By: Dr Matevž Tomšič
Who would have thought that the opening of an embassy could provoke such outrage among a certain segment of society? That a perfectly normal diplomatic gesture, intended to strengthen relations between two countries, could trigger such fury.
The very thing happened recently in Slovenia. The opening of the Israeli embassy in Ljubljana sent many Slovenian leftists into a frenzy. They even organised a protest on the day of the opening. Alongside the usual socialist and pro-Palestinian slogans, chants such as “Death to Israel” and “Let Israel burn” could be heard. This is no longer a joke. This is not merely “hate speech,” a term that leftists are so fond of invoking, but a direct call for violence. In other words, something that warrants criminal prosecution.
The Slovenian radical left revealed its antisemitic nature through these outbursts. The rhetoric of those who organised the protest, warning about a supposed Zionist threat, was reminiscent of much darker periods in history. For them, the Jewish state has become synonymous with nearly everything evil in the world.
There are many who justify such statements by arguing that they are directed not against Jews as such, but against the State of Israel. Therefore, they claim, they cannot be considered antisemitic. However, words and actions tell a different story.
Of course, Israel, like any other state, is a legitimate subject of criticism. The actions of its government may be judged and criticised, even harshly. That in itself is not antisemitism. However, antisemitism often hides behind such criticism. The former Soviet dissident of Jewish origin Natan (Anatoly) Sharansky developed what is known as the “Three Ds” test to distinguish antisemitism from legitimate criticism of Israel. These are: delegitimization, demonization, and double standards. In the first instance it is about denying Israel’s right to exist as a state, the second is about portraying Israel or Jews as inherently evil, and the third instance is about judging Israel by standards not applied to other countries, particularly Muslim states. If these criteria are met antisemitism is clearly present. Slovenian leftists who oppose all cooperation with Israel satisfy all three criteria. They often portray Israel as an artificial entity that should not exist because it allegedly arose on “someone else’s land,” despite the fact that Jews lived there long before Arabs. They often spread “conspiracy theories” about the supposed omnipotence of a “Jewish lobby” allegedly embedded throughout key social institutions and exerting decisive influence over political decision-makers. Furthermore, while sharply condemning Israeli military actions, they fail to condemn the crimes of Hamas, which they allegedly regard as a “liberation movement,” as well as other Islamist organisations and countries such as Iran, which support them and systematically oppress their own citizens.
It must be emphasised that this is not limited to angry individuals shouting slogans or posting hostile comments online. The current wave of antisemitism was encouraged by the left-wing government that was in power until this year, together with sympathetic media outlets and NGOs. Former Prime Minister Robert Golob and some members of his coalition were openly demonising Israel and spreading prejudice against Jews, particularly during election campaigns. This part of politics therefore carries the primary responsibility for the phenomenon.
The rise of “left-wing antisemitism” is not unique to Slovenia. It is especially visible in places where pro-Palestinian political forces hold power (Spain is such an example). However, it claims that concern for the Palestinian people often serves as a cover for hostility toward perceived enemies, among whom Israel features prominently. The modern and successful Jewish state is an outpost of Western civilisation in the Middle East, and radical leftists reject that civilisation at its core. In this respect, they resemble the Islamist groups with whom they align on this issue.