Antisemitism by proxy: Blood libels against UAE and Morocco

A recent draft report by a UN Panel of Experts on Sudan, alleging that a UAE-based company facilitated the transport of weapons, drones, fighters, and mercenaries to the Rapid Support Forces, has become the subject of a sophisticated propaganda campaign. The Jerusalem Post argues that this narrative, amplified through various media channels, mirrors historical antisemitic blood libels.

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Those gaps will not survive the propaganda cycle. A UAE-based company will become “the UAE,” a draft will become a verdict, and alleged assistance to one armed faction will become “the Emirati genocide of Sudan.”

The report, which cites two eyewitnesses and two unnamed member states, claims Global Security Services Group, a UAE-based firm, was involved. However, the UAE has stated it found no company involvement. The Jerusalem Post contends that any gaps in evidence are quickly filled by the certainty of accusers, transforming allegations into perceived verdicts. A UAE-based company becomes "the UAE," and alleged assistance to one faction morphs into accusations of "Emirati genocide of Sudan."

Chama Mechtiya, writing for the Jerusalem Post, draws a parallel between medieval blood libels, which accused Jews of using Christian blood, and modern accusations against Israel and its Arab normalization partners. She argues that these allies are now accused of manufacturing wars to exploit Arab and African resources. Mechtiya, who is Moroccan and lived in the UAE, observes that individuals and states engaging in normalization with Israel are often demonized, with Emiratis being labeled as secretly Jewish and Moroccans accused of becoming "Zionist colonizers."

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The medieval version accused Jews of secretly taking Christian blood; its modern descendant accuses Israel, and now the states that chose peace with it, of manufacturing wars to harvest Arab and African blood, land, and ports.

Applying Natan Sharansky's three-part test for identifying antisemitism, demonization, double standards, and delegitimization, Mechtiya suggests these methods are now being used against Israel's allies. She points out the irony that the UAE, a significant donor to Sudan's humanitarian aid, is singled out as the sole cause of the country's catastrophe, while other nations with more substantial involvement are overlooked.

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I have watched Emiratis described as secretly Jewish, Moroccans accused of becoming Zionist colonizers, and Arabs who choose normalization treated as though they had forfeited the right to speak for their countries.