Foundational Libels

Foundational libels are slow-burn, ideologically driven falsehoods that frame Jewish self-determination as inherently illegitimate. Unlike flashpoint libels, which erupt in moments of crisis, foundational libels operate continuously — in classrooms, campaigns, protests, and publications — shaping the moral imagination of antizionism even in times of peace.

These narratives draw on long-standing antisemitic tropes, repackaged in the language of human rights, postcolonial theory, and social justice. Their purpose is not to critique Israeli policy, but to construct a worldview in which the existence of a Jewish state is itself a crime. Over time, these libels normalize hostility, erode empathy, and justify violence as moral necessity.

This section unpacks the foundational libels at the heart of modern antizionist ideology — exposing how they endure, mutate, and spread under the guise of principle.