January 14, 2024 marked 100 days of war between Israel and Hamas. This grim milestone has only raised media tensions, producing split headlines like “Israel's 100 days of relentless war on Gaza” (“Al Jazeera”) and “Our world stopped on October 7: Families of hostages mark 100 days of Hamas Captivity” (“Times of Israel”).
The media nightmare produced by the war has only intensified over the last 100 days. Our echo-chambers are even further closed, secured, and sealed.
From international conglomerates like Starbucks and Disney to local businesses like Art Cafe and David's Bagels, numerous companies have been targeted for boycott by activists as young as high school students. A list assembled by the Islamic Human Rights Commision specifies more than 25 companies who, allegedly, donate to Israel and “support genocide.”
This list has been circulating social media, reposted by creators who both encourage and pressure their audience to avoid these brands, attacking those who don’t with accusations and insults.
Gen Z, the first online generation, is extremely passionate and expressive regarding their movements and beliefs, especially with the help of social media. But are they taking the right approach towards the social change they demand?
Fiery passion and a cause is all it takes to get college kids out and protesting, teenagers posting, and the world watching. However, not all of this dedication is creating positive solutions, and is often prompting further hate and violence.
While the boycotts are catching the eye of elected officials and public figures, causing stock prices to drop and putting pressure on the US Government, I worry that Gen Z’s intense ‘activism’ is contributing to the 337% increase in anti-semitic incidents, as reported by the Anti-Defamation League. The term “zionist” has become an insult, antisemitic rhetoric has infiltrated criticism of the Israeli government, and Holocaust denial is at an all-time high.
“Zionism” is the movement for Jewish self-determination in the land of Israel. The concept predates its name, coined in 1890. However, the idea comes in many forms, such as Political Zionism, Religious Zionism, and Socialist Zionism, each possessing its own goals and philosophies.
This term has become synonymous with anti-Palestinian sentiment, though the two notions aren’t at all inherently related. Critique of the Israeli government can, and should, exist in a Zionist space. You can be a Zionist AND pro-Palestine. You can protest the Israeli government AND defend Israel’s right to exist. This gray area, as well as any middle ground whatsoever, is demonized and refuted by TikTok activists.
Unfortunately, the commendable change achieved by young people has been tainted by the intensely anti-Zionist filter bubbles that foster ignorance and exclusion.
Especially towards progressive Jews.
Libi Livnat, an American student spending her sophomore year attending the American International School in Israel, provided her insight on this issue, describing that “directly after October 7th, I was pro-Israel in a way that I had never been before.” Continuing, “As the war went on, it lessened, especially after spending time in a Bedouin village in the West Bank.” When asked about how she feels about the war now, Livnat explained her further education and insight into other perspectives, but admitted that she “definitely became desensitized. I got used to the bombings, texting in the family group chat that I’m safe and in a shelter.” She emphasized the difficulty of balancing and understanding emotions and facts regarding the conflict.
Livnat made a surprising remark, expressing gratitude for the more balanced perspectives and viewpoints she’s exposed to in Israel, compared to her home school, LREI, in New York.
How is it possible that the epicenter of such a violent, tragic and emotionally charged war has more room for discussion and dissonance than we do, here in Nyack?
While this is indicative of larger issues regarding the internet’s impact on our consumption of media, one thing remains certain. Anti-Semitism in the name of activism is never justified.