Image by Levi Meir Clancy.
While a prominent Israeli human rights organisation and a well-known New York Times columnist use the term ‘Jewish supremacy’, some North American or European self-proclaimed leftist supporters of Palestinian rights object to these words. Typically, they claim the description is inaccurate and/or antisemitic. Some argue that “white supremacy” or “Zionism” are the terms we should use when describing the Israeli regime.
But Jewish supremacy over the original inhabitants of Palestine is at the core of Zionism and the Israeli colonial project, just as European (white) supremacy was at the core of the Americas’ colonial projects. An apartheid system favors Jews at the expense of other citizens and offers no rights to those controlled by the state but deemed non-citizens. Jews can emigrate from anywhere in the world to Israel, while Palestinians expelled by military force and their descendants are not allowed to return. Laws and propaganda proclaim Israel as the Jewish state.
Describing Israel as a Jewish supremacist state and Zionism as a Jewish supremacist ideology is both accurate and necessary. It is necessary because Palestinians, who are the primary victims of Israel’s colonialism, experience their oppression as Jewish supremacism. It is at the ideological center of their political, economic and cultural oppression. To be useful allies of Palestinians, we must see their oppression as they experience it, certainly not as their oppressors want us to see it.
But there is another important reason to use the term Jewish supremacy. Tactically, as supporters of Palestinians, calling what is happening in Israel Jewish supremacy is more effective politically. It helps people from a wide political spectrum — from the center right to mainstream liberals to the left — understand what Zionism really is. It is a form of ethno-religious nationalism akin to white-Christian nationalism. It is an enemy of secularism and the fundamental democratic notion that the state should not favour a particular religion or ethnicity. Labelling the core ideology of Israel “Jewish supremacism” has the benefit of being both accurate and more helpful to Palestinian liberation. It also makes sense to millions of Jews around the world whose diverse communities have historically fought for secular states that have proved best at protecting the rights of all minorities.
The language of racial supremacism, rather than the abstract term Zionism, puts Israel supporters on the back foot. Naming Jewish supremacism is more politically biting. This is especially important when supporters of Israeli apartheid and genocide often seek to present themselves as victims.
As for those who object to the term “Jewish supremacism” they are primarily concerned about the potential spill back effects on Jewish communities around the world. They argue using the term Jewish supremacy contributes to a rise in antisemitism. But this is blaming the messenger. Israel’s actions and ideology, not accurate descriptions of its ideology and actions, are the problem. In so far as antisemitism is growing around the world, it is primarily because of the self-proclaimed ‘Jewish state’s’ actions. Those actions give ammunition to real antisemites. Supporters of Israel labelling anyone who criticizes those actions as antisemites gives ammunition to real antisemites. Mainstream self-described “Jewish organizations” such as schools, community centres, charities that support Israel no matter what it does give ammunition to real antisemitic racists.
Self-described “leftists” who argue Palestinians and their supporters must always consider the feelings of their oppressors while fighting their oppression are being poor allies at best and racist at worst.
Since at least the time of the French Revolution ‘the left’ around the world has stood for equality of economic and political rights for everyone. At times, this has meant supporting the “lifting up” of oppressed peoples when that is necessary to achieve equality. Some on the “western” left once argued this was the motivation of Zionism. Others insisted Zionism would lead to a state of Jewish supremacism which would inevitably use aggression, violence and oppression to assert itself. Historical evidence strongly suggests who was right.
