fact-checking

[fact-checking]

people b saying things so definitively. like man i think it depends

[fact-checking]

So, I came across this meme, and I want to explain, speaking as someone who is not Jewish, exactly why it is antisemitic.

"Israel has a lot of influence over Western politics and many politicians across the political spectrum in a multitude of countries take money from the Israel lobby and in return support Israel" is a true statement, and not antisemitic, because it's just a statement of fact. The influence of AIPAC on American politics is well-documented, as is Keir Starmer's cabinet accepting a large amount of funds from Israel. Germany, also, due to its national guilt over the Holocaust, continues to vociferously defend Israel and has criminalised pro-Palestine activism. This is real.

"America is ruled by Israel" is antisemitic, because it plays into antisemitic canards about Jews secretly ruling the world. It is true that Israel and Judaism are not the same thing. It is also true that not all Israelis are Jewish. It is true that Zionism and Judaism are not the same thing. It is also true that not all Zionists are Jewish. But coded language is exactly how antisemitism proliferates.

The theory that Jews secretly plan on world domination has existed for centuries, with some sources going back to the thirteenth century. Many anti-republicans in late 19th century France pushed the idea that the French Third Republic was dominated by Jews.

The Protocols of the Elders of Zion, a fabricated text, spread in the early 20th century from Russia, also makes the claim that Jews plan to take over the world. It had a strong influence on Adolf Hitler and his antisemitism. It's mentioned in Mein Kampf.

The more recent Zionist Occupation Government conspiracy theory is a literal Neo-Nazi construction of the same old argument. That Jews secretly pull the strings to serve their own interests to the detriment of others.

I believe in a free Palestine and I think Israel has committed atrocities and war crimes in Gaza. So much discussion of Israel omits discussions of the Nakba and the various atrocities Israel has visited upon the Palestinian people for almost eight decades. I believe Israel as it currently exists is an apartheid state. It is a settler-colonial entity with vastly more power and influence than the Palestinians.

At the same time, I am wary of people who let their disgust over the actions of Netanyahu and his crew become a suspicion and hatred of Jews in general. That is the difference between acknowledging the influence of the Israel lobby, especially how it uses money and weaponises antisemitism accusations to astroturf the war crimes its military is committing; and saying "We are ruled by Israel".

One is an observation of fact - Israel does have a lot of influence in world politics, and there's plenty of evidence for it. The other is, like much antisemitism, code for "Jews rule the world". Any activist worth their salt should damn well know the difference, but shockingly, I see a lot of leftists uncritically say the latter without any further consideration.

Please consider, when you criticise Israel's apartheid regime and its influence on world politics, whether you are stumbling into repeating an antisemitic canard, and if so, consider not saying it.

[fact-checking]

with love. you have to fact check shit. yes you. you still have to fact check shit. a lot of people are great at fact checking stuff they don’t want to be true, but somehow are still absolute ass at fact checking stuff that’s rhetorically convenient to them. even people my age, who I KNOW grew up doing internet/bibliography literacy workshops, and being warned not to believe anything that isn’t reliably sourced, people who DO harp on fact checking conservative output or whatever, are still kneejerk sharing unsourced shit that is partially or wholly untrue or misleading, because it suits whatever narrative they’re pursuing in that moment, without even a “take this with a grain of salt”. fact check!!!!!! look at the sources!!!!! yes it’s a drag!!! do it!!!!!