"Anti-Zionism is anti-Semitism."

Supporters claim that “anti‑Zionism is antisemitism,” arguing that denying Jews a national homeland is equivalent to denying Jewish self‑determination. They cite the IHRA working definition, which includes rejecting Zionism as a form of antisemitism, to suggest that any criticism of Israel’s legitimacy is inherently hostile to Jews.

Thought leaders like Brian Klug and Kenneth Stern emphasize that anti‑Zionism and antisemitism are distinct ideologies. Klug argues that one can oppose Zionism based on real‑world concerns, such as settlements, occupation, or nationalism, without espousing anti‑Jewish hatred. He notes that “anti‑Zionism is not inherently antisemitic” and must be judged on whether it relies on antisemitic tropes.

International consensus, such as the Jerusalem Declaration on Antisemitism, affirms this distinction. It specifies that denying Jews equal rights and safety constitutes antisemitism, but supporting Palestinian rights or advocating non‑Zionist frameworks (including a binational state) does not.