"Criticising Israel is not always antisemitism" says Dr Shmuel Lederman, an Israeli genocide scholar

India Today

21-06-2025

Dr Shmuel Lederman, a prominent Israeli genocide scholar, has publicly declared that Israel's actions in Gaza constitute genocide—a striking departure from academic caution that reflects a growing shift among experts studying mass atrocities. The Tipping PointLederman's position evolved throughout 2024 as destruction in Gaza mounted. "The accumulated effect of what Israel has been doing in Gaza was basically genocide in terms of the harm done to the Gazans as a group," he states.advertisement
Initially hesitant to apply the genocide label, his assessment changed dramatically: "Until mid-2024 it was somewhat possible not to say that what Israel is doing is genocide, but over time, Gaza was simply being destroyed." By year's end, "the continued destruction—of hospitals, schools, and cultural sites—was genocide."Challenging Legal DefinitionsLederman argues that the legal definition of genocide has become an obstacle to prevention. "Genocide scholars for a long time have been engaged in a discourse that is critical of the legal definition because it's very narrow and originated partly in the political interests of the states that formulated it."The 1948 Genocide Convention requires proof of specific intent to destroy a group. Lederman contends: "Once you have this kind of destruction of a group, it should be called genocide—regardless of intent." More troubling, he suggests: "The legal definition of genocide actually serves to block us from preventing genocide when it actually takes place—like in the case of Israel and Gaza."advertisementConfronting Antisemitism AccusationsAs an Israeli Jew criticising his own country, Lederman faces unique challenges. "We need to distinguish very sharply between criticism—however harsh—of Israel, and anti-Semitism," he emphasises. "Anti-Semitism is about certain prejudices, stereotypes, generalisation, demonisation of Jews—not criticism of a sovereign state."He notes his identity provides some protection: "Me being an Israeli Jew, it's harder to criticise me as anti-Semitic... there's a certain privilege." However, he warns: "Very often, calling people anti-Semitic is simply a way of silencing them because they criticise Israel."Societal ComplicityLederman's critique extends beyond government policy to Israeli society itself. "Much of Israeli society either participated in it actively or gave it legitimacy," he observes. Even among government critics, "the majority of Israeli politicians criticising Netanyahu are not doing so on moral grounds—they're talking about hostages or tactical failures."Most concerning is the impact on Israeli youth: "The dehumanisation and demonisation of Palestinians has been ongoing for a long time in Israel—especially when it comes to Gaza." He warns: "For many young people, mocking the suffering in Gaza is almost a form of entertainment, revenge."International InactionLederman doesn't limit criticism to Israel. "Without American support, Israel could not have done what it did," he states bluntly. Regarding international justice mechanisms, he's pessimistic: "It's very likely that the ICJ would conclude there's no proof that Israel intended to destroy the group—because of the very high legal bar."As a genocide scholar breaking ranks with more cautious colleagues, Lederman represents a growing voice calling for fundamental changes in how mass atrocities are recognised and addressed.Must Watch