The Jewish people have a centuries-long history of trauma, persecution, and exile as both victims and perpetrators. The Zionist project in Israel has further led to an endless series of violent conflicts. Consequently, war and trauma have further reinforced a state of collective PTSD within Israeli Jewish communities, which manifests in a persistent fear of annihilation even when threat sources are absent, abnormal defensive and aggressive reactivity and a susceptibility to fear reinstatement, i.e. persistent fear mongering and propaganda by Israeli politicians. The results of this collective PTSD is the victimization of other groups, most notably the Palestinian people.

Israeli-American Yoav Litvin describes how he came to challenge his Zionist beliefs: “Zionism is based on a rather simplistic Darwinian outlook, which employs a dualistic, ‘us versus them’ racist and exclusivist philosophy. Since its inception, Israeli politicians invoke fear by perpetuating a victim narrative based on centuries of real persecution of Jewish peoples. Thus, fear enables a level of aggression and oppression that is a part of daily life in the reality of occupation. However, ‘survival of the fittest’ is not the only dominant force in human development.”

For the price of 59 Tomahawk missiles, Donald Trump managed to align himself with the DC establishment, recapture corporate media, distance himself from the controversial and fascistic Bannon and as an added bonus, increase his popularity among American Jews and Israelis. His move threw egg in the face at those who underestimated his prowess. Trump’s gambit worked.

Since the U.S. elections there have been a series of anti-Semitic bomb threats and desecrations of Jewish cemeteries have joined a growing number of racist expressions against immigrants, Muslims, LGBTQI and other members of minority communities. In response to these incidents, Trump regressed to anti-Semitic rhetoric, claiming that the desecrations and attacks could be false flags perpetrated by Jews themselves. Yoav Litvin says Trump’s particular claim underlines a nexus where anti-Zionists and anti-Semites sometimes converge and is a dangerous trap for Palestine advocates.

The human race is in a state of crisis. Inequality is growing, our planet is dying and we are divided, lonely and frightened. Abandoning notions of individualism within a rigid hierarchical system and embracing egalitarian collaboration and movement building can lead to the formation of novel, transformative and sustainable approaches, which can break the cycle of violence and inequality

When Netanyahu embraced Trump, he exemplified the collusion between Zionism, anti-Semitism and fascism. In fact, it is now clear that the Israeli government cannot protect- and does not represent liberal Jews who wish to live in peace within diverse communities around the world, or within Israel itself.

As the blooming relationship between the Trump administration and Israeli politicians and apologists shows, the ethnocentric character of Israel shares many attributes with- and has been a source of inspiration for- American White nationalism, now embodied in Trump’s administration. In order to effectively fight this new administration and protect community members against the growing tide of anti-Semitism, American Jews need to recognize these parallels and fight against all ethnocentric, exclusivist forces, including fascism, White supremacy, and Zionism.

Yoav Litvin writes: The Elor Azaria case was the ultimate trial of Israeli society. A disastrous precedent has now been set: cold-blooded murder of Palestinians has been officially sanctioned by the Israeli mainstream and the political class, and the perceived rule of law severely undermined. This precedent will further solidify the complete dehumanization of Palestinians and pave the way for further ethnic cleansing and genocide in the occupied Palestinian territories.

Donald Trump, similar to Benjamin Netanyahu, has a gift for manipulating the media to serve his purposes. Regardless of his inconsistent views on Israel, which are likely to fall in line with the traditional Republican do-or-die support at the AIPAC convention, his shenanigans and the mounting unrest they produce are the absolute best thing that could happen to Netanyahu and his extremist government.