Adam Louis Klein: Naming Anti-Zionism As Hate

 Adam Louis Klein, PhD candidate in anthropology at McGill University and founder of the Movement Against Antizionism, delivered a clear and powerful explanation of why anti-Zionism must be understood and fought as its own distinct structure of Jew hatred.

In this Monday Meeting discussion, Klein emphasized that anti-Zionism without the hyphen is not a legitimate political debate or simple criticism of Israeli policy. It is a hate movement built on three core libels: the colonizer libel (Jews as white European settlers with no real connection to the land), the apartheid libel (Jews as inherent racists), and the genocide libel (Israelis as genocidal by nature). These libels function to mark Israel, Israelis, and anyone associated with them as evil, justifying discrimination and violence.

Klein explained the crucial difference between writing “anti-Zionism” with a hyphen (which suggests mere ideological opposition) and without it (a structured bigotry). He argued that current approaches often try to map anti-Zionism back into classical antisemitism using tropes like world conspiracy or dual loyalty. While there is overlap, this misses the specific anti-Zionist stereotypes and weakens our ability to name and counter the phenomenon directly.

He stressed that anti-Zionism spreads through libels — false, inflammatory claims that code Jews and Israelis as inherently malevolent. These accusations are not meant for rational debate; they are designed to travel faster than facts can refute them. Klein called for a new vocabulary and legal framework that recognizes anti-Zionism as discrimination and harassment, similar to how other forms of racism are identified through their characteristic tropes and libels.

The conversation also touched on practical advocacy: instead of endlessly defending against claims like “stop killing babies,” simply name it as the “baby killing libel” and explain how it fits the larger anti-Zionist pattern. Klein highlighted the need to educate people about the history and mechanics of these libels rather than just countering each one individually.

This talk offers a much-needed strategic shift for the Jewish community and its allies. Instead of playing defense in a rigged narrative game, Klein urges us to clearly define, name, and oppose anti-Zionism as a modern form of Jew hatred that threatens Jewish sovereignty and peoplehood.