I have now given numerous talks on antizionism in which I present the Three-Era Framework, a model that situates antizionism as the third historical era of anti-Jewish hostility. Yet, talk after talk, the same question inevitably arises: What about criticism of Israel? The question has become the lightning rod of the entire discussion—a permission slip that many within the Jewish community continue to grant. But the demand to create space for "criticism of Israel" is itself embedded within the structure of antizionism. No other minority group is routinely required to subject itself to criticism in order to appear reasonable, balanced, or intellectually honest.
What troubles me most is that even after demonstrating how libels have historically served as some of the strongest predictors of violence against Jews, antizionists—and even some self-described moderates or "demizionists"—continue to insist on making room for "Israel criticism." During these talks, I often switch the example from Jews to another minority group in order to reveal how what is presented as "criticism" is frequently demonization. Suppose, I say, we are discussing homophobia, and I insist that we make space for criticism of gay people. Is claiming that gay people spread AIDS a form of criticism?
The audience immediately gasps. They instantly recognize it as a defamatory stereotype rather than legitimate critique. What I find most disturbing is that I must repeatedly make this substitution for people to understand the point. I have to move away from Jews and toward another group that has been maligned before the audience can recognize demonization for what it is. There is something deeply pathological about a society in which harm directed at Jews remains invisible until it is reframed through the suffering of someone else.
It is a pattern that extends far beyond contemporary debates.
@DavidDeutschOxf recently observed that while antisemitism is historically resonant, civilizations have often shown remarkably little concern when violence is inflicted upon Jews.