A Moral Reckoning: Why a Growing Number of Anti-Zionist Jews

For generations, many in the global Jewish community were taught one unwavering principle: to support Israel is a core part of Jewish identity. But as the world witnesses the mass killing and devastation in Gaza, a profound and painful reckoning is underway.

“For many Jews, Israel has become their religion. It’s replaced Judaism,” explains Antony Loewenstein, an acclaimed Jewish-Australian journalist, author, and long-time critic of Israeli policy.

This blind tribal support, once seen as a religious obligation, is now creating a deep identity crisis, especially for younger Jews who can no longer reconcile their values with the actions of the Israeli state. In this post, we explore Loewenstein’s journey from a Zionist upbringing to a vocal critic, delving into the growing movement of Jews rejecting Zionism and the reasons behind this historic shift.

A Personal Awakening: From Tribal Support to Critical Scrutiny

Growing up in a liberal Jewish home in Melbourne, Loewenstein was taught that Israel was the ultimate safe haven, a necessary sanctuary for a people scarred by the Holocaust.

“We were told to support Israel because we’re Jews,” he recalls. “There was no conversation or questioning about what that means.”

This narrative began to fray as he grew older. He witnessed a profound and unsettling racism toward Arabs, Palestinians, and Muslims within his own community, often from people who had never even met them. Palestinians were framed as an existential threat, with leaders like Yasser Arafat compared to Hitler.

The turning point was realising this narrative depended on ignorance.

Dehumanisation: By never meeting or speaking with Palestinians, it was easy to generalise and discriminate against them. They were an abstract threat, not people with their own history, rights, and suffering.
The Safety Paradox: The idea of Israel as a “safe space” collapsed under scrutiny. “It is more unsafe to be a Jew in Israel than arguably anywhere else in the world,” Loewenstein states. “The state’s actions are making all of us, in my view, more unsafe.”
Double Standards: He observed that many Zionists defend policies in Israel, such as separate legal systems for different ethnic groups, which they would find outrageous and discriminatory in their own countries.

This realisation set him on a long and often difficult journey toward supporting the Palestinian cause, understanding that true Jewish safety could never be built on the oppression of other people.

The Price of Truth: Facing Backlash and Ostracism

Speaking out against the consensus came at a high personal and professional cost. Loewenstein describes becoming an “outcast” in many Jewish circles.

The backlash included:

Family Conflict: Raging arguments with family members over his questioning of Israel’s “knee-jerk blind defence.”
Lost Friendships: His father lost a close Jewish friend who, after October 7th, said of Palestinians, “We need to gas them.” Such a traumatic response, invoking the horrors of the Holocaust to advocate for violence, was a line that couldn’t be uncrossed.
Professional Censorship: Before his first book, *My Israel Question*, was even published, there were calls in parliament to ban it. His publisher faced pressure to pulp the book.
Hate Mail and Threats: He has received death threats and is frequently called a “traitor” or a “Kappo,” a deeply offensive term for a Jew who collaborated with the Nazis.

“It’s a way to silence you, to shut you up,” Loewenstein explains. “But the vast majority of messages I get are supportive, including from Jews who say, ‘We didn’t know that Jews like you exist.’”

Debunking a Dangerous Myth: Is Anti-Zionism the Same as Antisemitism?

One of the most powerful tools used to silence criticism of Israel is the claim that anti-Zionism is inherently antisemitic. Loewenstein dismisses this as “nonsense and completely ahistorical.”

Here’s why the argument is flawed

Judaism is Ancient, Zionism is Modern: Jewish identity and culture have existed for thousands of years. Political Zionism is a relatively recent ideology, emerging only in the late 19th century. To equate the two is to erase millennia of Jewish history.
It’s a Political Ideology, Not an Ethnicity: Zionism is a political movement advocating for a Jewish nation-state. Like any political ideology, it is open to criticism. Rejecting Zionism means opposing a political structure, not hating Jewish people.
It Cheapens Real Antisemitism: When the charge of antisemitism is used to defend state policies like occupation and apartheid, it dilutes the term and undermines the fight against genuine Jew-hatred.

“I see Zionism now as a cult,” Loewenstein says bluntly. “As Israel itself becomes more proudly theocratic and racist, blind supporters in the West have to go along with that and become more far-right themselves.”

A Generational Shift: The Growing Awakening in Jewish Communities

The dam is breaking. A growing number of Jews, particularly those under 35, are not just questioning Israel’s actions but are actively rejecting Zionism.

This isn’t just anecdotal. A stunning 2025 poll published in the Washington Post revealed that among American Jews:

Belief in War Crimes: 61% of respondents stated that they believe Israel has committed war crimes in Gaza.
Belief in Genocide: 39% of respondents said they believe Israel is committing genocide against Palestinians.
Disillusionment: The numbers highlight a massive gap between the views of ordinary Jews and the unwavering pro-Israel stance of establishment Jewish organisations

“You are having what I call a schism in the Jewish community,” Loewenstein notes. “It’s a non-violent civil war… between an old generation and a younger generation.”

Younger Jews see an Israeli government that proudly partners with global far-right figures like Tommy Robinson, a known anti-Muslim bigot. They see a state whose actions do not reflect their Jewish values of justice and compassion. They are increasingly turning away from legacy institutions that demand unconditional support for Israel and are building new, progressive Jewish spaces.

The DNA of Dehumanisation: How Zionism Enables Oppression

What is it about Zionism that allows for the systematic dehumanisation of Palestinians? Loewenstein argues it’s baked into the ideology from its inception.

The Premise of a Majority State: The goal of creating a “Jewish majority state” in a land already inhabited by other people necessitates their displacement, control, or erasure. From the early Zionist writings of the late 1800s, there was a clear, racist contempt for the native Arab population.
The “Chosen People” Mindset: “When I was growing up, I was told that we were the chosen people,” Loewenstein recalls. “What does that do to your mindset? If you’re the chosen people, you can pretty much do what you want.”
Trauma as Justification: The Holocaust is often invoked to justify any action taken in the name of Jewish safety. This creates a dangerous logic where criticising Israel is equated with siding with Nazis, effectively shutting down any moral debate.

This dehumanisation, he argues, is what allows a rabbi on the holiest day of the Jewish calendar to praise Israeli soldiers committing atrocities in Gaza, a “moral rot” that is breaking the community apart.

Actionable Steps: How Jewish People Can Support the Palestinian Cause

For Jews who feel disillusioned and want to act, Loewenstein offers practical advice based on the many messages he receives from those seeking guidance.

Find Your Voice: The fear of being ostracised is real, but silence is complicity. “If now is not the time to speak out, when is?” he asks. Start by having difficult conversations with your family and friends.
Join Progressive Jewish Organisations: You are not alone. Groups like Jewish Voice for Peace in the US or the Jewish Council of Australia are building communities for Jews who oppose the occupation and advocate for justice.
Show Up: Attend rallies and protests. Your presence as a Jew is a powerful statement that dismantles the narrative that the Jewish community speaks with one voice.
Educate Yourself and Others: Read the work of Palestinian authors and critical Israeli historians. Share articles and resources that challenge the mainstream narrative.

A Reckoning is Here

The blind, tribal loyalty to Israel that once defined mainstream Jewish identity is crumbling. Faced with the undeniable reality of genocide, a growing number of Jews are choosing their conscience over conformity. They are reclaiming a Judaism rooted in justice, not nationalism, and are standing in solidarity with Palestinians.

This Jewish reckoning is long overdue. It is a painful but necessary process to separate Judaism from political Zionism and build a future where Jewish safety is not predicated on the oppression of anyone. As Antony Loewenstein asserts, true security will never be achieved through walls and weapons, but through justice and equality for all.