Is Anti-Zionism the New Anti-Semitism?

Open to Debate

In light of the recent Israel-Hamas war, an old debate is gaining new relevance. The nature of the current conflict has again unleashed a wave of antisemitic threats and violence in the U.S., with synagogues and Jewish-owned business having been vandalized and attacked. But as society surveys the damage, it also asks whether the condemnation of Israeli actions can truly be divorced from antisemitic hostilities? In other words, is being an anti-zionist tantamount to being antisemitic? Or is arguing against a state of-and-for the Jewish people just a thinly veiled way of harboring prejudice? In this debate, which first aired in February 2020, and accordingly has a few dated references which we felt were necessary to keep, Intelligence Squared looks to four expert panelists to debate this question: Is Anti-Zionism the New Anti-Semitism?

For the Motion:

Bret Stephens - Op-Ed Columnist, New York Times

Einat Wilf - Former Member, Israeli Parliament

Against the Motion:

Peter Beinart - Journalist & Author, "The Crisis of Zionism"

Yousef Munayyer - Executive Director, US Campaign for Palestinian Rights

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