this post was submitted on 21 Jun 2024
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This is a point I wish more people understood. I know more than one self-identified Zionist who is against Israel's oppression of Palestine, and even refers to it as Genocide. They understand how Zionism motivated it, but they themselves are not in agreement with Israel even though they identify as Zionist.
It's like if the pro-choice movement were branded as an anti-Catholic, since Sectarian Catholic Christians are some of the most outspoken against Abortion. While there is plenty of blame that Catholicism deserves, making that your central message alienates pro-choice Catholics.
Or how Communism and Socialism are frequently equivocated with Authoritarianism because there were a handful of far-left dictators through recent history. Make that your central message and you alienate all the leftists that don't stand for that.
anti-Zionism might feel properly directed, but for Jews it always leaves the question of "what part of Zionism are you against?", Because Zionism is a more complex philosophy than "Oppress Palestinians". Making it your central message alienates Zionist Jews that are not in favor of the violent nationalism of the Israeli government.
That we even have to stop and remind people not to straight up blame Jewish people for what's happening makes it clear that the messaging here is questionable. Finding a convenient label to encapsulate everything you oppose in a situation may be rhetorically convenient, but oversimplified messaging can also lead to miscommunication and overly-broad statements of blame against groups that don't necessarily deserve it.