Can the pro-Palestinian–antisemitic alliance also be interpreted—at least in part—through the lens of standard leftist anti-capitalist ideology?

by Donald Harvey Marks 

Physician, scientist and third generation veteran 

The pro-Palestinian–anti-Israel conflict claims a prominent place in culture, the news cycle and societal conflict. But, in my opinion, the pro-Palestinian–antisemitic alliance can also be interpreted—at least in part—through the lens of standard, tired leftist anti-capitalist ideology, though it’s not the only lens. Here’s how that framing works, but also where this re-framing can fall short.

The ideological bridge

Many on the political left, especially in academia, and radical or socialist circles, view the Israeli–Palestinian conflict not just as a territorial dispute but as a colonial, capitalist oppression narrative:

Israel = capitalist/colonial outpost: In this framing, Israel is cast as an imperialist project backed by Western powers (especially the U.S.), tied to global capitalism and military-industrial interests.

Palestinians = oppressed working class/colonized people: Palestinians are positioned as the exploited class resisting capitalist-imperialist forces.

Jews = capitalist power structure (antisemitic trope): Historic antisemitic narratives about Jews controlling banks, media, and commerce often blend—consciously or not—into the leftist critique of “capitalist elites,” making it easy for antisemitic views to be rebranded as anti-capitalist rhetoric.

The “anti-capitalist” overlay

For certain leftist factions, the struggle is reframed as:

Global capitalist oppression → Palestinians as the proletariat → Israel/Jewish state as bourgeois oppressor

This is a selective reading of Marxist anti-imperialism and anti-capitalism, often ignoring:

The diversity of economic classes within both Israeli and Palestinian societies.

The fact that antisemitism has historically been a form of right-wing ethno-nationalism that has been opportunistically adapted into some leftist spaces.

Why antisemitism and leftist anti-capitalism can overlap

Historically, antisemitism has been malleable—able to disguise itself in the language of whatever dominant political framework exists:

In right-wing nationalism, Jews are the “cosmopolitan outsiders.”

In left-wing anti-capitalism, Jews are the “capitalist exploiters.”

In the pro-Palestinian left, the Jewish state can be reframed as the “capitalist-imperialist occupier.”

This allows shallow leftist activists to conveniently adopt anti-Jewish positions while claiming they are merely engaging in “anti-Zionism” or “anti-capitalist critique.” How shallow! Liberals and centrists beware.

The danger of this reinterpretation

When antisemitism is laundered through the rhetoric of anti-capitalism:

It gains legitimacy in progressive spaces.

Jewish individuals, especially those who support Israel’s existence, are labeled “agents of capitalism” or “colonizers,” regardless of their politics or economics.

Hostage image vandalism, like at Drew University, is framed not as antisemitism but as “resistance to capitalist-imperialist propaganda.”

Yes—there is a leftist anti-capitalist reinterpretation of pro-Palestinian antisemitism, but it’s ultimately a rebranding, in my opinion, of old prejudices in new ideological packaging. The underlying bias is unchanged; it’s just couched in modern activist language that merges anti-Israel sentiment with global anti-capitalist narratives.

References

Elitists Neocons Neolibs, oh my. What are they, who are they, and why should I care? by Donald H. Marks.

How Woke can we be? The meaning of Woke, by Donald H. Marks.

You're just another damn progressive, aren't you? by Donald H. Marks.

The long history of antisemitism at UCLA, by Donald H. Marks