The Best Books to Read on the Soviet Roots of Contemporary Anti-Zionism

July 12 2024

Izabella Tabarovsky is one of the world’s leading scholars of anti-Zionism. As she says, the

manipulations, fabrications and incitement that have flooded global media over the past nine months have been shocking. But have they been unprecedented? From the technical standpoint, the answer is yes: never before has it been so cheap and easy to pump out lies and anti-Zionist conspiracy theory to so many people simultaneously. In terms of content, however, the current campaign is hardly innovative, borrowing wholesale from the global anti-Zionist propaganda campaigns the USSR ran in the wake of the Six-Day war.

She goes on to prove that claim by recommending three books on the subject. One, on the KGB and the battle for the Third World, shows a key motivation for the USSR’s endeavors.

Israel’s victory over the Soviet Arab clients in the Six Day War—unexpected and inexplicable from the Soviet perspective—set off major alarms in Moscow. With anti-Semitic conspiracy theory firmly part of KGB’s thinking, the agency’s head, Yuri Andropov, elevated Zionism to the rank of USSR’s primary ideological nemesis.

Another book “provides a detailed look at the themes, techniques and infrastructure of the Soviet anti-Israel campaign,” and shows how “Moscow spread sensationalist lies often sourced from Arab media,” including, often, variations on the blood libel theme.

Tabarovsky’s final choice, meanwhile, examines why so many intellectuals were drawn to the USSR and to other repressive and corrupt societies—and, by extension, why they are still.

Read more at Fathom

More about: Anti-Semitism, Anti-Zionism, History & Ideas, Israel & Zionism, Soviet Union

What’s Behind Hamas’s Threat to Stall the Release of Hostages, and How Israel Should Respond

Feb. 12 2025

Hamas declared yesterday that it won’t release more hostages “until further notice.” Given the timing and wording of the announcement—several days before the release was supposed to take place, and speaking of a delay rather than a halt—Ron Ben-Yishai concludes that it is a negotiating tactic, aimed at “creating a temporary crisis to gain leverage.” Therefore, writes Ben-Yishai, “Hamas may reverse its decision by Saturday.” He adds:

Israel cannot afford to concede to Hamas’s demands beyond what is already outlined in the agreement, as doing so would invite continuous extortion throughout the negotiation process, further delaying hostage releases.

The group sees the public outrage and growing calls for action following the release of hostages in severe medical condition as an opportunity to extract more concessions. These demands include not only a rapid start to negotiations on the next phase of the deal and an end to the war but also smaller, immediate benefits, particularly improved conditions for displaced Gazans.

Beyond these tactical objectives, Hamas has another goal—one that Israelis do not always recognize: inflicting psychological pain on the Israeli public. The group benefits from, and perhaps even draws strength from, the anguish and emotional distress in Israel, as well as the testimonies of freed hostages detailing the abuse they endured. Hamas wants these stories to be heard—not only to pressure the Israeli government but also because, in the eyes of its supporters, Israel’s suffering is its ultimate victory.

Read more at Ynet

More about: Gaza War 2023, Hamas, Israeli Security