Antisemitism

Antisemitic, racist, and anti-communist poster from the United States

Antisemitism is a form of racism and/or prejudice against the Semitic peoples (and in particular Jews) based on the belief that Semites are inferior to non-Semites or that they are responsible for the world's problems. This type of bigotry often manifests as hostility or violence towards Jewish individuals or religious buildings. Antisemitism has a long history, dating back to ancient times, and has been a pervasive problem throughout much of the world. Today, it continues to be a serious issue, with Jews and Arabs facing discrimination and violence in many countries.

History

Antisemitism dates back to ancient times. In the ancient world, Jewish people were often the targets of persecution and discrimination by other groups, with jewish migrants often being targeted by the catholic church, and being impeded from working certain jobs. In the 19th and early 20th centuries, antisemitism became more widespread and organized, with the rise of political parties such as the National Fascist Party and the Nazi Party. During this time, Jewish people were often scapegoated for various social and economic problems, and were subjected to discriminatory laws and policies. Jewish people continue to face discrimination, violence, and persecution in some countries. In recent years, there has been a rise in hate crimes against Jewish people, particularly in the form of vandalism and attacks on synagogues and other Jewish institutions.

Soviet Union

The Bolsheviks banned antisemitism as soon as they came to power, and the Sovnarkom called for the destruction of the antisemitic movement in July 1918 by forbidding pogroms. A 1922 law banned national hatred with a punishment of at least a year of imprisonment or death during wartime. In 1927, Russia banned literature promoting religious or national hostility. In 1931, Stalin wrote a letter to the Jewish News Agency in the United States which called antisemitism "the most dangerous vestige of cannibalism". Pravda published this letter in 1936. This Article 74 of the Russian Criminal Code from 1961 punished antisemitism with six months to three years of imprisonment or two to five years of exile.

Conflation with anti-zionism

Zionists often try to conflate opposition towards the State of Israel and its apartheid policies with antisemitism, even though most Zionists are not Jewish, many Jews oppose Zionism, and Palestinians (who have suffered greatly from Zionism) are themselves a Semitic people.