"South Park" explains my stance on Israel

You can criticize Israel and anti-Semitism at the same time; "South Park" shows how.

Because I criticize Israel, I’ve been accused of anti-Semitism — or at least insensitivity toward Jews — by many fellow Jews in my life. A fellow journalist, a Libertarian Party leader, an ex-girlfriend, two Israelis… the list goes on and on.

Nevermind that I’ve written repeatedly about being Jewish (including surviving a hate crime) and denouncing anti-Semitism. Because I despise Israel’s genocidal campaign against the Palestinians, and openly describe it as such, I’m denounced as anti-Semitic.

Yet at the same time, I agree that many critics of Israel are motivated by anti-Semitism, not sincere abhorrence of human rights violations. Partially this is because so many of Israel’s critics (especially those on the right like Andrew Tate, Kanye West, Marjorie Taylor Greene and David Duke) seem to support human rights violations except when Jews perpetrate them. More personally, though, it’s because I’m repeatedly accused of being pro-Israel, based not on what I’ve said but for no other reason than I’m Jewish.

This is why I think of the 2025 “South Park” episode “Conflict of Interest,” in which Jewish characters Kyle and Sheila Broflovski (Matt Stone and Mona Marshall) are repeatedly blamed for Israeli atrocities because of their background.

“I think it’s terrible, a lot of people are dying,” Broflovski says at one point, prompting her friends to say, “And … do you feel you should do something about it?”

Broflovski’s response is exactly what every anti-Semite needs to hear when they use valid criticisms of Israel as their shield.

“Are you implying that Jews in the U.S. have a duty to do something about this?” she yells. “You want to slander my faith, don’t you? It’s not the Jews against Palestine; it’s Israel against Palestine! And maybe if you read books instead of listening to what Hollywood actors say, you’ll see the difference.”

Later she elaborates on this point: “Why is everyone suddenly confronting us about politics? Have people been asking what you think about Gaza? It’s just pure anti-Semitism. I’m so sick of being grilled about my views on Palestine and my thoughts on Hamas and being judged for things that are centuries old and that non-Jews know nothing about. Well, if they all think we should do something, then you better believe I’ll do something.”

Of course, because “South Park” is a cartoon instead of real life, Broflovski is one ordinary American Jew who has the ability to actually do something. Thus at the end she confronts Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, using words that I’d apply to every Jew who supports his Zionist atrocities.

“Just who do you think you are, killing thousands and flattening neighborhoods, then wrapping yourself in Judaism like it’s some shield from criticism!” she indignantly declares. You’re making life for Jews miserable and life for American Jews impossible!”

When he rolls his eyes, she scolds him further.

“Don’t roll your eyes at me, mister!” she says. “You know what you’re doing, and you’re doing it on purpose!”

Indeed he is. Netanyahu, better than any human being alive, knows that you can shut down debate about Israel by fanning the flames of Jew-hatred throughout the world. Once you have enough Jews scared for their lives, they’ll back Israel even when it kills thousands and flattens neighborhoods.

Like Sheila Broflovski, I’m disgusted by both sides here. I cannot stand Netanyahu, Israel’s own President Donald Trump, avoid accountability for his myriad crimes (both war-related and financial) and continue decades of miserable, immoral apartheid policies in Israel. I am similarly contemptuous toward Jews who attempt to intimidate Israel’s critics into silence by labeling any harsh words about Israel as anti-Semitic.

At the same time, I’m fed up with being told that every Jew is somehow a Zionist unless proven otherwise. I have no use for people who obviously sit around all days hating Jews, see Israel as a galvanizer for their cause and then make Jews miserable while claiming an actually-nonexistent moral high ground.

Most people, I believe, are smart and decent enough to realize that you can both oppose anti-Semitism and Israeli genocide. The ones who insist that you must support Israel or else be an anti-Semite, and those who insist all Jews must denounce Israel with every breath lest they be accountable, are equally foolish and vile.

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Back Seat Socialism

Column by Matthew Rozsa who is a professional journalist for more than 13 years. Currently he is writing a book for Beacon Press, “Neurosocialism,” which argues that autistic people like the author struggle under capitalism, and explains how neurosocialism - the distinct anticapitalist perspective one develops by living as a neurodiverse individual - can be an important organizing principle for the left.