The Persistent Hatred of Israel: Unmasking Anti-Zionism as Anti-Semitism

As a German citizen of Pakistani origin, I have often found myself navigating two worlds—one rooted in the Islamic culture of my heritage and the other in the European values of my adopted homeland. Recently, while watching a YouTube video featuring Ejaz Haider, a prominent Pakistani journalist known for his intellectual rigor and prestigious credentials, I was deeply disturbed. Haider, often regarded as one of the few sane voices in Pakistan, was echoing the same tired victim narratives about Palestinians that I’ve heard countless times before. His words made me confront an uncomfortable reality: anti-Semitism runs deep in Islamic countries, even among the intellectual elite.

It is disheartening to see how easily anti-Zionism serves as a thin veil for anti-Semitism. The hatred towards Israel often transcends political disagreements and manifests as an irrational animosity toward Jews as a people. This is not a new phenomenon. Before the creation of Israel in 1948, anti-Jewish riots were already taking place in Arab countries, showcasing a hostility that existed independent of the state’s establishment. Contrary to popular belief, Zionists did not steal land from Arabs; they purchased it. Yet this fact has been buried under decades of propaganda that frames Jews as colonial aggressors.

When the United Nations proposed a partition plan in 1947 to create separate Jewish and Arab states, the Jews accepted it, demonstrating their readiness to coexist. The Arabs, however, rejected the plan outright and launched a genocidal war in 1948. This war, not Zionist actions, led to the displacement of Palestinians - what is now referred to as the Naqbah. It is clear to me that the conflict has never been about land or occupation; it has always been about an entrenched refusal to accept the existence of a Jewish state.

Living in Europe, I’ve noticed how many on the left uncritically adopt the Palestinian narrative, portraying Israel as an outpost of Western imperialism. This perspective is not only historically inaccurate but also deeply reductive. For instance, between 1948 and 1967, Gaza was controlled by Egypt, and the West Bank was under Jordanian rule. During this period, there was no significant Palestinian independence movement against these countries. The idea of the “Palestinian people” only gained prominence after the Six-Day War in 1967 when Israel assumed control of these territories. This shift was not organic but partly fueled by the Soviet Union’s Cold War strategy. The KGB actively supported the creation of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) as part of its broader campaign to weaken pro-Western forces in the Middle East.

What I find most troubling is the persistent rejection of peace efforts by Palestinian leaders. Israel has, on numerous occasions, agreed to the idea of a two-state solution, only to be met with refusals. This pattern makes it abundantly clear that the issue is not simply about borders or settlements but a deep-seated unwillingness to accept Israel’s right to exist.

As someone who has grown up with a mix of influences, I find it increasingly difficult to reconcile the narratives I was exposed to with the historical realities I’ve come to understand. What pains me most is seeing how easily this hatred is normalized, even in intellectual circles, and how little effort is made to challenge it.

It is time for those of us with ties to the Islamic world to confront these uncomfortable truths. We must question the narratives we’ve been fed and recognize that the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is far more complex than it is often portrayed. Only by acknowledging the historical and geopolitical realities can we hope to move beyond the pervasive hatred and work toward a future grounded in truth and mutual respect.