A word about Antisemitism
When I say “Israel is bombing Gaza", they say “That’s antisemitic"
When I say “settlements breach international law” they say “That’s antisemitic”
When I say “Palestinians deserve human rights” they say “That’s antisemitic”
When I say “apartheid isn’t democracy” they say “That’s antisemitic”
When I say “criticism isn’t hatred” they say “Ah, but that’s what an antisemite would say”
And round and round we go
until the word antisemitism is so stretched
so twisted
so battered out of shape
it no longer protects the people it was meant to shield.
Contorted and stretched
like clingfilm over everything
covering war crimes
wrapping injustice
sealing criticism away.
But clingfilm isn’t bulletproof
It rips
It tears
It doesn’t last
And the real poison:
the swastikas scrawled on synagogues
the attacks on Jewish neighbours
the hateful bile of fascists
slips conveniently under the radar
while the world is busy
confusing justice with bigotry
and solidarity with hate
It is a clever trick
A cynical trick
But a trick all the same
And the more it is played
the more transparent it becomes:
a tired game of rhetorical smoke and mirrors
designed to silence not to safeguard
Meanwhile,
the real antisemitism:
A modern Kristallnacht
fascists on marches
slurs hissed in playgrounds
and hatred dressed in flags
slips quietly by unnoticed
because the spotlight’s been moved elsewhere
It is a conjuring trick
a sleight of hand:
watch closely and you’ll see
it was never about protecting Jews
but always about protecting Israel
And the Jews you call self-hating
The 'wrong kind of Jews' to you
The ones who recognise the difference
The ones that don't hide Behind an invented blue and white flag
Purged by the Party they once were proud to be part of
see this for exactly what it is
Toxic ethno-Nationalism
dressed in a Kippah
They see the shame you are blind to
And the real anti-Semites
Aren’t interested in this nuance
they won’t differentiate
Because just like your lies
Your convenient conflation
Between Jews and Zionists
We’re all Jews to them
So slow hand clap Board of Deputies
Slow hand clap Campaign Against Antisemitism
Slow hand clap Labour and Conservative Friends of Israel
Slow hand clap Jewish Labour Movement
Slow hand clap for We Believe in Israel
Slow hand clap for BICOM
Slow hand clap for UKLFI
When you are scared to sleep at night
When the Fascists return with burning torches
Remember
You were midwives to this
By defending the indefensible
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