The detention of Columbia University student Mahmoud Khalil is a chilling example of the far-right’s use of McCarthyism to silence pro-Palestine protesters. Khalil, who helped lead the Gaza solidarity encampment at Columbia University last year, was targeted for his politics and arrested by US immigration enforcement agency despite being a Palestinian Green Card holder.
The Trump administration’s claim that it is fighting antisemitism through this crackdown is a smokescreen. Pro-Israel groups and Jewish leaders have consistently pushed for such accusations to discredit pro-Palestine protesters. However, this narrative ignores the broader context of far-right ideology and its use of antisemitism as a political strategy.
Far-right figures have exploited concerns about antisemitism to divide progressives, attack critical race theory, Black Lives Matter, and diversity initiatives, while casting themselves as defenders of Jews against perceived Muslim and migrant threats. This formulation is self-serving, as hating Muslims and migrants is a core tenet of the resurgent far-right.
The detention of Khalil is part of a larger pattern of authoritarianism and creeping antisemitism. The White House’s announcement that Khalil was detained using the Hebrew phrase “Shalom, Mahmoud” in an all-caps message is characteristic of this narrative. By deflecting blame onto Jewish people, Trump risks generating resentment towards Jewish communities.
Progressives must now grapple with the complex issue of fighting both antisemitism and the far-right’s misused accusations of antisemitism. Building an inclusive progressive tent that counters fascism requires a nuanced approach that addresses these interconnected challenges. As Rachel Shabi notes, keeping everyone together is essential to combating fascism.
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2025/mar/19/the-far-rights-pretend-fight-against-antisemitism-is-a-perfect-political-strategy