Palling around with anti-Jewish bigots
Israel's deep and growing ties to the global far-right reflects a disturbing comfort with extremism
Partnering with anti-Semites may seem like a strange association for Israel. And yet it’s increasingly a key aim of an Israeli government that’s looking for friends wherever they can find them. Here’s just the latest example from this month:
On further inspection, this kind of deal-making has been part of Israel’s foreign policy for decades. In my recent book, The Palestine Laboratory, I investigate the long history of the Jewish state sucking up to anti-Semites for nearly as long as its existence (think long-term friendships during the Cold War with Romania and Argentina, amongst others, when both states were ruled by racists and fanatics).
These alliances are sometimes based on convenience - eg. Israel wants to sell weapons or surveillance tech and doesn’t care who’ll use them - or at times is more ideological with like-minded partners who are anti-gay, anti-refugees, anti-Islam, anti-feminist and yes, anti-Semitic.
This upcoming conference in Spain will reveal some of the most vocal backers of Israel in the world (beyond Western states such as the US, UK etc); far-right extremists, including with neo-Nazi backgrounds, who traditionally loathe Jews.
At a time of mass carnage in Gaza and rampant colonial criminality in the West Bank, the idea that Israel is increasingly partnering with extremist political parties from the West to India is a deep cause of concern and must be robustly challenged.
Not In My Name is a new documentary film that’s just been broadcast on Australia’s ABC TV. It’s about Palestine, my life and work and critical Judaism in a time of mass carnage in Gaza.
Watch it here in Australia and on YouTube for international audiences.
I’ve received many messages from people who resonated with its humane call for peace and understanding (though it doesn’t ignore some hard truths about the Israeli occupation of Palestine.)
The film received a positive review in The Sydney Morning Herald and Melbourne Age newspapers and I was interviewed about it on ABC radio.
The Murdoch press couldn’t resist attacking the film but they’re about as relevant as mouldy cheese.
I’m an independent journalist without any institutional backing. If you’re able to support me financially, by donating money to continue this work, I’d hugely appreciate it. You can find donating options in the menu bar at the top of my website.
My recent work has largely focused on the catastrophe in Gaza and I’ve spoken to a range of media outlets including CNN and Al Jazeera English. There’s a small selection of my interviews below and you can see the rest on my website and YouTube channel:
The news that that the International Criminal Court is seeking arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant and senior Hamas leaders is a political earthquake.
Last month I spoke to Al Jazeera English about this possibility and explained how and why the US is so opposed to the move (largely because they fear being prosecuted for their crimes in Afghanistan, Iraq etc).
Israel is live-testing weapons and surveillance tech in Gaza. I speak at length about this in a long interview with The Electronic Intifada:
Earlier this year I discovered the work of the Amsterdam-based drag artist Indie Nile who had made a viral video on Israeli propaganda.
Indie recently interviewed me for a new video, How Israel Erases Palestinian Pain, and it’s a witty and insightful look at how Palestinian grief, especially in a time of mass slaughter in Gaza, is largely shunned and dismissed:
Earlier this year I spoke at the annual Jaipur Literature Festival in India, the biggest writer’s event in the world. One of my interviews was with India’s Punjabi language media and we talked about Palestine and Israel as a model:
This is After Zionism, a collection of essays I co-edited with Palestinian writer Ahmed Moor (who was born in Gaza though now lives in the US), out in early 2024. Endorsed by Naomi Klein, it tackles the one-state solution for Israel and Palestine and there’s a long piece we wrote together on the post 7 October realities.
The first print run sold out and it’s now back in stock (via the UK publisher, Saqi Books):
The Italian edition of my book, The Palestine Laboratory, is now out:
At a time when Italy is ruled by a neo-fascist government with strong ties to Israel, it’s encouraging that my book is generating a lot of interest.
Meanwhile in Spain, one of the more pro-Palestine nations in Europe, my book’s Spanish edition continues to thrive with media and public engagement:
An incredibly powerful and timely article in the Israeli newspaper, Haaretz:
I’ve long been fascinated with doomsday prepping in a time of growing global and local strife. My recent feature story for the Good Weekend magazine, in The Sydney Morning Herald and Melbourne Age newspapers, digs deep into the subject and explains why increasing numbers of people are embracing it:
I’m excited to announce that my book, The Palestine Laboratory, is now out in Arabic with a Lebanese publisher. It’s available across the Arab world.
It’s always been important to have my books translated into Arabic (including my first book, My Israel Question). One of my previous books, Disaster Capitalism, had a large impact and sold tens of thousands of copies in countries as diverse as Tunisia, Egypt and Morocco:
In other recent news:
My partner Ali and I recently worked on a Go Fund Me campaign to get our friends out of Gaza and into Egypt. It was successful and we’re now trying to raise money for relatives of these friends who are still stuck in Gaza. Please help if you can;
A long review of my book, The Palestine Laboratory, in the Australian magazine, Arena;
My interview with Al Jazeera English on the vital work undertaken by Wikileaks since its inception in 2006 and the fight to free its founder Julian Assange;
I’m pleased to endorse the just released book in the US, The Wall Have Eyes, on the growing surveillance of migrants globally. It’s an important work written by Petra Molnar;
On 26 May, I’ll be speaking at the Sydney Writer’s Festival on the increasing use of automated warfare including in Gaza;
As co-editor of Declassified Australia, we continue to publish essential independent journalism. Here’s a ground-breaking story on the growing influence and $ into Australian universities from arms dealers and the US Pentagon. And here’s another unique story on Australia largely ignoring the signs of Israel committing genocide in Gaza after 7 October. Please support our journalism, if you can.
My first interview on Bulgarian TV about Palestine, Gaza and AI-warfare;
My interview on Australia’s ABC Radio about the weaponisation of anti-Semitism and the importance of student protests around the world in support of Gaza;
Should the psychedelic movement hold a conference in Israel soon? I explain to Filter magazine why this is problematic;
My book, The Palestine Laboratory, is out in South Africa and I recently spoke at an online event about the country’s long and deep history with Israel;
How has the media reported on Gaza and Palestine in general since 7 October? Mostly poorly, I explain to media analysis show, The Fourth Estate:
You can follow me on Instagram and Twitter for constantly updated content. My website has information about all my work, books and documentary films stretching back to 2003.
I’m an independent journalist without any institutional backing. If you’re able to support me financially, by donating money to continue this work, I’d hugely appreciate it. You can find donating options in the menu bar at the top of my website.
Thanks very much for reading.
Take care.
Antony