To the President of the United States, the U.S. Congress, and relevant federal agencies:

Zionism generally means support for the Jewish people’s right to self-determination in Israel. For many Jews, their connection to Israel is also part of their religious, cultural, and family identity.

“Zionist” is sometimes used as an acceptable-sounding substitute for “Jew.” Many of the same insults, accusations, and dehumanizing stereotypes once directed openly at Jews are now directed at “Zionists” instead. The label changes, but the anti-Jewish hostility remains, presented as political criticism. The issue is not one particular insult; it is using “Zionist” as a catch-all label to stigmatize and target Jews.

Being a Zionist does not mean supporting any particular Israeli government or its policies. Yet the label is used to portray Zionists as one political bloc and hold them collectively responsible for Israel’s actions, despite the wide range of political views among Zionists.

This use of “Zionist” as a substitute for “Jew” has a historical precedent. During Poland’s 1968 anti-Zionist campaign, the government used those terms to target Jews, and thousands were driven to leave the country. The comparison is about the use of the label, not a claim that the two periods are otherwise the same.

Criticism of Israel or its government is not automatically antisemitic. But redefining a Jewish identity as a slur does not make targeting Jews acceptable. When “Zionist” is used to demonize Jews, blame them collectively, or exclude, threaten, harass, or discriminate against them because they are Jewish or are perceived to support Israel, that conduct should be recognized and addressed as antisemitic.

We urge the federal government to:

1. Recognize that “Zionist” can be used as a stand-in for “Jew” to express anti-Jewish hostility.

2. Direct federal agencies to consider this use, its context, and the conduct involved when investigating discrimination and harassment against Jews, including Jews targeted because they are perceived to support Israel.

3. Write this standard into federal law so its application does not depend solely on executive orders a future administration could reverse.

4. Protect freedom of speech. Neither using the word “Zionist” nor criticizing Israel should, by itself, be treated as discrimination. The focus should be on whether Jews are being targeted or mistreated because they are Jewish or are perceived to support Israel.

Changing the label does not make hatred of Jews acceptable.