Rising Anti-Asian Racism in Israel amidst the Outbreak of Coronavirus
Mansheetal Singh
Israel is often delineated as a mosaic of cultures and diverse ethnic groups. The society is a rendition of people and communities coming from varied nations with manifestations of cultures and heritage from all around the globe, uniquely different from one another in every sense. Israel’s multicultural traits became popular with an increase in cultural movements and trends which accentuated the diversity of their society and culture. The idea to bring this notion up is to acknowledge, motivate and attest the participation of ethnic groupings of this small West Asian nation in all domains.
Although multiculturalism in Israel revels ethno-cultural diversity, they have also been using ethnic and racist slurs against their own kin. The act of ‘othering’ and ‘alienating’ has persisted in Israel ever since it came into existence. Israel is a highly ramified society, bifurcated by ethno-national lines which distinguish the Jewish and the Arab populace and discern sub-groups within each community. The Israeli society is a nexus of different communities originating from a vast number of countries creating a national cleavage between the Jews and the Arabs. The cleavage doesn’t stop with the Jews and the Arabs but go deeper within the Jewish communities where the people immigrating from the Americas and the Europe are considered as ‘Ashkenazims’ and the people settling in Israel from the Asia and the Africa are called as the ‘Mizrahims.’ Since the inception of Israel, the Mizrahims have been treated unequally for belonging to a third world country. Such behavior is deep rooted in the social construct of the Israeli society.
Scholars have always argued that accommodating multiculturalism may pander the threat of xenophobic feelings or it may encourage racism and intolerance leading to alienation of newcomers as ‘others.’ Israel has never ceased to acknowledge its ethnic communities and minority groups, but the society has been very critical of the people around them. Although the Jewish communities share same rights, they are often challenged and discriminated on the grounds of demographic divide and skin color. The divide between the society has been triggered again due to the recent outbreak of Coronavirus which originated in Wuhan, China. Ever since then, there have been reported cases of intolerance and racism on the basis of descent and appearances.
Rising Racism in University Campuses
Known for its outstanding educational institutions, Israel has attracted many Chinese students in the past few years. Israel’s top university Hebrew University of Jerusalem is known for its sizable proportion of Chinese students. Since the outbreak of Coronavirus, the university campus has become a popular station for targeting Chinese students.
In a closed WeChat group at Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Chinese students shared their disturbing racist encounters in the campus and outside the campus premises. A member of the group said that “people cover their noses when they see me,” while the other was forced to contend with people shouting “Coronavirus!” at him.
Another university student, shared his concern that Israelis “are really afraid that we (Chinese students) might spread the virus to them” He also complained of people “shouting ugly words and making exaggerated body gestures.” He further added that the public comments such as “China, Ni Hao” have been replaced with “Sini Sini Corona.” Racism is not just limited to the Hebrew University of Jerusalem but extends to other universities as well. A Japanese student at Al-Quds University in Jerusalem expressed her distress of being mistaken for a Chinese person and how her fellow students have been maintaining distance from her and accusing her of having the virus.
The problem of racism towards East Asians is not a new notion in Israel, but has become even more prominent with the outbreak of Coronavirus. The blunt of bigotry extends to anyone who shares any similarity in physical features to that of an East Asian person. Even the Indian Israelis were not spared of this prejudice.
Deadly Attacks on the Indian Israeli, Hailing from North East India
Due to the outbreak of the Novel Coronavirus, several accounts of racism and xenophobia have been reported and documented around the world. In a recent incident involving a member of the Bnei Menashe, who immigrated from North East India to Israel, was attacked due to increasing hostility, hatred and fear towards a certain physical appearance. This unsettling event happened in Tiberias, when Am-Shalem Singson walked past two men in the streets. These men judged him for being Chinese and started yelling “Corona-Corona” and “Chinese” at him. In wake of the incident, Michael Freund, founder of Shavei Israel that looks after the Bnei Menashe Jews amongst others, stated “The coronavirus does not distinguish between different types of Israelis based on their skin or the shape of their eyes and neither should anyone else.”
The small Bnei Menashe Jewish community is horrified from the event. The community leaders have condemned this act of “racism, bullying and harassment because of their skin, color or race.” After witnessing the harrowing event, Jews of Bnei Menashe who once believed in a Jewish state that wasn’t racist, are now contemplating to “think again.” This incident is not first of its kind, and people have been reporting of uncomforting racism against them. The COVID-19 pandemic has set forth a series of increased violence, discrimination, xenophobia and racism towards people based on descent and appearances that requires deliberate action around the world.
Rising Anti-Asian Racism in Israel amidst the Outbreak of Coronavirus
The author is reflecting on the Coronavirus Pandemic triggered divide within the Jewish society. Ever since the outbreak, there have been reported cases of intolerance and racism on the basis of de…
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