The substantial number of Jewish students and faculty who have participated in and supported ProPalestinian demonstrations has been underreported in mainstream media. (Intentionally so, I would imagine.). As a non-Jew, I have deep admiration for the courage of Jewish Voices for Peace, Rabbis4Ceasefire, and other groups who have been unwavering in their work for justice, compassion and peace. They are an inspiring example to us all, especially now, when we are faced with growing fascism.
These individuals are looking past ethno-religious and blind group loyalty, and acting on the basis of principle, as well as the longer term and underlying interest in maintaining democratic values that protect everyone. Aside from being a rebuttal to antisemitism, they are an example to the rest of us.
Thanks so much for this! Great and useful commentary. As a Jewish person, I have long resented the way the words "protecting Jews" and "combating antisemitism" have been used not to combat antisemitism or bigotry of any kind, but to suppress dissent. By the way, please see the interview in the Sunday NYT of Senator Schumer himself. Despite being attacked by Trump, he himself has a definition of antisemitism that is very close to that of Trump. (The problematic parts of the interview where he speaks about student protesters and related matters start around minute 25). I would be great if Peter can examine this and dissect it as well. I found it very disturbing.
Thank you Peter! The timing couldn't have been better in light of Wednesday's Miami Beach Commission vote on the mayor's item to defund a local art house cinema for showing "No Other Land". I forwarded today's email to the entire Commission and candidates for the November municipal election as well as relevant activists and SE Florida press.
Peter. You are amazing! How you have the energy to travel to all those places you just mentioned, including Australia!, is beyond me. Well, as you know, I’m old and not Jewish, yet that doesn’t really matter. I started “following” you some years ago when
I heard that you SUPPORT the Palestinian fight for freedom! Thank
If I were to reply, here, to Peter's incisive comment, my reply would simply mirror yours. So I won't offer a repetition of your reply, but will thank you in addition to Peter.
Peter, you are an exceptional human being and representative of Jewish values. All Jewish people should be recognized for standing up for justice for all and for speaking the truth.
Thank you for speaking the truth. Wrongdoings cannot endure indefinitely; one may wield power for a time, but it will not last forever.
I hope the Jewish community understands your perspective and stands up for justice, and not bask in the support they have from the government.
Very well said. Since the ADL has become an Israel advocacy organization rather than a Jewish civil rights one shouldn't they theoretically, as a matter of law, be required to register as a foreign lobbyist. ( I realize this will not happen in the current environment ).
A crazy aspect of this is that it doesn’t take long among the anti Israel posts on X to run into real antisemitism - but these people are often in support of the very same leaders the ADL has aligned with - they are fanning the flames of real antisemitism while cracking down on criticism of Israel.
You address an interesting point. It's not uncommon for right wing extremists and white Christian nationalists in the U.S. to be philosemitic with regard to Israel, particularly its right wing government, but antisemitic with regard to American Jews, particularly if they are liberal or progressive. We see something similar with Victor Orban and the AfD in Germany,
Thank you Donald Trump for goysplaining to the world why I haven’t been a real Jew for the past 10 years. As an assimilated Jew, I’ve worked so hard to not only check out of Hotel Judaism, but to actually leave.
On a serious note, Chuck Schumer can’t win. The pro-Palestinians I know (correctly) take issue with his stating that he “abhors” Mahmoud Khalil. The Trumpublicans take issue with him saying that Khalil should not be deported. So to whom is Schumer actually trying to win over?
I would have more sympathy for Schumer if he said he DISAGREES with Khalil. Abhor is a strong word. For example, I do not abhor Trump; I do, however, abhor many of the things he stands for. I do not abhor Trumpublicans; but I’m still not fully convinced that they are not Pod People.
Appreciate your succinct and powerful explanation about this; it helps me feel braver/more prepared to bring it up in conversation with others, especially people in my life who I have discovered tilt toward zionism--some seem to not really know why they hold that position (decades of pro-israel propaganda and anti-arab/palestinian disinformation efforts, I imagine... just as I had been unwittingly tainted by them until I paused to think, after israel unleashed it's massacre now a genocide post Oct 7.
2 final thoughts:
1) Is this "You're not a Jew anymore" part of Project Esther? (that was created by Heritage Foundation--who brought us the horrifying Project 2025) and is now being implemented by ADL, AIPAC, Trusk et al, & should we all try to learn about Project Esther?
2) The US Palestinian Rights Campaign (USPCR) is terrific, with a very active group here in Albany NY area. They're ongoing partners with JVP. We need to build solidarity across groups so you might want to join in/support their work. Info at https://uscpr.org Thx
The arrests and punishments are in most if not all cases excessive/unwarranted. That said, going forward protesters need to be vigilant to not provide any more reasons - flimsy as they may be - for further repression. I know it's hard when we are so angry, but stepping over some lines makes the work for human rights more difficult. Hope I got that across right.
Fascist philosopher Giovani Gentile: “everything for the state; nothing against the state; nothing outside the state”.
One of the defining features of fascism is that ‘the individual must be absorbed into that of the community or social group’ as defined in relation to the state and its political project. The social Darwinist element of fascism highlights that weakness and impurity must be expunged.
The substantial number of Jewish students and faculty who have participated in and supported ProPalestinian demonstrations has been underreported in mainstream media. (Intentionally so, I would imagine.). As a non-Jew, I have deep admiration for the courage of Jewish Voices for Peace, Rabbis4Ceasefire, and other groups who have been unwavering in their work for justice, compassion and peace. They are an inspiring example to us all, especially now, when we are faced with growing fascism.
These individuals are looking past ethno-religious and blind group loyalty, and acting on the basis of principle, as well as the longer term and underlying interest in maintaining democratic values that protect everyone. Aside from being a rebuttal to antisemitism, they are an example to the rest of us.
Me too re not Jewish.
Thanks so much for this! Great and useful commentary. As a Jewish person, I have long resented the way the words "protecting Jews" and "combating antisemitism" have been used not to combat antisemitism or bigotry of any kind, but to suppress dissent. By the way, please see the interview in the Sunday NYT of Senator Schumer himself. Despite being attacked by Trump, he himself has a definition of antisemitism that is very close to that of Trump. (The problematic parts of the interview where he speaks about student protesters and related matters start around minute 25). I would be great if Peter can examine this and dissect it as well. I found it very disturbing.
Thank you for proposing this to Peter. I found the thought of Schumer's interview too distasteful to stomach.
Thank you Peter! The timing couldn't have been better in light of Wednesday's Miami Beach Commission vote on the mayor's item to defund a local art house cinema for showing "No Other Land". I forwarded today's email to the entire Commission and candidates for the November municipal election as well as relevant activists and SE Florida press.
Peter. You are amazing! How you have the energy to travel to all those places you just mentioned, including Australia!, is beyond me. Well, as you know, I’m old and not Jewish, yet that doesn’t really matter. I started “following” you some years ago when
I heard that you SUPPORT the Palestinian fight for freedom! Thank
You for that and I hope to get your book soon!
Linda
If I were to reply, here, to Peter's incisive comment, my reply would simply mirror yours. So I won't offer a repetition of your reply, but will thank you in addition to Peter.
Truth Prevails
Peter, you are an exceptional human being and representative of Jewish values. All Jewish people should be recognized for standing up for justice for all and for speaking the truth.
Thank you for speaking the truth. Wrongdoings cannot endure indefinitely; one may wield power for a time, but it will not last forever.
I hope the Jewish community understands your perspective and stands up for justice, and not bask in the support they have from the government.
We must stand up for the truth.
Peter Beinart your courageous and insightful posts are so encouraging to me in this dark time.
The ironies of history...
I wish Schumer had said, "Oh, a compliment! I wish I were as brave as the Palestinians right now..."
Very well said. Since the ADL has become an Israel advocacy organization rather than a Jewish civil rights one shouldn't they theoretically, as a matter of law, be required to register as a foreign lobbyist. ( I realize this will not happen in the current environment ).
A crazy aspect of this is that it doesn’t take long among the anti Israel posts on X to run into real antisemitism - but these people are often in support of the very same leaders the ADL has aligned with - they are fanning the flames of real antisemitism while cracking down on criticism of Israel.
You address an interesting point. It's not uncommon for right wing extremists and white Christian nationalists in the U.S. to be philosemitic with regard to Israel, particularly its right wing government, but antisemitic with regard to American Jews, particularly if they are liberal or progressive. We see something similar with Victor Orban and the AfD in Germany,
And of course, Mr Trump who decides everything about everything, gets to decide what is Jewish and who is Jewish. Omg. Abhorrent.🥺
And after that Trumpian insult, Schumer and nine other Democrats caved. It's probably good that words fail sometimes because the words aren't pretty.
Thank you Donald Trump for goysplaining to the world why I haven’t been a real Jew for the past 10 years. As an assimilated Jew, I’ve worked so hard to not only check out of Hotel Judaism, but to actually leave.
On a serious note, Chuck Schumer can’t win. The pro-Palestinians I know (correctly) take issue with his stating that he “abhors” Mahmoud Khalil. The Trumpublicans take issue with him saying that Khalil should not be deported. So to whom is Schumer actually trying to win over?
I would have more sympathy for Schumer if he said he DISAGREES with Khalil. Abhor is a strong word. For example, I do not abhor Trump; I do, however, abhor many of the things he stands for. I do not abhor Trumpublicans; but I’m still not fully convinced that they are not Pod People.
Appreciate your succinct and powerful explanation about this; it helps me feel braver/more prepared to bring it up in conversation with others, especially people in my life who I have discovered tilt toward zionism--some seem to not really know why they hold that position (decades of pro-israel propaganda and anti-arab/palestinian disinformation efforts, I imagine... just as I had been unwittingly tainted by them until I paused to think, after israel unleashed it's massacre now a genocide post Oct 7.
2 final thoughts:
1) Is this "You're not a Jew anymore" part of Project Esther? (that was created by Heritage Foundation--who brought us the horrifying Project 2025) and is now being implemented by ADL, AIPAC, Trusk et al, & should we all try to learn about Project Esther?
2) The US Palestinian Rights Campaign (USPCR) is terrific, with a very active group here in Albany NY area. They're ongoing partners with JVP. We need to build solidarity across groups so you might want to join in/support their work. Info at https://uscpr.org Thx
The arrests and punishments are in most if not all cases excessive/unwarranted. That said, going forward protesters need to be vigilant to not provide any more reasons - flimsy as they may be - for further repression. I know it's hard when we are so angry, but stepping over some lines makes the work for human rights more difficult. Hope I got that across right.
Who idolises the state in this way?
Fascist philosopher Giovani Gentile: “everything for the state; nothing against the state; nothing outside the state”.
One of the defining features of fascism is that ‘the individual must be absorbed into that of the community or social group’ as defined in relation to the state and its political project. The social Darwinist element of fascism highlights that weakness and impurity must be expunged.
The writing is on the wall.
Thank you Peter for treating the repression and its paradox for many Jewish students. What hope do we have?