We reject antisemitism in all its forms, including when it masquerades as criticism of Zionism or Israel’s policies. We also recognise that, as journalist Peter Beinart wrote in 2019, “Anti-Zionism is not inherently antisemitic—and claiming it is uses Jewish suffering to erase Palestinian experience.”
But I am happy to condemn those who use phrases which are used extensively by hate groups. When Sadaam Hussain, Iran, and Hamas leadership all use the phrase from the river to the sea it’s perfectly reasonable to associate it with their antisemitism. A dog whistle cannot be understood in a vacuum, and must be understood within its historical context and contemporary use.
Absolutely. I don’t disagree with that at all. It’s certainly not a phrase I’d ever use.
I do think though that there is a generation of people now for whom that phrase doesn’t have that antisemitic direct meaning and that they genuinely are using it to indicate their wish for freedom for Palestinians. Maybe that’s me being naive and as I say, I certainly would never use it as I’m part of a generation where it was used as an expression of pure antisemitism.