Anti-Palestinian Racism?

• Denying the Nakba;
• Justifying violence against Palestinians;
• Failing to acknowledge Palestinians as an Indigenous people with a collective identity, belonging and rights in relation to occupied and historic Palestine;
• Erasing the human rights and equal dignity and worth of Palestinians;
• Excluding or pressuring others to exclude Palestinian perspectives, Palestinians and their [non-Palestinian] allies;
• Defaming Palestinians and their [non-Palestinian] allies with slander such as being inherently anti-semitic, a terrorist threat/sympathizer or opposed to democratic values. ²

The first known description of Anti-Palestinian Racism was published in April, 2022 by the Arab-Canadian Lawyers Association (ACLA). ³

Through decades of anti-racism and equity advocacy, the ACLA found that Palestinians and allies, such as advocates for Palestinian human rights, face a unique and profoundly distinct form of racism. The report, “Anti-Palestinian Racism: Naming, Framing and Manifestations”, was developed to help the community understand the experience of Palestinians and allies in the context of racism, discrimination and settler-colonialism frameworks. The “Anti-Palestinian Racism: Naming, Framing and Manifestations” report was developed after years of consultations with the Palestinian community and its advocates in Canada, as well as with anti-racism academics and activists. ⁴

The naming and framing of anti-Palestinian racism as well as the description of some of its manifestations are useful in clarifying the discrimination and bias faced by Palestinians and advocates of Palestinian human rights. It is important for advocates of Palestinian human rights as well as Palestinians to have an understanding of anti-Palestinian racism so that they can more easily identify discrimination they may encounter. It can also help institutions, organizations and companies develop policies to counter this form of racism. ⁵

At its core, anti-Palestinian racism aims to censor and erase Palestinians and their narratives from the public sphere either directly through punitive measures or indirectly by eliciting fear of punitive measures to deter anyone from sharing Palestinian narratives. Tactics take many forms depending on the context and often involve, but not limited to: defaming a person’s character and reputation; falsely accusing them of promoting hate, violence or antisemitism; denying or threatening to deny a person opportunities or advancement; dehumanizing Palestinians and negating their experiences; and/or portraying Palestinians as inferior people. The frequency and predictability of this backlash against those speaking on Palestinian rights results in a chilling effect on the open discourse on Palestine, and fear to participate in or openly support Palestinian initiatives. ⁶

This has been playing out during 2023-2024. For example, Hollywood actors have lost their jobs for expressing solidarity with Palestinian human rights. ⁷ Others also fear retaliation for expressing solidarity with Palestinians. ⁸ The fear of retribution contributes to the suppression of Palestinian narratives by deterring people from speaking out in defense of Palestinian human rights. ^{9 10}   Another major impact of anti-Palestinian racism is the harm and trauma caused by the targeting of a racial identity.

Anti-Palestinian racism intensifies the anxiety of being Palestinian and can lead Palestinians to hide their identity for fear of being persecuted. ¹¹ It also can socially isolate advocates of Palestinian human rights from their peers, colleagues and even their own families.¹² This can have serious consequences, not only resulting in isolation but also potentially triggering anxiety, depression and other mental health issues.¹³

It is important to understand anti-Palestinian racism in order to address the censorship and personal harm caused by this form of racism. It is not meant to prevent discussions on Israel/Palestine. ¹⁴ It can be used as a working description and framework for institutions, organizations, companies and individuals in order to address incidents of anti-Palestinian racism, allow more productive discussions on Israel/Palestine, and to avoid attacks on the identities and rights of Palestinians and advocates of Palestinian human rights.¹⁵

The Arab Canadian Lawyers Association gives a non-exhaustive list of examples of anti-Palestinian racism in their report, “namely: Nakba denial, the justification of violence against Palestinians, failing to recognize the indigeneity of Palestinians, erasing the human dignity of Palestinians, excluding Palestinians and allies, and attempting to defame them.” ¹⁶ Often, one incident of anti-Palestinian racism will touch on several of the above examples due to their intersectionality.¹⁷

Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East’s recent report, found over 500 examples of anti-Palestinian racism in Canada in online written content in 2022 alone. ⁴⁴
The Council of American Islamic Relations, the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, received a ‘Staggering 2171 Complaints” of Anti-Palestinian racism in just two months from October 7th to December 2nd, 2023. An over 170% increase in reports compared to the same time the year before. ⁴⁵

There are numerous examples of anti-Palestinian racism. More examples include: ⁴⁶

1. 1. The CBC reprimanding journalists after they signed an open letter calling for better reporting on Palestine. ⁴⁷
   2. A children’s book being taken off the shelves at Indigo Books for featuring a map labeled “Palestine” instead of “Israel”. ⁴⁸
   3. Postmedia apologizing after it featured an Amnesty International advertisement that included a 15 year old Palestinian journalist.⁴⁹
   4. The censorship of an article on Palestinian perspectives in a Saskatoon student newspaper. ⁴⁶

Subtle anti-Palestinian racism is also very common.

For example, when addressing Israeli victims in October 2023, President Biden said: “More than 1,300 people slaughtered in Israel, including at least 32 American citizens.  Scores of innocents — from infants to elderly grandparents, Israelis, Americans — taken hostage.” ⁵¹

This statement uses the active voice and uses specific negative descriptors like “slaughtered.” It identifies characteristics of the victims including “infants” and “elderly grandparents.” It also emphasizes their innocence.

However, when addressing Palestinian victims in the same statement, Biden said: “Like so many others, I am heartbroken by the tragic loss of Palestinian life” and “We mourn every innocent life lost.” ⁵²

This statement uses the passive voice “loss of life” instead of “people slaughtered.” It excludes the characteristics of victims. There is no mention of “infants” and “elderly grandparents” although they had been killed by the Israeli military as well. It also fails to make any mention of the innocence of the Palestinian civilians that were killed. 

This is an example of unconscious bias that treats Palestinians differently from Israelis and further perpetuates value judgments that are more negative for one group than the other. It unintentionally delegitimizes the Palestinian people and their suffering.

The primary targets of anti-Palestinian racism are: Palestinians, and in the US, Palestinian-Americans and advocates for Palestinian human rights. However, anti-Palestinian racism affects many more people because it also affects people who are “perceived to be Palestinian” ⁵³ because of their skin tone, ethnic background, religion or even their clothing such as the 2023 shooting of Palestinian students in Burlington, Vermont. ⁵⁴

It also impacts those who ”simply express support for Palestinian rights.” ⁵⁵ In one of the examples above, the CBC admonished journalists, regardless of their ethnic or religious backgrounds, for signing an open letter advocating for Palestinian human rights. 

The Palestinian identity is always at the core of anti-Palestinian racism although it affects non-Palestinian advocates of Palestinian human rights and is independent of their own identity. 

This is also seen in the example of the Artforum Magazine firing its editor in chief for standing up for Palestinian human rights. Regardless of whether a Palestinian or an advocate for Palestinian human rights is the focus, “every case of anti-Palestinian racism ultimately targets Palestinians. Ultimately, such racism entrenches the systemic oppression of Palestinians as an indigenous people whose lands have been taken and occupied by settlers,” ^{56 57}

Anti-Palestinian racism affects different people in different ways. The Arab Canadian Lawyers Association report recognizes that Palestinians and advocates for Palestinian human rights can be affected by other forms of discrimination based on other factors including their identity, race, religion or gender. For example, anti-Palestinian racism directed at a LatinX woman may include elements of gender-based and ethnically based discrimination along with anti-Palestinian racism. 

Anti-Palestinian racism is recognizably different from anti-Arab racism and Islamophobia. However, advocates for Palestinian human rights can be a target of all three forms of racism simultaneously. Palestinians may speak Arabic, have Arabian sounding names, have a distinct accent when speaking in English or wear ethnic dress that can make them targets of anti-Arab racism. However, in addition to this, they also are targets of anti-Palestinian racism. For example, they may be silenced at work or school for speaking out in support of Palestinian freedom or for advocating against the Occupied Palestinian territories] being under Israeli apartheid rule. ^{58 59 60}

 Palestinians can be any religion, including Christians, Druze, Muslims, Jewish, Buddhist, etc or they may be agnostic or atheists. 

However, many Americans, Canadians and Europeans assume that all Palestinians are Muslim despite the fact that, for example, Bethlehem, the majority Christian city that Jesus was born in, is in the Occupied Palestinian Territory of the West Bank, the Church of the Holy Sepulchre is in Palestinian occupied East Jerusalem and a significant portion of Palestinians are Christian. As such, Palestinians in Canada, the US and some countries in Europe frequently face Islamophobia regardless of their true religion or even if they do not believe in any religion.

Palestinians are targets of anti-Palestinian racism in addition to facing Islamophobia simply for being perceived as Muslim. Mistakingly or willfully misrepresenting anti-Palestinian racism for Islamophobia perpetuates stereotypes, and minimizes the fundamental struggle of Palestinians and diminishes the understanding of the settler-colonial conflict where Palestinian lands were seized and occupied by Israel. ⁶¹

Many people incorrectly perceive the issue of Israel/Palestine as a religious conflict between Muslims and Jews. However, not all Palestinians are Muslim and treating them as such, not only erases the identity of Palestinian Christians as well as Palestinians of other religions, it also reduces a settler-colonial conflict to a religious conflict. This perpetuates stereotypes and a falsehood against Palestinians, Muslims and Jews. It also perpetuates the idea that there is a belief system that makes it impossible to make peace, when in fact, Palestinian Muslims, Jews and Christians lived in peace for centuries prior to the Nakba and the creation of the state of Israel.

For this reason, Muslims may experience anti-Palestinian racism regardless of their perspective on Israel/Palestine and Palestinians may experience Islamophobia no matter their religion. Although there may be overlap between the two categories, anti-Palestinian racism and Islamophobia are distinct. ⁶²

Israel/Palestine is fundamentally a settler-colonial struggle with Israel illegally occupying Palestinian lands. ⁶³ The UN Special Rapporteur report states that “Israeli occupation violates Palestinian territorial sovereignty”, “endangers the cultural existence of Palestinians” and imposes “strategic fragmentation” showing “proof of intent to colonise the occupied territory.” ⁶⁴ Israeli settler-colonialism on Palestinians is manifested in discriminatory laws such as the Nation-State Law of 2018 which made into law Jewish supremacy over Christians, Muslims and other non-Jewish Palestinian citizens of Israel. ⁶⁵

“The implementation of this ideology targets Palestinians, their land, their culture and identity in order to maintain Jewish supremacy and accompanying narrative across Palestine. Palestinians in effect are being erased from the landscape. Falsely depicting the oppression of Palestinians as a religious conflict hinders the decolonization and liberation efforts of Palestinians, and restricts their ability to resist and testify against their injustices. Significantly and erroneously, this false reduction prohibits the possibility that Palestinian self-determination and Jewish self-determination are not mutually exclusive.” ⁶⁶

The Arab Canadian Lawyers Association specifically notes an alarming tendency for institutions, organizations, elected officials, government entities, media and the broader community to conflate anti-Palestinian racism with Islamophobia. 

By doing so, these groups and communities not only avoid addressing anti-Palestinian racism but also downplay its importance and, in effect, contribute to the silencing and erasure of Palestinian voices and narratives. ⁶⁷

“For example, [Toronto District School Board’s,] TDSB’s response to complaints of anti-Palestinian racism relating to their scandals involving Davila and Cole and the Garneau student protest was to commit to providing resources and raising awareness on Islamophobia. The Tax Court of Canada’s response to Justice Spiro’s role in the Azarova hiring scandal, was to (inappropriately) bar him from hearing cases involving Muslim parties. Similarly, the CJC’s decision found Justice Spiro had good ties with the Muslim community so there was no concern for an apprehension of bias against Muslims, Arabs and Palestinians – without addressing the specific concerns of bias against Palestinians raised in the complaints. ^{68 69}

“These examples, among others, present a worrying trend that whenever Palestinians and advocates raise anti-Palestinian racism, rather than investigating these complaints and taking accountability for their actions, institutions are obfuscating and avoiding anti-Palestinian racism entirely by instead pledging to take action on Islamophobia. The effect, once again, is to silence Palestinians and disregard their experiences, discourage Palestinians from reporting anti-Palestinian racism incidents, signal that this form of racism is acceptable, and enable anti-Palestinian racism and its accompanying harms to continue to be perpetuated against Palestinians and advocates.” ⁷⁰