Professor Stuart Rees highlights that current responses to the Gaza ‘war’ – such as Levitt Robinson’s class action against Sydney University, claiming neglect of duty of care of certain students/staff – would suggest that antisemitism (Jews) is the priority issue, not ‘the unending slaughter of Palestinians.’ This is strengthened by PM Anthony Albanese’s appointment of an envoy for antisemitism (J), but not yet for Islamophobia.
Semites comprise a specific group who according to biblical teachings are descendants of Noah’s son Shem.
They comprise Arabs, Jews and Phoenicians. Israelites descended from Jacob, son of Abraham’s son, Isaac, while descendants of Abraham’s son Ishmael comprise Arabs.
The term ‘anti-Semitism (J)’ was originally applied in Europe to Jews who experienced pogroms – violent riots with mobs attacking homes, businesses and synagogues – in the 19th and 20th centuries, especially after the 1881 assassination of Russian Emperor Alexander II.
Amid this persecution, the modern Zionist movement emerged rooted in believing that Jews could only be safe in their own homeland.
The movement to create a Jewish state was influenced by European nationalism and settler colonialism.
The project spearheaded by Zionist secular Jews was spectacularly successful in establishing the state of Israel.
But it resulted in Zionist Jews persecuting the indigenous semitic Palestinian inhabitants, so today, the term anti-Semitism (P) is most relevant.
Antisemitism against Palestinians is evidenced by
1) Ongoing Nakba atrocities leading to the IJC ruling that Israel is plausibly committing Genocide in the Occupied Territories
2) Stealing Palestinian land with illegal settlements
3) Murders of Palestinian farmers by Israeli settlers, and
4) Imposition of harsh controls in OTs.
The IJC deems this all illegal, and the UN General Assembly just ordered Israel to withdraw from illegally-OTs within 12 months.
Israel’s response to the 7 October Palestinian resistance against harsh Israeli treatment and threats to Al-Aqsa Masjid, resulted in Israel killing over 42,000 Palestinians and counting, 70% of whom are women and children non-combatants, many in designated ‘safe zones,’ and destroying mosques, churches, schools, universities, hospitals and cemeteries.
Zionist claims that they’re only exercising their ‘Right of Return’ to God-promised lands, are not substantiated:
Firstly, majority of Jews are Ashkenazis who are in the main not Semites, but converts to Judaism, whose roots lie in Eastern Europe.
Secondly, majority of Zionists are secular, non-observant Jews, which negates the relevance of any purported God-given rights.
Thirdly, throughout history, many Jews converted to Christianity and also to Islam, so became ethnically Arab Christians and Muslims.
Fourthly, certain ultra-orthodox Jews believe Jews are not entitled to return to Palestine. If they did, it would be “an act of the devil, a demonic outburst of unclean forces.” (Jewish Learning)
Highly-considered studies by Israeli geneticist, Eran Elhalik, elucidated the claims of Ashkenazi Jews.
Elhalik found Yemenis have closest blood links to ancient Israelis. Eastern European Jews comprise the largest ethnoreligious aggregate, nearly 90%, of modern Jewish communities worldwide.
Elhalik’s findings support the ‘Khazarian Hypothesis’ that Eastern European Jews descended from Khazars, who settled the Caucasus and converted to Judaism in the 8th century. Many have a small genetic component from admixture with Jews.
Historical records and genetics indicate Palestinians have a stronger claim to being indigenous, being descended from Ancient Canaanite semites.
Therefore, the declaration of antisemitism is most relevant to Palestinians today who are currently experiencing the worst atrocities from antisemitism.
We appeal to writers who promote intelligent discourse that they differentiate in using the term ‘anti-Semitism’ between anti-Semitism (Palestinians) and anti-Semitism (Jews).
Definitions, such as the IHRA anti-Semitism definition, while totally ignoring anti-Semitism (P), illogically conflate justified criticism of Israel with anti-Semitism (J) since Israel deserves condemnation for rejecting International Rules of Law, with its ongoing genocide of Palestinians, amongst other heinous crimes.
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