Our era seems to live in a permanent state of marginal intensity. Those who raise their voice in favor of freedom in Palestine They are often accused of being “anti -Semites”. On the other hand, social anger is expressed in demonstrations and, unfortunately, in extreme incidents targeting Israeli citizens, reproducing the hatred that is supposed to be reported. At the same time, refugees and immigrants demonized – Their identity is often identified with crime, so they are treated not as people who were uprooted by war, but as “prospective offenders”.
Limits thin and blurred
History teaches us that the boundaries between anti -Semitism and political criticism of the state of Israel are thin but real. Anti -Semitism, from the Middle Ages with “protocols” and persecution to the Holocaust, is the most timeless example of intolerance in Europe. The demonization of the Jewish people has always been the tool of power to explain judgments, debts, defeats. Today, however, the danger is to confuse the condemnation of Israeli politics in Gaza with hatred for the Jewish people as a whole. This is not just unfair – it is dangerous, because it reproduces the patterns that led to the darkest moments of the 20th century.
At the same time, racism towards refugees and immigrants, who leave war and poverty, goes on the same logic: collective embarrassment. As Jews were once considered “undermining inward”, so today refugees and immigrants are considered to be carriers of crime or terrorism.
Ideological battles inside
This controversy remains not only in the field of international relations, but also becomes a field of inner ideological battle. The left traditionally defends the rights of the oppressed and oppose colonial logic; but often flirts with over -simplification, which leads to blind hostility. The Right, on the other hand, highlights the importance of security and national sovereignty, but with the risk of falling into xenophobia and racist rhetoric.
The left -right dipole is often diverted to the edges: on the one hand, the left can be accused of “disguised anti -Semitism”, on the other, the right is accused of “camouflaged intolerance”. In the middle is society, confused, bombed by images of violence, propaganda and stereotypes.
The actual boundaries
So where does the limit come?
- Anti -Semitism It is the hatred of the Jews as a people, the targeting of their religious and cultural identity.
- Racism It is the collective inconvenience of a man because of origin or color.
- Political criticism It is the documented opposition to government choices – whether they relate to Tel Aviv or Brussels or Washington.
Defending the freedom of Palestinians is not anti -Semitism, as defense of refugee rights is not a threat to society. The danger is born when words become weapons and the shades are lost.
The “signs of the times” show that our societies are struggling with ghosts of the past and fears of the present. History, however, is clear: Every time intolerance is gaining ground, the peoples end up paying the price with blood. The battle against racism and anti -Semitism is ultimately a battle in favor of democracy itself.