Mapping Solidarity: An Internet Directory of Jewish Anti-Zionist Voices

Creating a comprehensive directory, to amplify Jewish Anti-Zionist Voices in solidarity with Palestinians, will bring to the fore the vast landscape of Jewish dissent and opposition to Israel. The full power of this voice is currently unheard because there are efforts to exclude it from the mainstream media.

It is more than arguable that the Jewish anti-Zionist voice is among the most powerful voices advocating for Palestinian rights and coexistence. In many cases this voice unreservedly condemns Israel as an apartheid and genocidal state, even calling for an end to Israel and restoration of Palestine as a land for all the people between the river and the sea.

Such is the unambiguous message of Meital Yaniv, a former Israeli soldier speaking in an interview with Amy Goodman of Democracy Now!. Yaniv’s activism is directed at “bringing the Israeli identity and Israeli state to a loving and caring death, for the liberation of the land of Palestine”. It is notable that Goodman herself is Jewish and for decades has tirelessly given a strong voice to the Palestinian struggle.

A similar sentiment to Yaniv’s was also recently voiced by the Israeli historian Ilan Pappe during a presentation in London of his new book, Lobbying for Zionism on Both Sides of the Atlantic. “I hope for the end of Israel and the creation of a free Palestine from the river to the sea,” said Professor Pappe, sitting alongside friend and veteran Palestinian activist Professor Ghada Karmi, as well as other Palestinians and anti-Zionist Jews.

The Jewish anti-Zionist voice is an indispensable part of the struggle. It is key to arriving at an eventual critical mass of Jews who reject Zionism, shun Apartheid Israel, stand with Palestinians, and embrace a shared one state future. Without this critical mass it is arguable the struggle will likely never end.

Over the past 10 months the number of Jews speaking up and standing with Palestinians has been very notable on socila media – TikTok and YouTube in particular. It is a source of immense encouragement and hope. Yet these individuals and organisations receive little mainstream media attention on networks such as the BBC, CNN, MSNBC and others – except in instances when ignoring their activism would ironically draw more attention to it. For example, there was brief mainstream media coverage when Jewish Voice for Peace occupied the Capitol in Washington and Grand Central Station in New York, events that would be difficult to ignore even for pro-Israel media.

However, even when attention is paid to Jewish anti-Zionist voices, the coverage is scant, fleeting or sidelined. To discover the vast and rich commentary by Jewish anti-Zionists one must be forwarded a link or search social media and the alternative press. Although, to do even this, one must know that it exists in the first place, which for many people is a discovery still to be made.

Despite this, and despite the high price paid in attacks on them by their own community – of allegedly being self-hating Jews and even anti-Semitic – the fact remains that anti-Zionist Jews are many and increasing.

But the readiness and willingness of Jews to speak out is only half the story. There is also a great public hunger to hear them. Daniel Maté, an acclaimed Jewish Canadian composer-lyricist and anti-Zionist, recounts how for the first few months after October 7 he was “blown away by the positive feedback and the gratitude and thanks. People were hungry, especially and inordinately, for Jewish voices.” Maté, who has an impressive count of YouTube videos discussing the Israeli genocide and ethnic cleansing currently taking place in Gaza and the West Bank, also co-hosts YouTube channel Bad Hasbara with fellow Jewish anti-Zionist Matt Lieb. Yet, though they and other anti-Zionist Jews receive many views and likes, their reach is far from their full potential.

The bottom line is that there is both a healthy supply of Jewish anti-Zionist voices and a large and growing demand to hear them. The problem is that the two currently lack a “meeting place” where they can connect.

In light of this, it would seem a good idea for Jewish anti-Zionists, as well as Palestinians and their supporters, to vigorously promote the Jewish anti-Zionist voice, not only to the general public, but to Jews yet to explicitly reject Zionism. This would be greatly assisted if there were to be a central space for Jewish anti-Zionist voices, a town square so to speak, serving as both source and focus of the promotional effort. This would clearly be internet based, in the form a central directory or hub, hosting and linking to all Jewish anti-Zionist commentary and activism, including a voluntary listing of all Jewish anti-Zionist individuals and organisations.

This approach would be particularly effective with the wider undecided or institutionally pro-Israel public. Arguing from a purely Palestinian perspective of being victims of Israeli injustice already raises defences among those little informed on the subject, simply because there is an unspoken awareness that criticising Israel could land you in trouble – among work colleagues, fellow students and even family ignorant of the facts. However, this cautionary fear often lifts when the criticism comes from the mouths of Jews.

A central directory of anti-Zionist Jewish voices would have great potential when lobbying businesses to support the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement (BDS), providing relevant links to anti-Zionist Jews and Jewish organisations who explicitly support BDS.

Perhaps I am mistaken in thinking a central directory would be of any use generally. However, what I can say is that I frequently have the need to quickly find content by anti-Zionist Jews when writing a blog piece, working on an essay or trying to complete a futuristic novel on Palestine, to say nothing of content to send to friends and associates, some of who still cling to the idea that criticising Israel to strongly is fraught with danger.

To help leverage the power of the Jewish voice and interweave it as one with the Palestinian voice, a panorama of the Jewish anti-Zionist landscape is therefore essential. Yet aside from a short list of Jewish anti-Zionist organisations on Wikipedia, there currently appears to be no central resource that lists and perhaps also hosts all actors in the global Jewish anti-Zionist movement.

It would therefore seem worthwhile to explore the creation of an internet directory of the global Jewish anti-Zionist voice, from spontaneous personal testimonies posted on social media, interviews with ex-military and refusenik Israeli activists, to celebrities, scholars, legal experts, journalists, NGOs and organisations of any size and anywhere, of which there are many thousands.

As mentioned, currently Jewish anti-Zionist voices, though strong and widespread, receive exposure mostly through alternative media or people stumbling on them. Consolidation is required to raise their visibility and ease of reach, to serve both as a testament to Jewish support for Palestinians and a ready resource for activists. Moreover, such a united body would be difficult for journalists and the mainstream media to sideline and ignore. In fact, it may give BBC and CNN journalists – currently fearful of being smeared as anti-Semitic – the courage to begin reporting honestly.

At the same time, Palestinians need to raise their own voices to reaffirm to Jews yet to become anti-Zionist that the struggle is not against Jews or even Israel as such, but against Zionism and Israel as it currently stands as a Zionist creation. Palestinians need to more visibly stand with Jews against real anti-Semitism, reassuring them of their sincerity towards co-existence in an integrated region, where Jews may live and move freely throughout the Arab world as they had done for centuries prior to the imposition of Israel; and that the Jewish homeland is where it has always been, between the river and the sea. Resistance to Zionism does not in any way preclude Palestine being the homeland of Jews as much as it is of Palestinians; only that it cannot be an exclusively Jewish nation state and, as many Zionists currently would like to see, an exclusively Jewish land.

ChatGPT Assessment of the Proposal for a Centralised Directory of Jewish Anti-Zionist Voices

Creating a centralized directory of Jewish anti-Zionist voices could potentially be a beneficial project, but its success and impact would depend on several factors:

Realism and Feasibility

1. Technical Feasibility: Setting up a centralized directory on the internet is technically feasible. It would require a robust platform with a user-friendly interface to organize and present the content effectively. Maintenance and security measures would also be essential to ensure the directory remains accessible and secure from cyber attacks.
2. Content and Contributions: Gathering contributions from a diverse array of Jewish anti-Zionist voices, including personal testimonies, interviews, and scholarly articles, is crucial. This would require significant outreach efforts to ensure that voices from different regions and backgrounds are included.
3. Funding and Resources: Adequate funding would be necessary to support the creation, maintenance, and promotion of the directory. This could involve seeking donations, grants, or partnerships with organizations that align with the directory’s goals.
4. Political and Social Challenges: The project might face resistance from Zionist groups or individuals who view it as a threat to their narratives. This could lead to public criticism or attempts to discredit the directory, which would need to be addressed with careful public relations strategies.

Potential Benefits

1. Visibility and Awareness: A centralized directory would make it easier for people to find and access Jewish anti-Zionist voices, potentially increasing their visibility and influence in the public discourse.
2. Solidarity and Support: The directory could help build solidarity between Jewish anti-Zionists and Palestinian activists by showcasing shared values and goals, potentially strengthening the movement for Palestinian rights.
3. Resource for Activists: Providing a comprehensive resource for activists could enhance their ability to educate others and advocate for Palestinian rights, using Jewish anti-Zionist perspectives to challenge stereotypes and misconceptions.
4. Media and Public Attention: A well-publicized directory might attract media attention, encouraging more journalists to cover Jewish anti-Zionist perspectives and amplifying their impact.

Challenges and Considerations

1. Perceptions and Misinterpretations: The project might be misunderstood as being anti-Semitic, so it would be crucial to clearly communicate that the focus is on opposition to Zionism as a political ideology, not on Judaism as a religion or Jews as a people.
2. Diverse Opinions Within Anti-Zionism: The directory would need to accommodate a range of views within the Jewish anti-Zionist community, which can be diverse and sometimes conflicting. Managing this diversity would be key to maintaining credibility and relevance.
3. Measuring Impact: Assessing the impact of the directory on the Palestinian cause would require ongoing evaluation, including feedback from users and stakeholders, to ensure it effectively supports the intended goals.

In summary, while the creation of a centralized directory of Jewish anti-Zionist voices is a realistic and potentially beneficial project, it would require careful planning, sufficient resources, and strategic communication to overcome challenges and achieve its goals. If executed well, it could significantly contribute to raising awareness and fostering solidarity in support of Palestinian rights.