The Second Surprise Attack of October 2023: Antizionism as Strategic Antisemitism

October 2023 triggered two surprise attacks for the world’s Jewish communities. The first was the October 7th (10/7) terrorist attacks by Hamas, whereas the second was the meteoric rise in antizionism unleashed globally, and particularly in the West. In this article, the authors argue that, contrary to the antizionist claim that “antizionism is not antisemitism,” antizionism represents the principal, contemporary mode of strategic antisemitism. The roots of antizionism are traced, highlighting that there is continuity with earlier antizionist efforts, but also that antizionism expressed since 10/7 has increased in frequency and severity. The distinction between instigators and perpetrators of antisemitism is invoked to help explain the drivers and consequences of the spike in antisemitism since 10/7, and the authors spotlight the need for empirical research to examine how to effectively counter antizionist narratives.