The Impact of American Zionism on American Islamophobia

Seasons of Fury, a new book by the journalist Rozina Ali, tells a sweeping history of American Islamophobia through narrative reporting on four American Muslim families with varied backgrounds. The book reveals that American Zionism is integral to the story of anti-Muslim bias in the US. The legal structures for surveilling and criminalizing Muslims originated in US officials’ preoccupation with Palestinian militants in the 20th century, and Zionist organizations have been key participants in a broad civil society ecosystem pushing Islamophobia in the American mainstream. In this episode of On the Nose, senior politics editor Mari Cohen guest hosts to interview Ali about the book and her findings. They discuss how the targeting of Arab activists morphed into anti-Muslim sentiment; how the definition of terrorism changed in the 20th century and came to be associated with Islam; how the Anti-Defamation League has abetted Islamophobia; and how antisemitism and Islamophobia are pitted against each other in American politics. Thanks to Jesse Brenneman for editing and to Nathan Salsburg for the use of his song “VIII (All That Were Calculated Have Passed).” Links and Further Reading Seasons of Fury: Four Families and the Rise of Islamophobia in America by Rozina Ali Disciplining Terror by Lisa Stampnitzky “Painful memory for Muslims: Outrage over a proposed Islamic center in Manhattan,” Anne Barnard, New York Times The Feeling of Being Watched by Assia Boundaoui “How the ADL’s Anti-Palestinian Advocacy Helped Shape U.S. Terror Laws,” Darryl Li, The Intercept ADL amicus brief in Humanitarian Law Project vs. Holder “Jewish Communities Must Root Out Islamophobia,” Donna Nevel, Jewish Currents “When ‘Jewish Security’ Meets Muslim Surveillance,” Asad Dandia, Jewish Currents ADL changes its tune on mosques, Justin Elliott, Salon The Anti-Defamation League and the Racial State by Emmaia Gelman