Antisemitism is on the rise, and it’s a direct result of the lie that Judaism and Zionism are one and the same – criticise Israel and you are an antisemite.

The behaviour of Israel, whether over the past 70 years or, more specifically in the past four months does not, by definition, equate to, represent or reflect, either collectively or individually, the moral disposition of people of the Jewish faith… or, at least, not until recently. By its declaration that anti-Zionism equals antisemitism, the state of Israel effectively seeks to implicate all Jews, regardless of individual moral or political views, in its treatment of those it oppresses. It assumes compliance and, by doing so, seeks to broaden acceptance of what, under any other circumstances, would be considered a brutal, oppressive, apartheid regime with callous disregard for human rights or international law.

Western governments have been quick – not to question or condemn such a cynical distortion of language or truth – but to adopt without discussion or scrutiny this new definition, and even legislate against those that raise concern.

The West’s new (self-perpetuated) moral high ground has shifted to a new foundation, built to the specification of Israel’s dictates and in that regime’s interests. So, exactly why do the US, the UK and other European nations roll over so easily, without examining the logic or morality of this redefinition? Is it out of guilt at Europe’s ethnic cleansing of Jews in the 1930s and 1940s, or out of the fear that antisemitism could rear its ugly head again, as expressed by the ‘very good people’ Trump relies on for votes? The irony is that, while clear expressions of hatred towards Jews are excused or condoned by the right-wing in our countries, those that despise racism and antisemitism have become the new targets for sanction. Any that oppose Israel’s stance are labelled antisemitic… Jews that oppose or disagree, whether on moral or political grounds, are labelled “self-hating Jews”.

It’s a very effective way to silence dissent, and our political leaders are eager to comply – expelling party members critical of apartheid or cancelling academics that take a stand on, say, human rights… that is, whenever those rights are suppressed by Israel as opposed to, say, Iran. It’s that willingness to comply, on the part of the Labour Party especially, that’s particularly difficult to understand. I have always thought of Labour as, at the very least, a safe place for defending human rights. No longer… 

And, while the world watches daily reports of the suffering of innocent children, inflicted by a brutal and fanatical right-wing regime, those that don’t buy the propaganda become, themselves, targets for character assassination or legal sanctions – labelled antisemites, terrorist sympathisers, supporters of Hamas…

Conversely, those that couldn’t care less about the rights of, say, Palestinians… like true anti-semites, are quick to label all Jews as complicit in the slaughter… further justification for perpetuating the extreme right’s antisemitic conspiracy theories that have fuelled hatred and political violence in the US and elsewhere.

Conflating definitions has done more to encourage antisemitism, in Britain and around the world, than our own home-grown bigots could ever have hoped to achieve. Those on the left, most of whom have spent their whole lives opposing racism and antisemitism, having spoken out in defence of a population being slaughtered before our eyes, out of empathy, compassion, humanity… are demonised, marginalised.

It’s an obscene misrepresentation instigated for the most cynical of motives. And, one of the biggest cheerleaders in this perverse distortion of values and morality, is our own Labour Party – the next government of the United Kingdom. It’s sickening to watch Labour ministers as they squirm to avoid even muttering the word “ceasefire”… listening to their mealy-mouthed justifications for inaction… covering their ears and eyes while the slaughter continues. Why didn’t they speak out when our government thought it was okay to cut off essential food and health care to a population facing starvation and disease – at the behest of the perpetrator – by removing funding to the only relief agency operating in the region? How do they all sleep at night?

The once-great Labour Party has abandoned its principles, betrayed its supporters, and turned its back on the victims of genocide. Like so many others, it is with great sadness that, for the first time in my life, I will not be voting Labour. Shame on you all.