Zio (pejorative)

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Zio is a pejorative term for Zionists, commonly used by anti-Zionists. The term is often considered antisemitic, particularly by Zionists.

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Anti-Zionism is opposition to Zionism, the movement for a Jewish homeland in the land of Israel. Anti-Zionists believe the creation of the modern state of Israel was flawed or unjust in some way.

Until World War II, anti-Zionism was widespread among Jews for varying reasons. Orthodox Jews opposed Zionism on religious grounds, while secular Jewish anti-Zionists saw it as a reactionary ideology. Non-Jewish anti-Zionism has been especially prevalent in the Arab world, who view Zionism as a colonial dispossession of their homeland.

Some academics and organizations argue anti-Zionism is inherently antisemitic or a form of "new antisemitism", while others reject this view as a way to stifle criticism of Israel and its policies.

Anti-Zionism is distinct from criticism of specific Israeli government policies or actions.

About

The American Jewish Committee (AJC) lists "Zio" on their Translate Hate Glossary. The AJC claims that the term "Zio" is used by antisemites to disguise their antisemitism as merely anti-Zionism, asserting that "Zio" is actually a short-hand euphemism for "Jew". [1] Mosaic Magazine has said that "Zio" is a "new anti-Jewish slur". [2] Ben Samuels, writing for Haaretz, has claimed that the term was popularized first by David Duke and then later by leftists and members of the British Labour Party. [3] The Zionist writer Ariel Sobel has also claimed that "Zio" is an antisemitic slur with roots within antisemitic right-wing extremist circles that has been adopted by progressives. [4]

"Zio" can be used as a noun or as a hyphenated or unhyphenated adjective. "Zio-Nazi" is a common pejorative term for Zionists. Other variations of "Zio-" include Zio-Communism, Zio-economics, Zio-supremacism, and Zio-occupied America. [2]

In 2016, the British Labour Party released an inquiry into antisemitism stating that "Epithets such as...‘Zio’ and others should have no place in Labour party discourse going forward." Speaking at the inquiry's launch, Jeremy Corbyn declared that "‘Zio’ is a vile epithet that follows in a long line of earlier such terms that have no place whatsoever in our party." [5]

In 2017, the organizers of the Chicago Dyke March faced accusations of antisemitism after their Twitter account used the term "Zio tears". [6] [7] [8]

Tony Greenstein, a Jewish anti-Zionist from the United Kingdom, was accused of antisemitism in 2018 for using the term "Zios", among other allegations, and was expelled from the British Labour Party. [9] [10]

See also

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References

  1. ↑ "Zionist / "Zio"". American Jewish Committee. April 2021. Retrieved 2023-03-29.
  2. 1 2 "Who're You Calling a "Zio"?". Mosaic Magazine . Retrieved 2023-03-29.
  3. ↑ Samuels, Ben (18 July 2017). "'Violent History' of 'Zio': How Chicago's Dyke March Adopted an anti-Semitic Slur Dear to White Supremacists". Haaretz . Retrieved 2023-03-29.
  4. ↑ "Why Are Progressives Using an Anti-Semitic Slur Coined by the KKK?". The Jewish Journal. 19 June 2019. Retrieved 2023-03-29.
  5. ↑ "Labour antisemitism report tells members to stop using 'Hitler, Nazi and Holocaust metaphors'". The Independent . 30 June 2016. Retrieved 2023-03-30.
  6. ↑ Sommer, Allison Kaplan (14 July 2017). "Chicago Dyke March Collective Revels in 'Zio Tears' in Twitter Rant". Haaretz . Retrieved 2023-03-30.
  7. ↑ Stern, Mark Joseph (25 July 2017). "This Is a Safe Space. No Jews Allowed". Slate. Slate Magazine . Retrieved 2023-03-30.
  8. ↑ "Chicago Dyke March Drops Pretense, Deploys Anti-Semitic Term Popularized by Neo-Nazis". Tablet Magazine . Retrieved 2023-03-30.
  9. ↑ "Tony Greenstein's 'notorious antisemite' libel claim dismissed by court". The Jewish Chronicle . Retrieved 2023-03-29.
  10. ↑ "Britain's Labour expels Jewish anti-Zionist activist over 'anti-Semitic' remarks". The Times of Israel . Retrieved 2023-03-30.
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