‘I’m fine with Jews, just not Zionists’: Time to rip off the anti-Zionist mask - opinion

Sofia Karstens argues that the distinction between 'Jews' and 'Zionists' is a false mask for anti-Semitism. She cites surveys showing 88% of American Jews support Jewish statehood, and criticizes the 'settler violence' narrative and the Fayyad Plan. The article concludes that anti-Zionism is a poisoned root that seeks to erase Israel.

In this opinion column, Sofia Karstens argues that the distinction between 'Jews' and 'Zionists' is a false and hypocritical one, serving as a mask for anti-Semitism. She contends that Zionism is the belief in Jewish self-determination in their ancestral homeland, and to oppose it is to oppose the Jewish people's right to exist as a nation. Karstens cites surveys from JFNA and AP-NORC showing that while only a third of American Jews identify with the term 'Zionist', over 88% affirm the substance of Zionism. She argues that the term has been redefined by opponents to mean 'supports whatever Israel does', making the number seem smaller. She points to social media patterns where Jewish users posting apolitical content like 'Shabbat Shalom' receive anti-Zionist abuse, indicating the target is Jews, not just Zionism. The article also criticizes the 'settler violence' narrative and the Fayyad Plan, alleging land theft in Area C. Karstens concludes that anti-Zionism is a poisoned root that ultimately seeks to erase Israel.