When you say “anti-zionism isn’t antisemitism,” I say, “it is when you say it.” Why is that?

Let me take you through the connotations of the words you say. More terms will be added as I remember them. Note these are not definitions, but what I (and many others) hear when you say these things.

Anti-Zionist – Used by both Jews and Pro/Palestinians, this term has the connotation that you want to say that you don’t like Israel, but feel the need to make it deeper than that, because if you say you’re anti-Israel, people will assume (rightfully so) that you’re antisemitic as well (and yes, Jews–particularly American Ashkenazi Jews–can also be antisemitic).
Anti-Israel – Anti-Zionism on steroids. This term has the connotation that you want to abolish the state of Israel entirely, rather than simply not support the IDF or the Israeli government (which would be a fair opinion; again, I’m a Zionist, and I can’t stand our government, and am generally anti-military). The worst part of this term, though, is the connotation that you don’t believe Jews have a right to our homeland, or to any homeland at all.
Boycott, Divest, Sanction (BDS) – A bad organization, woof! If you say BDS anything, I am simply not listening to you. Not only is BDS not effective, they ban organizations that even support Palestine, like Standing Together. BDS bans anything that even sniffs in Israel’s direction. Yuck! Let me buy my hommus in peace.
Globalize the Intifada – Oh, Christ on a bike. You’d like Hamas to move all the way out West, murdering Christians, forcibly converting and murdering Jews? Coolcoolcool. This is the worst term on this entire list, for the fact that this isn’t just the connotation of the term, but it’s actual meaning. Man…
Pro-Hamas – A term used mostly by Zionist Jews to point out the fact that many of the groups/terms I’m discussing here are actually supporting Hamas, not Palestine, and probably just don’t understand what’s going on here (ie, Western Leftists who will support any brown people because of their own country’s colorism convincing them that light-skinned people are always the aggressor).
Pro-Palestine – You support Palestinians and the government of Palestine, and the establishment of a Palestinian state. This is fine, but is generally coupled with terms that are not fine.
Pro-Palestinian – This term is different than Pro-Palestine; used by both Jews and Pro/Palestinians, it means that you support Palestinian people, rather than the “government” (terrorist group puppeteers) of Palestine. We like this term!

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