Published on Jun 21, 2026, filed under politics. (Share this post, e.g., on Mastodon or on Bluesky.)

The core of the movement for Palestine is not, and has never been, rooted in “anti-semitism” or, even more ridiculously, “terrorism.”

The cause and its core have everything to do with human rights and ending colonization, apartheid, and genocide in this world. Most people who fight for the lives and rights of Palestinians would fight for the lives and rights of any other group as well, including Israelis. The logic behind labeling rights advocates as “anti-semites” or “terrorists,” therefore, is perverse and a form of verbal violence.

As it may take some time until this insight enters the mainstream and our political leadership, instead of focusing on debunking this nonsense, we could counter-attack:

By opposing and castigating people advocating for the rights and lives of Palestinians (like in the UK and in Germany), anti-pro-Palestinians [sic]—usually white non-Muslims—are actively working against protecting the lives and rights of people of different color and religion.

This can be labeled as well: Anti-pro-Palestinians are Islamophobic, racist genocide supporters.

Accordingly, one response to anti-Palestine action is to call out Islamophobia, racism, and genocide support, and to do and confront so loudly and clearly.

Ultimately, one of the major scandals of our time is that rights advocates who want to end colonization, apartheid, and genocide need to explain themselves, while anti-pro-Palestinians with their Islamophobic, racist, genocidal views can walk around freely and promote death and destruction.

This needs to stop. We must firmly establish a default under which it’s normal and expected to prevent and otherwise stop crimes like the ones committed on Palestinians. The default must also be to put immense pressure and ensure punishment for those committing these crimes, those supporting those crimes, and those trying to prevent justice—like anti-pro-Palestinians with their Islamophobic, racist, genocidal views.

About Me

I’m Jens (long: Jens Oliver Meiert), and I’m an engineering lead, guerrilla philosopher, and indie publisher. I’ve worked as a technical lead and engineering manager at various companies, including Google; I’m an open-source developer and a contributor to web standards (like HTML, CSS, WCAG); and I write and review books for O’Reilly and Frontend Dogma.

I love trying things, not only in web development and engineering management, but also with respect to politics and philosophy. Here on meiert.com I talk about some of my experiences and perspectives. (Please share feedback—interpret charitably, keep it friendly, but do be critical.)