Statement on use of Star of David and Nazi imagery in protest materials
We are aware of certain incidents where the Star of David alone has been used in protest posters and stickers as a symbol of Israel and the political ideology of Zionism. These include depictions of the Star of David being placed in a bin, with a cross through it, and being stomped on by a boot.
We are also aware of some protest posters and stickers which use Nazi imagery, such as swastikas, in posters, equating the Star of David with a Swastika.
The Star of David, or Magen David, is a symbol of religious and cultural significance for many Jewish people. Although this symbol appears on the Israeli flag, its significance for Jewish people long predates the State of Israel.
Palestinians, Jews and others within the Palestine solidarity movement have consistently discouraged use of the Star of David alone as a symbol of the violence of the State of Israel or the political ideology of Zionism.
Using the symbol of the Star of David in protest materials can be seen as being a protest against Jewish people as a whole, rather than against the State of Israel. This fuels antisemitism by associating all Jews with Israel’s human rights abuses.
Nazi symbols are recognised symbols of hatred, and hold particular harm for Jewish people, as well as other groups who were, and continue to be, the victims of Nazi ideology.
As stated by Free Palestine Melbourne: “Nazi symbols are universally recognised as symbols of hate and racism. The appropriation of Nazi symbolism to make an ideological point against Zionism inadvertently promotes these ideologies and has them re-enter the public space.
The use of such symbols, that are alien to the Palestinian culture, people and cause, can undermine the movement for Palestine and overshadow the legitimate grievances and aims of the movement. The Palestinian cause is an anti-racist cause and stands against all forms of bigotry.”
One social media tile, briefly used to advertise the counter-protest against the pro-Israel Never Again is Now rally in Melbourne, depicted the Star of David as being crushed by a boot and stated ‘crush Zionism’.
We understand that those making this tile were not aware of the potential harm and offence the image could cause to Jewish people, who see the Star as a symbol of Jewish identity, and the tile as an attack on Jews. Once they were alerted to this, the tile was quickly taken down.
It cannot be ignored that the Israeli military has misappropriated the Star of David in grotesque ways which makes it difficult for people to distinguish between the Israeli State and Jewish symbols. Israel’s soldiers have been documented emblazoning the Star of David on Palestinian prisoners, graffitiing it on the walls of houses they loot in Gaza, and using tanks to sear it into the rubble of what used to be recreation parks for families. These actions place all Jewish people at risk by tarnishing us with these egregious human rights abuses.
It is important for all of us who are advocating for Palestinian freedom, justice and liberation to continue to distinguish between the State of Israel and Jewish people as a whole.