Summary:  The Palestine exception is the  mirror image of conflation of antisemitism with criticism of Israel and/or Zionism,  instead does not allow humanization, compassion or support toward Palestine and its people. Conflation of all Palestinians with Hamas, terrorism, and condemning Palestinians  as not deserving of essentials of food, water, and other basic human rights or considerations is normalized. This is a form of racism that  tries to legitimize the suffering, cultural erasure  and ethnic cleansing of Palestinian people.

This tactic is also used  to demonize any person who expresses sympathy for Palestine and it’s people and can induce harm such as doxing, job loss or other mistreatment toward the Palestinian sympathizers. When a Palestinian says “from the river to the sea”  they are accused of supporting terrorism or antisemitism. When an Israeli says the same, it is considered legitimate. To call an Israeli a “human animal” would be considered antisemitism, for the Israeli government to proclaim the same statement toward Palestinians is left to stand unchallenged.  

Resources:

The Palestine Exception to Free Speech. Palestine Legal and Center for Constitutional Rights

The Israel/Palestine Exception. Arab American Institute 

Harsh Israeli rhetoric against Palestinians becomes central to South Africa’s genocide case. AP News

‘Human animals’: The sordid language behind Israel’s genocide in Gaza. Jordan Times.

"The New McCarthyism": Pro-Palestine Educators Face Censorship, Harassment & Firings Across. U.S. Democracy Now.

The Palestine Exception. Feature film