Is Antizionism Antisemitism? Adam Louis-Klein, Founder of Movement Against Antizionism
Being Jewish with Jonah PlattShow Notes
What if the answer to "is antizionism antisemitism" is NO...but not for the reason you think? Adam Louis-Klein breaks down the history, language, and ideas driving the debate.
In a thought-provoking conversation, host Jonah Platt interviews Adam Louis-Klein, who returned from anthropological fieldwork with the Desana in the Amazon just after October 7, 2023, to discover the horrors of the attack on Israel. This drove him to become a leading voice opposing antizionism through his writing, appearances, and the organization he founded, Movement Against Antizionism (MAAZ). Adam defines antizionism as hatred of Israel and argues it functions like racism via obsessive libels, such as “colonizer,” “apartheid,” and “genocide,” used to justify hostility and violence against Jewish people. He distinguishes pre-1948 Jewish antizionism from modern antizionism, which he traces to Arab nationalist and Soviet propaganda, and criticizes institutional normalization in universities, NGOs, media, and governments. Klein contends antizionism harms Palestinians by empowering militias like Hamas and Hezbollah and outlines a “truth and reconciliation” vision including antizionism studies and memorialization.
Together, Jonah and Adam discuss the history of Bundism, Reform Judaism, Neturei Karta, the Oslo Accords, and debates surrounding the West Bank, Judea and Samaria, and Israeli identity. The episode also explores how to engage progressive audiences, respond to antizionist rhetoric, and build institutions capable of addressing one of the most consequential ideological battles facing the Jewish community today.
Plus, this week Jonah is back with the fourth installment of L’Dor V'adorable! We thought it couldn’t get any more adorable.
MENTIONED IN THE EPISODE: 16:17 — The Three Core Antizionist Libels: Colonizer, Apartheid, and Genocide Klein breaks down the foundational accusations driving the antizionist movement — how the colonizer, apartheid, and genocide narratives were engineered to exploit modern moral sensibilities. Defeating Antizionism
23:37 — Why "Antizionism" Is the Right Term (Not "Antisemitism") Klein explains why the hate movement has been named as antizionism rather than antisemitism — including the historical parallelism between the two terms and why the distinction actually reaches more people. Understanding Antisemitism and Anti-Zionism
51:29 — How Antizionism Harms Palestinians, Allies, and Civilization Itself A breakdown of the collateral damage antizionism causes beyond Jews — including Palestinians living under Hamas/Hezbollah, non-Jewish allies marked as Zionists, and the broader erosion of democratic norms. Antizionism Is a Hate Movement That Harms Palestinians and All Western Societies
1:15:03 - A Vision for a Post-Anti-Zionism World Klein's framework for what it would take for society to fully reckon with antizionism the way it has with the Holocaust, including media accountability, university reform, and memorialization.
This Episode’s Partner: Thank you to Birthright Israel Foundation
More Ways To Connect with Being Jewish: Support the podcast directly by becoming a member of the Kehillah.
To contact us & all things BJJP: www.BeingJewishPodcast.com
Watch Being Jewish on YouTube: www.youtube.com/@beingjewishpodcast
Subscribe to the Being Jewish Newsletter: bit.ly/beingjewishnewsletter
For Sponsorships, please email: [email protected]
Merchandise https://beingjewishpodcast.com/merch
Follow Jonah on: Instagram - @JonahPlatt X - @JonahPlatt
Follow Being Jewish on: Instagram - @BeingJewishPodcast TikTok - @BeingJewish
Learn More about Adam Louis-Klein: Adam Louis-Klein Website Adam Louis-Klein Instagram Movement Against Antizionism(MAAZ) MAAZ Toolkits
CREDITS: Written and Hosted by Jonah Platt, Executive Producers: Steve Hein, Jonah Platt, Chief Marketing Officer: Katya Chen, Production Manager/Executive Assistant: Josie Rothschild, Research Associate: Samantha Greenwald, Production Associate: Rache
More from Being Jewish with Jonah Platt
In the first episode of our Jewish American Summit series, Jonah sits down with Steve Hilton, Republican candidate for California governor, for a candid conversation about antisemitism, Jewish safety, and the future of the Golden State.
What does it mean to be unapologetically Jewish in an industry that has often encouraged people to hide their identity?
NEW SEGMENT! In the first installment of our new segment “Being Jewish In…” we explore the hostile environment facing Jewish authors, agents and editors in the world of Publishing with acclaimed author and digital publisher Meg Keene, newly appointed editor of the eponymous Meg Keene Books, a new imprint focused on publishing Jewish stories by Jewish authors.
Can a CEO speak out against antisemitism without becoming the story?
On the third anniversary of October 7th, Jonah delivers a powerful and deeply personal open letter to his non-Jewish friends, colleagues, and allies about what it means to stand with the Jewish people. In this special solo episode of Being Jewish, Jonah reflects on the past three years of rising antisemitism, fractured friendships, and the growing isolation of Jewish communities. He addresses the dangerous normalization of anti-Jewish rhetoric, the misunderstanding of Zionism and Jewish identity, and the painful silence of those who have chosen to look away.