Project Esther

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Project Esther is an effort by the American conservative think tank The Heritage Foundation to suppress what the group claims is antisemitism. It has been criticized by journalist Steve Rabey for actually incorporating antisemitic tropes into its own rhetoric, and for failing to address right-wing antisemitism. [1]

Contents

History

Project Esther describes pro-Palestinian groups as part of a "Hamas Support Network". [2] [3] It aims to dismantle the pro-Palestinian movement in the U.S. [4]

The project reportedly struggled to find Jewish organizations with which to partner, while sidelining those that do partner with it. [5] [6]

In January 2025, a report by The Forward revealed a leaked pitch deck the Heritage Foundation sent to Project Esther donors that included a plan to identify and target Wikipedia editors the group said were "abusing their position" by publishing allegedly antisemitic content. [7]

Analysis

According to analysis by Baptist News Global, "Project Esther's own rhetoric about battling powerful Jewish 'masterminds' reinforces centuries-old conspiracy theories about Jews who have too much power and influence." [1]

Jacobin has said the effort is part of a red scare against the pro-Palestinian movement and the political left. [8]

According to Slate , Project Esther does not acknowledge or address right-wing antisemitism or white supremacy and lists left-wing Jewish groups like Jewish Voice for Peace among those it seeks to dismantle. [9] Haaretz also says that Project Esther does not address right-wing antisemitism. [10]

According to Mondoweiss , it is named after the biblical figure of Esther and is intended not to combat antisemitism, but to combat political activism, particularly from the left. [11]

The Times of Israel has described Project Esther's aim as a "government crackdown on anti-Israel groups once Donald Trump returns to the White House". [12]

According to reporting by Religion Dispatches , Project Esther is closely tied to Christian Zionism and the New Apostolic Reformation in particular. [13]

See also

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References

  1. 1 2 Rabey, Steve. "Heritage Foundation antisemitism effort recycles conspiracy theories". Baptist News Global . Retrieved 11 January 2025.
  2. ↑ Rashid, Hafiz. "Pro-Trump Project 2025 Has Sinister Plan to Crush Palestine Activism". The New Republic . Retrieved 11 January 2025.
  3. ↑ Cohen, Mari. "Repression of journalism under the guise of fighting antisemitism". niemanlab.org. Nieman Lab . Retrieved 11 January 2025.
  4. ↑ Speri, Alice (18 November 2024). "Trump likely to use antisemitism claims to launch crackdown on US universities". The Guardian . Retrieved 11 January 2025.
  5. ↑ Deutch, Gabby (14 October 2024). "Heritage Foundation struggles to find partners in fight against antisemitism". Jewish Insider . Retrieved 11 January 2025.
  6. ↑ Rabey, Steve (14 November 2024). "Heritage Foundation's antisemitism effort ignores Jewish groups". Baptist News Global . Retrieved 11 January 2025.
  7. ↑ Rosenfeld, Arno. "Scoop: Heritage Foundation plans to 'identify and target' Wikipedia editors". The Forward . Retrieved 11 January 2025.
  8. ↑ Marcetic, Branko. "Trump Is Planning a Third Red Scare". Jacobin . Retrieved 11 January 2025.
  9. ↑ Tamkin, Emily (4 November 2024). "The Lie Trump Is Offering Jewish Voters". slate.com. Slate. Retrieved 11 January 2025.
  10. ↑ Samuels, Ben. "Trump-allied Group Behind Project 2025 Unveils Plan to Crack Down on pro-Palestinian Activists, Antisemitism". Haaretz . Retrieved 11 January 2025.
  11. ↑ Plitnick, Mitchell (22 November 2024). "Inside Project Esther, the right wing action plan to take down the Palestine movement". Mondoweiss . Retrieved 11 January 2025.
  12. ↑ ELia-Shalev, Asaf. "Realizing old tactics aren't enough, US Jewish groups use science to fight antisemitism". The Times of Israel . Retrieved 11 January 2025.
  13. ↑ Lorber, Ben (22 October 2024). "Heritage Foundation's Christian Nationalist 'Project Esther' Won't Combat Antisemitism — But It Will Weaponize Jews". Religion Dispatches . Retrieved 11 January 2025.
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