REVIEW: ‘Israelism’ Boldly Exposes Anti-Palestinianism

Israelism finds its release during perhaps the most harrowing but most pivotal time it could. Filmed several years ago, it’s finally been released in the midst of the horrific Israeli assault continuing to unfold on Gaza, Palestine, killing over 37,000 Palestinians and counting since the brutal Hamas attacks in Israel on October 7th, 2023, which killed around 1,100 Israelis. Many experts have called Israel’s systemic killings of Palestinians in Gaza a genocide, as South Africa and increasingly other states are taking Israel to court at the International Court of Justice for it. For a state ostensibly meant as a refuge and homeland for the Jewish people after the Holocaust, the charge of genocide is especially dire and throws into question its very foundation.

What about the 76 years before October 7th? Can a refuge for the Jewish people be based on the systemic suffering and displacement of Palestinians? Israelism, a searing documentary directed by Erin Axelman, explores these questions. It shows the way many Jewish Americans are beginning to view the answers. Audiences in packed-out theaters countrywide have viewed the film, bringing up the questions some were too afraid to discuss in their communities. Now available on demand via Watermelon Pictures, Israelism will share its uncomfortably necessary perspectives with many more.

Simone’s journey of growing out of what she describes now as Zionist indoctrination resonates with both film subjects and the audience watching. While her own personal story, the documentary displays the relatability of Simone’s journey for other Jewish audiences who have had similar questions about their learning about Israel who are watching. While it may not change everyone’s mind, particularly with how some have labeled the documentary “lies,” it does at least push the needle in an important way.

The documentary interviews several Jewish subjects, such as prominent Israel critic Peter Beinart, J Street President Jeremy Ben-Ami, and even the former head of the ADL Abe Foxman. It also interviews various young Jewish people learning about Israel, either coming to denounce or embrace it. Through this relatively broad outreach, Axeman does a solid job of providing a variety of perspectives among the Jewish community. But it’s never “both-sidesing” the issue. Rather, we see the journey of growing out of Zionism, and realizing the lie of “a land without a people” is just that, a lie used to justify the colonization of Palestine.

Israelism makes it abundantly clear that American Jews, and indeed Jewish people worldwide, are no monolith. They do not have an inherent allegiance to Zionism or the State of Israel. The documentary takes a rather measured approach to introducing audiences to this fact and is smarter for doing so. We see how its proponents sell Israel as a landmark sanctuary and place of joy for the Jewish community.

We see young Jewish people who may understandably feel ostracized in majority non-Jewish spaces, particularly with the rise of antisemitism in the West, find a place of community and supposed safety. The promise of Israel, to them, gives them that assurance and confidence. In all, the documentary does an effective job showing the enticing effect of Israeli propaganda and how it’s not, in fact, all it’s cracked up to be.

We see in Israelism how Zimmerman increasingly realizes the absurdities and juxtapositions of Israeli propaganda against Palestinian society. We see how she realizes just how much the growth of the former has been directly at the severe expense of the latter. The documentary shows us Israel’s apartheid system in full effect, which gives full rights and liberties to its Jewish citizens while limiting them for Palestinians.

Zimmerman travels to the West Bank, where she meets Palestinians like Sami Awad, who continues educational and organizing efforts for his fellow Palestinians brutalized by the Occupation. Namely, he does this work with the Holy Land Trust. We have abundant time in which Sami and other Palestinians can talk about their uprooting from their original homes due to the Nakba and living under the Occupation, giving us at least most of the picture of the status quo for Palestinians. The Occupation has stifled their ability to travel, make a living, and even just be with their families. Through interviewing Palestinian subjects like Sami, Israelism portrays the full narrative.

The highlighting of Palestinian activists and experts living abroad like Noura Erakat is also crucial in Israelism, highlighting the sheer absurdities of the Occupation and the ongoing Nakba. This is the ethnic cleansing of over 750,000 Palestinians in 1948 and their continued ethnic cleansing to today. Through ample explanation of the Nakba, along with the Occupation, Israelism does a solid job of conveying how the supposed presence of international law has systemically failed Palestinians.

The documentary gives ample time to Palestinians to showcase how Zionism has ruined their lives and decimated their communities. Whether through showing the expulsion from historic Palestine or the apartheid checkpoints and ghettos,  Israelism boldly shows us past the propaganda that Simone grew up with. Now, she and the audience cannot ignore the inherent Anti-Palestinianism that Zionism has unleashed for decades. Israelism ultimately argues it has done a disservice not only of course to Palestinians but the Jewish community as well.

There’s more I could say about Israelism, but I can only highly recommend you watch it for yourself. Erin Axelman, Simone Zimmerman, and the rest of their team do a moving job of showcasing growth from the apparent groupthink of their community and how there might be a path forward for justice and peace for both Palestinians and Jews. Its display of the Occupation and ongoing Nakba is groundbreaking for any Western documentary on the subject. With the courage to display the realization that the supposed ideology of salvation and sanctuary in Zionism may ultimately be built on maintaining ignorance and oppression, Israelism is a bold work that challenges audiences to question propaganda and forward the truth. May we all have the courage to center the truth, especially now in these historically horrific times.

Israelism is available now on VOD via Apple TV, Google Play, YouTube, Fandango, and Prime Video.