Challenging policy isn’t prejudice

June 10, 2025

Raising concerns about the weaponisation of antisemitism isn’t the same as denying that antisemitism exists. It’s about questioning how the term is sometimes used to shut down legitimate discussions about human rights and foreign policy. That doesn’t mean all criticism is fair or balanced, but it does mean we should be able to talk about these issues without being accused of discrimination.

It’s also important to recognise that advocacy by Jewish groups, Palestinian groups, or anyone else, plays a role in shaping public debate. Highlighting the influence of lobbying, from any side, isn’t sinister. It’s part of understanding how policy is made. The key is to focus on actions and arguments, not assumptions about entire communities.

On the use of the word “genocide,” I know it’s a very serious term, but it has a legal definition that doesn’t rest on population numbers alone; it includes intent and systematic targeting. Whether that applies here is something international bodies continue to investigate. Dismissing those concerns outright can feel like closing the door on people who are trying to make sense of what they’re witnessing.