (R), its moderator Margaret Brennan suggested that antisemitism is not focused exclusively on Jews. According to the CBS News transcript, in countering his claim that people from Gaza were antisemitic, Brennan pulled out the stock line that has been used before ad nauseum. “I’m sure you know all Arabs are Semites.” Alas, it seems that this tired trope is likely to be picked up again by others in media and elsewhere as they obscure moral clarity even further.

Antisemitism. The more political-sounding term, Anti-Zionism, has become a 21^st century euphemism. But we must not blur what it has meant for many millennia — Jew hatred.  And for sheer linguistic force, “antisemitism” also lacks the gut punch that is needed in our world of soundbites and social media.

My suggestion is that antisemitism now needs to be described in more direct terms. Let’s set aside the niceties and call it for what it is. Those who wish to continue as Hamas apologists should now have to confront that they are also supporting Jew hatred. They should always  be forced to explain their questionable support for such an inhumane evil.

“Jew hatred.” Repetition of this term, in conversation and online, would help its adoption by the mass media, further reinforcing the true sense of human cruelty being promoted. Anyone interviewed about their take on the Hamas rampage and slaughter should be sure to mention Jew-hatred as the root cause, rather than as a response to the Israel-Palestinian conflict that only has been around for 75 years at most.

Jew hatred is a vile phrase to utter, but anyone who values plain talk and honest communication should be encouraged to say it.

Yes, Jew hatred is a vile phrase to utter, but anyone who values plain talk and honest communication should be encouraged to say it. We already have effectively relabeled social venom against other minority groups. Saying someone is a racist, rather than a prejudiced person, now brings with it a sting and an implicit challenge to prove otherwise. The anti-racism movement that has emerged in full bloom underscores how a course correction in terminology can change hearts and minds in a short amount of time.

This can be done for Jew hatred, too. Let’s put an end to “antisemitism” by finally uttering the term that Hamas and its supporters are thinking, but dare not speak for fear of losing popular support. It then will be difficult, if not impossible, to suggest another context after this dangerous and irrational ideology finally is exposed.

Stuart N. Brotman is the former Chairman of the US-Israel Science and Technology Foundation.