Those who harbor hostility towards Israel are increasingly blurring the lines between “anti-Zionism” and “antisemitism,” effectively challenging the notion that there’s a distinct separation between opposing Jews and opposing the nation established to safeguard them.
This was vividly illustrated on Wednesday at New York University during a large graduation celebration around Washington Square Park.
Amidst the festivities, an “activist” displayed a provocative banner resembling the Israeli flag, but altered with Nazi swastikas and the NYU emblem, casting a shadow over the event.
The banner was unfurled atop the Steinhardt building, named after a major university benefactor recognized for his dedication to Jewish causes and support for Israel.
Such actions — likening the Jewish people to the regime responsible for the devastation of Jewish life in Europe — followed closely on the heels of a “protest” outside a Brooklyn synagogue that turned into a hateful march through a predominantly Jewish neighborhood.
A screaming mob with rags wrapped around their faces waved the flag of Hezbollah and shouted disgusting slogans demanding that “Zionists” vacate Brooklyn.
These folks keep insisting We’re not against Jews — just Zionists!
But they were besieging a Jewish synagogue and a Jewish neighborhood in Brooklyn, and calling local Jews “babykillers.”
Claiming any meaningful distinction between “Zionists” and “Jews” in these cases is the equivalent of demanding that Jews prove themselves to be innocent, presumably by denouncing Zionism.
To paraphrase Jean-Paul Sartre, antisemites enjoy accusing Jews of theft to make them empty their pockets to prove their honesty.
It’s a humiliation ritual.
Whoever raised the Hakenkreuz at NYU wasn’t making some humanitarian gesture about suffering Gazans.
It was a gesture of hate, meant to make Jewish grads and their families feel scared and ashamed, with no right to celebrate.
NYU must find the culprit or culprits and prosecute them openly.
If they’re students or graduates, expel them or revoke their diplomas.
Normalizing bigotry leads straight to scapegoating and violence; civilized people must censure the haters.
Stop the infection before it spreads any more.