I have decided to add the following as a main point on the “about us” section of this site. The Radicalism of fools stands for: “Recognition that anti-Zionism is a form of anti-Semitism. It is not mere criticism of Israel.”
This is not a new belief on my part, several articles on this site argue the point, but I felt it needed further emphasis. That is because of the way the debate on anti-Semitism in the West has shifted since this site was launched in late 2021.
Back then far less attention was paid to Israel in the mainstream media than is the case today. It certainly received some coverage but since the Hamas pogrom of 7 October 2023 it is often a lead item in the news. It also looks like this will remain true for the foreseeable future.
In addition, my emphasis back then was on the debate on anti-Semitism in the diaspora. Others were covering Israel-related developments in far more detail.
My intention is still to focus on anti-Semitism, rather than domestic Israeli matters, but anti-Zionism has become a central part of that discussion.
The second sentence of the additional point is also worth commenting on. Anti-Zionists often make the absurd claim that Israel’s supporters object to any criticism of the country. If this were true then almost every Israeli would, by such a ridiculous definition, be anti-Zionist. Israelis of all political stripes seldom hold back from criticising Israel’s politicians, policies and actions. Naturally they vary in what they deem worthy of criticism but they are typically forthright in their complaints.
But anti-Zionism is more than that. It is a view that casts Israel as the centre of the world’s evils. In particular it sees the Jewish state as symbolic of all that it considers wrong about western civilisation.
The conclusion Israel’s enemies draw is not that it should change particular policies but that it should be destroyed. In addition, any trace of Israeli influence should, in the anti-Zionist view, be purged from the world.
That is not a standard applied to any other nation. Many other countries are criticised, often justifiably, but they are not slated for destruction.
The other three main points in the about us section have stood the test of time. The Radicalism of fools project still stands for free speech, the distinction between Islam and Islamism, and opposition to identity politics.
Correction: The original version of this article mistakenly said this site was set up in 2001. It was in fact 2021. A classic "fat finger" error!