The Question of Antisemitism

A nuanced and authoritative account of what constitutes antisemitism—and when criticizing Israel or supporting Palestine becomes antisemitic

Since the October 7, 2023, attack by Hamas on Israel and Israel’s ensuing war in Gaza, difficult questions about when criticism of Israel or support for Palestine becomes antisemitic have moved to the center of public life and political debate. Amid growing antisemitism and fierce disagreement over what is or isn’t antisemitic, what is needed now more than ever is a clearer and more sophisticated understanding of antisemitism and how it relates to Israel-Palestine. In The Question of Antisemitism, Dov Waxman provides precisely that, presenting an authoritative guide to today’s contentious debates about antisemitism, anti-Zionism, and Israel-Palestine.

The Question of Antisemitism argues that antisemitism has become so contested today primarily because it has become inextricably entangled with the highly charged and polarizing issue of Israel-Palestine. Written in an engaging and accessible way, the book explains what antisemitism is and how it manifests; explores the relationship between anti-Zionism and antisemitism; unpacks the controversy surrounding the “IHRA definition of antisemitism”; assesses claims of a “new antisemitism” aimed at Israel; and investigates whether the Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions (BDS) movement targeting Israel is antisemitic. The book also challenges claims that antisemitism is rampant on U.S. college campuses, and it documents the serious and far-reaching harms caused by the growing abuse of antisemitism accusations.

Providing essential answers to the most difficult questions regarding antisemitism today, The Question of Antisemitism offers a deeper understanding of one of the most important and divisive issues of our time.