We are U.S. Jews who are deeply troubled by a recent speech given by the Anti-Defamation League’s CEO, Jonathan Greenblatt, in which he defames grassroots and civil rights organizations committed to Palestinian justice and falsely conflates anti-Zionism with far right and violent extremism.

Greenblatt’s attacks on groups that are part of the movement for Palestinian rights and his assertion of an equivalency between anti-Zionists and white nationalists put us all at risk. Especially now, amid the rapid growth of the white nationalist far right, the safety and bodily autonomy of Black and brown people, Jewish people, Arabs, Muslims, queer and trans people, and disabled and immunocompromised people are under threat.

The struggle against antisemitism must be in partnership with all others targeted by white supremacy. We are committed to working collectively to combat antisemitism the same way we work against racism, Islamophobia, transphobia, and ableism.

The Anti-Defamation League does not speak for us, and we will not allow them to divide and defame our communities and movements, including the movement for Palestinian human rights. Jewish communities must embrace anti-Zionist and non-Zionist voices, along with all other voices for justice. While we may have a range of perspectives on Palestine and Israel, we are all clear that equating anti-Zionist groups to white nationalists is beyond the pale and cannot be tolerated. We are also clear that all people deserve justice, freedom, and safety.

Signatories

Eva Ackerman
Peter Beinart
Ellen Brotsky
Judith Butler
Chase Carter
Barbara Dobkin
Stefanie Fox
Rachel Gilmer
Ira Glasser
Jane Hirschmann
Naomi Klein
Sandra Korn
Alan Levine
Richard Levy
Abby Lublin
Rachel McCullough
Nina Mehta
Marilyn Kleinberg Neimark
Donna Nevel
Kathleen Peratis
Rabbi Brant Rosen
Deborah Sagner
Audrey Sasson
James Schamus
Maya Schenwar
Rafael Shimunov
Alisa Solomon
Barry Trachtenberg
Mark Tseng-Putterman
Rebecca Vilkomerson
Rabbi Brian Walt
Lesley Williams
Rabbi Alissa Wise
Dorothy Zellner
Simone Zimmerman
Dave Zirin