Employing the Enemy

Anti-Zionism, French President Emmanuel Macron claimed in February, is anti-Semitism. Those in the pro-Israel lobby agree with him, and spend time and fortunes on trying to combat growing support for the people of occupied Palestine, most notably as part of the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) campaign. Zionism, of course, is a political ideology, and its adherents are not limited to people who identify as Jews. It is the founding ideology of the State of Israel, which perhaps provides a clue as to why the state’s supporters try so hard to link criticism of the state with the odious racism that anti-Semitism most certainly is; they simply cannot apply either reason or logic to their case for Zionism, so they resort to shooting the messenger. The book under review provides stark and disturbing evidence of why opposition to Zionism and Israel’s merciless and relentless military occupation and colonisation of Palestine has to be the default position of anyone who believes in justice, human rights and the rule of law. Vickery takes us on a tour of the occupied West Bank to meet individuals and communities who have little option but to work on Israel’s illegal settlements (all settlements are illegal under international law) and face the charge that they are “traitors” to the Palestinian cause.