Anti-Zionism and Antisemitism

Anti-Zionism is opposition to Zionism as a political project: the establishment and maintenance of a state that privileges one ethnic or religious group over others in Israel-Palestine. Antisemitism is hostility, prejudice, or discrimination against Jewish people as Jews. The two are different things, and this site treats them differently: we oppose the first, and we reject the second without exception.

How major definitions handle the question

There is no single, universally accepted definition of antisemitism, and the leading frameworks disagree on where criticism of Zionism and Israel fits. We think readers should see that disagreement directly.

  • Jerusalem Declaration on Antisemitism (2021). Signed by several hundred scholars of antisemitism, Jewish studies, and related fields. It states that opposing Zionism as a form of nationalism, or arguing for a variety of constitutional arrangements for Jews and Palestinians, is not antisemitic on its face.
  • Nexus Document (2021). Developed by a US-based group of scholars. It holds that opposition to Zionism or criticism of Israel is not inherently antisemitic, while describing ways it can become antisemitic, such as relying on antisemitic stereotypes or holding Jews collectively responsible for Israel's actions.

Where we draw the line

Opposing Zionism never justifies hostility toward Jewish people. We reject, and will not host or sell anything that promotes:

  • Conspiracy theories about Jewish power, money, or control
  • Holding Jewish people anywhere collectively responsible for the actions of the Israeli government
  • Harassment, threats, or violence against Jewish people, synagogues, or Jewish institutions
  • Holocaust denial or minimization
  • Attacks on civilians of any nationality or faith

We hold the same standard against anti-Palestinian racism, anti-Arab and anti-Muslim bigotry, and the dehumanization of Palestinians.

Read the sources yourself

We encourage readers to read the IHRA Working Definition, the Jerusalem Declaration on Antisemitism, and the Nexus Document in full and draw their own conclusions. See our Learn page for more reading.