To Benjamin Netanyahu, the term antisemitism has become a political weapon—used not to protect Jewish communities from genuine hate, but to silence criticism of Israel’s policies, especially its military aggression and apartheid system. In recent years, Netanyahu has labeled international prosecutors, student protesters, and even heads of state as “antisemites” simply for condemning Israel’s actions in Gaza or supporting Palestinian statehood. This rhetorical strategy conflates Judaism with Zionism, and Israel with all Jewish people, in order to deflect accountability and delegitimize opposition. But critics, including Israeli historians and global human rights advocates, argue that this overuse dilutes the meaning of antisemitism and undermines real efforts to combat anti-Jewish hate.

So who are the real Semites? Linguistically and historically, Semitic peoples include Arabs, Jews, Assyrians, and others whose languages descend from the ancient Semitic family. Palestinians, as native Arabic speakers and descendants of the region’s indigenous populations, are themselves Semites. The idea that Arabs—especially Palestinians—can be “antisemitic” for resisting occupation is not only illogical, it’s a deliberate distortion. It erases the shared linguistic and cultural heritage of Semitic peoples and reframes resistance to colonialism as racial hatred.

This distortion extends to the myth of Israeli “peace offers.” For decades, Israel has claimed that Palestinians have rejected every opportunity for peace. But what were those offers, really? Proposals that demanded Palestinians accept fragmented enclaves, no control over borders or resources, and the permanent loss of the right of return. Offers that turned Gaza into an open-air prison and left the West Bank carved up by settlements and checkpoints. These were not offers of peace—they were ultimatums for surrender. And when Palestinians refused to accept a future without dignity or sovereignty, they were branded as rejectionists.

In truth, the rejection has come from Israel: a rejection of Palestinian humanity, of international law, and of any vision of peace rooted in justice. Netanyahu’s use of “antisemitism” to shield war crimes, and Israel’s framing of occupation as diplomacy, are part of the same strategy—one that is unraveling as the world begins to see through the lies.