Opinion pieces argue genocide accusations against Israel fuel antisemitism
Two opinion articles, one by current and former chairs of the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum and one in the Jerusalem Post, argue that charging Israel with genocide fuels antisemitism. Both come from right-leaning outlets, and neither presents the opposing case.
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The story, neutrally told
Right · 1Jeffrey Miller and Stuart Eizenstat, who describe themselves as the current and former chairs of the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum, wrote in a Fox News opinion piece that the charge of genocide is being weaponised and fuels antisemitism. Fox NewsR “We are honored to serve as the current and former chairs of the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum”“As malicious actors weaponize the term and endanger Jews everywhere, meticulous use of the charge is more essential than ever.” Read at Fox News ↗ Right · 1They state their "wholehearted conviction that Israel has not committed genocide", and say this reflects the U.S. government's consistent and prevailing view. Fox NewsR “we reiterate our wholehearted conviction that Israel has not committed genocide, reflecting the United States government’s consistent and prevailing view.” Read at Fox News ↗ Right · 1The same authors acknowledge the toll on Gaza: they call the loss of tens of thousands of people, including many children, "horrific", and say Israel, like any country, is not exempt from criticism. Fox NewsR “The loss of tens of thousands, including many children, is horrific.”“Israel, like any country, is not exempt from criticism.” Read at Fox News ↗
Right · 1They say Hamas puts civilians in harm's way as part of its strategy, and that Israel has warned civilians to evacuate, provided food and relief, and helped distribute vaccines. Fox NewsR “Hamas puts civilians in harm’s way as a central part of its strategy to demonize Israel.”“Israel has made efforts to warn civilians when to evacuate, provide food and relief, and facilitate vaccine distribution.” Read at Fox News ↗ Right · 1Miller and Eizenstat write that people often with little legal expertise use the term genocide, and that others use it to delegitimise Israel. They say the impact is an eruption of antisemitism either way, and they cite attacks in Pittsburgh, at Bondi Beach in Australia and in Manchester, England. Fox NewsR “Regardless of their intention, the impact is a terrifying eruption of antisemitism and a more dangerous world for Jewish people everywhere.”“From Pittsburgh’s Tree of Life synagogue to Bondi Beach in Australia, to Manchester, England, and far too many other places, Jews are under deadly attack.” Read at Fox News ↗ Right · 1They also say Iran, Qatar, China and Russia spread antisemitic and anti-Israel conspiracy theories and Holocaust denial. Fox NewsR “state actors like Iran, Qatar, China and Russia spread antisemitic and anti-Israel conspiracy theories and Holocaust denial” Read at Fox News ↗
Right · 1A Jerusalem Post opinion piece by Cookie Schwaeber-Issan, a former Jerusalem school principal, makes a related argument. It says accusations of genocide against Israel are "unproven" and "libelous", and that they have been a catalyst for the spread of antisemitism. The Jerusalem PostRC “which, in large part, have been the catalyst, fueling the rapid spread of antisemitism.”“Unproven genocide claims are used as weapons to fuel antisemitism, isolate Israel - opinion” Read at The Jerusalem Post ↗ Right · 1The piece draws on a 2 October article by Micha Danzig and criticises Democratic Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed for saying "Genocide needn't wait for all the facts". It also names Reps. Rashida Tlaib, Ilhan Omar and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, and podcaster Candace Owens, as using the genocide label for political or commercial gain. The Jerusalem PostRC “Danzig quotes Democratic Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed, who said: “Genocide needn't wait for all the facts.””“Scoring her political points, AOC gains the advantage without having to substantiate why she also asserts that a genocide is taking place in Gaza.” Read at The Jerusalem Post ↗ Right · 1The writer points to Israel's supplying of food, aid, polio vaccines and evacuation warnings as evidence against genocidal intent. She cites at least five countries boycotting the Eurovision Song Contest, and Israeli soldiers and the prime minister being unable to travel freely for fear of arrest, as consequences of what she calls a smear campaign. The Jerusalem PostRC “countering it with the actions of Israel having supplied Gazans with food, humanitarian aid, polio vaccines, and the distribution of printed warnings to evacuate certain areas”“At least five countries boycotted the Eurovision Song Contest, refusing to compete if Israel was permitted to participate.” Read at The Jerusalem Post ↗
Right · 2Both pieces are opinion commentary, and neither engages with the evidence or legal arguments of those who say Israel has committed genocide. Fox NewsR “Weaponizing the charge of genocide fuels an increasingly dangerous antisemitism” Read at Fox News ↗ The Jerusalem PostRC “Unproven genocide claims are used as weapons to fuel antisemitism, isolate Israel - opinion” Read at The Jerusalem Post ↗
Every sentence links to the reporting it rests on. The pill in front of each says where its sources sit: Left, Centre or Right when one side supplies at least half of them, Mixed when they are evenly split. The number is how many outlets it cites.
Left0 outlets
No left outlet in our sources has covered this story yet.
Centre0 outlets
No centre outlet in our sources has covered this story yet.
Right2 outlets
- Framing
- Both outlets run opinion pieces presenting the genocide charge against Israel as a weapon that fuels antisemitism. Fox News carries the voices of Holocaust museum leaders. The Jerusalem Post carries a polemic against named politicians and podcasters.
- Emphasis
- Fox stresses the gravity of the term genocide, the Holocaust's lessons and a global surge in violent antisemitism, while acknowledging Gazan suffering. The Jerusalem Post stresses that the claims are unproven, plus the diplomatic and reputational costs to Israel.
- Leaves out or plays down
- Neither piece quotes critics who argue Israel's conduct meets the legal definition of genocide, or any legal analysis supporting that view. The Jerusalem Post piece offers no Gaza casualty figures; Fox mentions only 'tens of thousands'.
- Charged language
- “Weaponizing”“slanderous accusations”“libelous”“smear campaign”“most barbaric and inhumane savages”
- For example
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“As malicious actors weaponize the term and endanger Jews everywhere, meticulous use of the charge is more essential than ever.” — Fox News
“You've heard that Zionists are racists and oppressors, and you've heard that the Jewish homeland was founded on the occupation of Arab lands.” — The Jerusalem Post
“a well-executed smear campaign, designed to injure the standing of Jews” — The Jerusalem Post
What every side reports
- Both pieces are opinion articles that say genocide accusations against Israel contribute to rising antisemitism.
- Both cite Israel's evacuation warnings, food aid and vaccine distribution in Gaza as evidence against the genocide charge.
United States Holocaust Memorial Museum organisation
Its current and former chairs, writing in Fox News, say Israel has not committed genocide, that the term is being weaponised, and that this fuels antisemitism. They also say they mourn the innocent Gazans killed. The piece is opinion, and the authors' views are not presented as an institutional statement.
“we reiterate our wholehearted conviction that Israel has not committed genocide” — Fox News
“we cannot forget the terrible tragedy many innocent Gazans have experienced as a result of the war.” — Fox News
Israel place
Israel's own position is not directly quoted. The Jerusalem Post author presents Israel as the target of an unfounded campaign and cites its aid deliveries and evacuation warnings as evidence against genocidal intent.
“Israel has become a reproach, synonymous with disapproval and shameful actions.” — The Jerusalem Post
Antisemitism topic
Both pieces treat antisemitism as surging, and as fuelled by genocide accusations against Israel. Fox says violent antisemitism is at levels not seen since the Holocaust.
“Violent antisemitism is at levels not seen since the Holocaust.” — Fox News
North America1 outlet
Fox News frames the issue around Holocaust remembrance and the museum chairs' authority, including a statement that U.S. government policy holds Israel has not committed genocide.
“reflecting the United States government’s consistent and prevailing view.” — Fox News
Fox News
Israel1 outlet
The Jerusalem Post focuses on the reputational and diplomatic costs to Israel, such as the Eurovision boycotts and arrest fears, and on US domestic politicians.
“Other punitive measures have come in the form of our soldiers and prime minister being unable to travel freely throughout the world” — The Jerusalem Post
The Jerusalem Post
Left0 articles
No coverage yet.
Centre0 articles
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Right2 articles
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Fox NewsR · · Opinion
Weaponizing the charge of genocide fuels an increasingly dangerous antisemitism
Critical An opinion piece by current and former Holocaust museum chairs: Israel has not committed genocide, careless use of the term endangers Jews, and Gazan civilian suffering is acknowledged.
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The Jerusalem PostRC · · Opinion
Unproven genocide claims are used as weapons to fuel antisemitism, isolate Israel - opinion
Alarmist A polemical opinion piece calling genocide claims against Israel libel and a deliberate strategy to spread hatred and isolate Israel, with named US politicians and a podcaster as targets.
- 8 Oct 14:00 First Fox NewsR Weaponizing the charge of genocide fuels an increasingly dangerous antisemitism Opinion
- 11 Oct 01:38 +59h 38m The Jerusalem PostRC Unproven genocide claims are used as weapons to fuel antisemitism, isolate Israel - opinion Opinion
Times are when each article was published, or when we first saw it if the outlet gave no time.