Some forms of criticism of Israel can indeed be antisemitic

However, if it has been established that antisemitism can be expressed on a national, and diplomatic level, then how, specifically, does it manifest itself? One form is that which is addressed in the sixth clause. When an international organ is used to single out Israel for censure on human rights while at the same time overlooking far more clear-cut and egregious examples from other countries, that is, by definition, bias, though not necessarily antisemitism. However, when this bias is repeated and reinforced with regularity, it is reasonable to raise the question whether antisemitism may be a motivation.

Pro-Palestinian activists who have criticised the London Declaration’s specific mention of antisemitism as it relates to Israel as a method of “stifling” criticism of Israel are actually trying to stifle debate on their own campaign of delegitimisation of Israel by rejecting a priori that any elements of their supporters may actually be driven by antisemitism. Yet the evidence is overwhelming - one has only to read the comments on the Facebook page for last month’s protest calling for a boycott of the supposedly (though not actually) Israeli Max Brenner Chocolate shop at the University of New South Wales. Dozens of ugly remarks about Jews, many invoking traditional stereotypes, were posted there with little pretense of a connection to Israel. Meanwhile, also last month, a Palestinian NGO associated with supposed moderate Hanan Ashrawi published a piece promoting Blood Libel - the antisemitic belief that Jews kill Christian children and eat their blood as part of religious rituals.

Whatever perceived grievances pro-Palestinian activists have against Israel does not relieve them of their moral responsibility to disavow those who espouse antisemitic beliefs from within their ranks. Just as supporters of Israel must reject and separate themselves from extremists who express racial hatred towards Arabs, and “Tea Party” critics of US President Barack Obama must shun the support of those who attack Obama with racist motives, the Palestinian camp must stop denying the reality of Jew-haters among them, and purge them as well.

They should therefore embrace the London Declaration, not only for the sake of the Jews, but out of self-interest. While they might be able to deceive themselves, their act of denial on this important moral issue can only cost them the support of fair-minded Australians who do not wear such blinders.