September 17, 2024
Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg is pictured during the demonstration ‘Academic Boycott Now!’ as ‘Students Against Occupation’ march from the University of Copenhagen’s City Campus to Vor Frue Square in Copenhagen, Denmark, on September 4, 2024 [EMIL NICOLAI HELMS/Ritzau Scanpix/AFP via Getty Images]
Climate activist Greta Thunberg has been named “Anti-Semite of the Week” by a pro-Israel group following her arrest at a recent anti-Israel rally, sparking widespread condemnation. Critics have denounced the “anti-Semite” allegation as yet another egregious example of the weaponisation of anti-Semitism employed to smear and silence those who speak out against Israel.
Thunberg, known globally for her environmental activism, has recently become vocal in her support for Palestinian rights. She was among those arrested on 4 September by Danish police during a demonstration at Copenhagen University. The protest, organised by Students Against the Occupation, called for the university to sever all ties with Israel, including ending several cross-university student programmes.
This wasn’t Thunberg’s first involvement in pro-Palestinian activism. In May, she participated in a similar demonstration at Stockholm University, where she was also detained by police. At that time, she publicly demanded that the university administration “cut all ties, agreements and collaborations with the genocidal, apartheid state of Israel.”
The Swedish activist’s engagement with the Palestinian cause has been particularly prominent following the events of 7 October. She joined pro-Palestinian demonstrations shortly afterwards, posting a photo of herself holding a “Stand with Gaza” sign.
The 21-year-old has consistently framed her support for Palestinians within her broader activism for global justice and human rights. Her involvement in these protests highlights the growing intersection between environmental activism and other social justice issues, including the Palestinian cause.
The label “Anti-Semite of the Week” was assigned to Thunberg by StopAntisemitism, a notorious pro-Israel group known for its staunch support of the apartheid state. The organisation accused Thunberg of transforming her activism “into a platform for vile Jew-hatred,” citing her participation in protests calling for universities to cut ties with Israel and her use of terms like “genocidal” and “apartheid” to describe the state of Israel.
Israel is currently facing the charge of genocide at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) and its leaders are facing possible arrest warrants on charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity at the International Criminal Court (ICC).
In response to the “anti-Semite” claim, Thunberg’s supporters have rallied around her, with many arguing that the label should be seen as a badge of honour, given that anyone who opposes Israel’s slaughter of Palestinians and opposes its apartheid policies are generally labelled “anti-Semitic”. This is a tactic employed by the pro-Israel lobby to silence open discussion about the pernicious influence of political Zionism and the Zionist state on world affairs.
The controversy has also sparked a broader discussion about media portrayal. Supporters of Thunberg circulated a striking comparison of media headlines before and after her criticism of Israel. The juxtaposition revealed a marked shift in tone, from celebrating Thunberg as a global icon to portraying her as a “problem” following her stance on Israel’s ongoing ethnic cleansing of Palestine.
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