Rachel Shabi: Misuse of term ‘antisemitism’ strips it of meaning and power

Israel accuses anyone who criticises its actions in Gaza of discrimination against Jews, such that a real issue has become a cudgel to batter political opponents

Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu predictably labelled ‘antisemitic’ the arrest warrant issued against him for alleged war crimes. File Picture: Ohad Zwigenberg/AP

When the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Israeli officials in November, the response was all too familiar.

The Israeli prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, rejected the warrants — for alleged war crimes in Gaza — against him and the former defence minister, Yoav Gallant, calling them “an antisemitic decision”.