You are not progressive or committed to peace if you tolerate antisemitism
31 July 2026
"Progressive" has traditionally meant standing against bigotry, discrimination and hatred in all their forms. That principle is worth defending.
But the word has lost force, because many people who call themselves progressive support, excuse or tolerate antisemitism, or hatred aimed at Israelis or Jews, even as they condemn every other kind of prejudice.
The same problem afflicts some self-described "peace groups." A commitment to peace cannot be selective. It means opposing violence, terrorism and hatred no matter who commits them and no matter who the victims are.
You cannot honestly call yourself progressive, or committed to peace, if you:
Do not support Israel’s right to exist as a sovereign nation. Many of us strongly oppose the policies of Israel’s current government or prime minister, but opposing a government’s actions is fundamentally different from denying a nation’s right to exist. We may strongly criticize the governments of Iran, Russia or the United States without arguing that those countries should cease to exist.
Have not condemned the Hamas terrorist attacks of 7 October 2023.
Have not condemned the Palestinian government’s holding of Israeli hostages for over 2 years.
Have not condemned intimidation, harassment or violence directed at Jewish students or Jewish institutions on college campuses.
Have not condemned hate speech by elected officials, candidates or public figures regardless of whether they are Muslim, Arab, Christian, Jewish or any other background.
The standard should be simple and universal: condemn hatred, terrorism and bigotry no matter who commits them and no matter who the victims are. That includes members of our own communities and the people we usually agree with. If you won't hold to that, don't claim labels that don't describe you.
All of us must condemn hate. Against anyone and everyone. Even committed by our own people. Period. Those who refuse to do so do not deserve our respect, or our vote.
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Antisemitism is the brother, and not even from another mother, of Islamophobia.