House Declares Anti-Zionism a Form of Antisemitism

Facts

• The US House of Representatives on Tuesday passed a resolution condemning the rise of antisemitism and declaring that 'anti-Zionism is antisemitism.' The GOP-drafted resolution received support from all but one Republican.¹
• Furthermore, the resolution 'reaffirms and reiterates' the US' 'strong support for the Jewish community at home and abroad' and 'rejects all forms of terror, hate, discrimination, and harassment' against Jewish individuals.²
• The resolution passed by a vote of 311 to 14, with 13 Democrats voting 'nay,' 92 voting 'present,' and 95 supporting the measure, reflecting significant divisions within the party following Hamas' Oct. 7 attack on Israel.³
• Democratic Reps. Jerry Nadler, Daniel Goldman, and Jamie Raskin — who are all Jewish — urged their colleagues to vote 'present,' arguing that the GOP is trying 'to score cheap political points' and deepen splits within the Democratic Party.⁴
• A bipartisan coalition has already voted to affirm Israel's right to exist — stating that Jewish people are 'native to the Land of Israel' — with all but two members opposing the resolution.⁵
• The lone Republican to vote against Tuesday's resolution, Thomas Massie (R-Ky.), has previously criticized the measure, stating: 'Antisemitism is deplorable, but expanding it to include criticism of Israel is not helpful.'⁶

Sources: ¹The Hill, ²Forbes, ³The New York Times, ⁴CNN, ⁵Business Insider and ⁶New York Post.

Narratives

• Pro-establishment narrative, as provided by Daily Wire. We have reached a sad and dangerous point when it comes to antisemitism, yet there are more than 100 representatives who refuse to condemn the rise of violence against Jews. Opposing antisemitism shouldn't be controversial, but some far-left politicians oppose the Jewish state with vitriol. Resisting Israel's right to exist is a blatant and evil form of antisemitism, and the House was right to declare that fact formally. Hamas' attack on Israel shows that antisemitism is still alive, but good will prevail, and antisemitism will be defeated.
• Establishment-critical narrative, as provided by The New Republic. House Republicans and the Zionist lobby are engaged in a disgusting game of politics as they attempt to conflate criticism of Israel with antisemitism. Prominent Jewish members of Congress recognized that the GOP was trying to exploit a perceived fracture in the Democratic Party and urged fellow representatives to abstain from voting. It's not antisemitic to oppose the brutal killings of thousands of Palestinians, nor is it hateful to demand justice for people living in an open-air prison. This resolution wasn't about combating hate, but stifling pro-Palestine voices.

Predictions