Israel's loneliness is impossible to ignore: Lessons from University of Haifa conference - opinion

A recent conference on antisemitism at the University of Haifa, postponed due to the ongoing war, convened scholars from 20 countries and featured 220 speakers. Among them were Deborah Lipstadt, former U.S. Special Envoy to Combat Antisemitism, Holocaust historian Dina Porat, and jurist Cochav Elkayam-Levy, who documented Hamas's sexual crimes.

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The Jewish people have many allies: among Catholics since Vatican II, among Evangelicals since the Six Day War of 1967, among moderate Muslims, and among liberals of integrity everywhere.

The gathering, organized by the University of Haifa's Comper Center for the Study of Antisemitism and Racism in partnership with other institutions, explored a range of issues. Discussions covered the anti-Zionist focus within major international bodies, the manipulation of language, the amplifying effect of social media, and the influence of artificial intelligence on human perception.

In his closing address, author Bernard-Henri Lévy acknowledged the unprecedented global surge of hatred since October 7. However, he asserted that the fight against antisemitism is far from over. Lévy reminded attendees of the Jewish people's historical allies, including Catholics since Vatican II, Evangelicals since 1967, moderate Muslims, and principled liberals worldwide.

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At times, I reminded them that Israel is, historically, a decolonized nation, born of one of the first great decolonial movements of the postwar era, wrested from the leading colonial power of the time, the British Empire.

He also recounted his experiences on American campuses a year prior, where he found it possible to challenge the narrative that Israel is a colonial, apartheid, or genocidal state. Lévy countered these claims by highlighting Israel's history as a decolonized nation and its status as a state granting equal rights to its Arab minority, directly contrasting it with apartheid regimes. He drew upon his own experiences documenting genocides in Bangladesh and Darfur to frame his arguments.

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And then, finally, I explained that I reported on one genocide at the age of 20 in Bangladesh, and another at 60 in Darfur; that I have reflected extensively on several other genocides.