Anti-Palestinian Racism is best understood as encompassing most of the qualities of Islamophobia and Anti-Arab Racism, but with additional and unique features. While Islamophobia also relies on orientalist depictions of Arabs and Muslims, colonialism and occupation underpin APR in ways it does not with Islamophobia. 

What are some examples of this?

• Unique to APR: 

• The narrative that ‘Palestinians don’t exist’ -- in contrast, Muslim presence is often amplified and exaggerated to create xenophobic fear

• The notion that Palestinian identity is inherently controversial and complicated

• The systemic repression and vilification of Palestinian humanity

• The compounding trauma of an ongoing violent occupation and genocide 

• The diaspora, many long-dispersed and rooted in Western countries, still committed to returning to their parents’ and grandparents’ homeland

• “Why don’t ‘Muslim’/’Arab’ brothers in (x country) help Palestinians?” “So many Muslim countries to leave to,” etc. this tells us you think we are all the same.

What are the impacts of this?

• Islamophobia as a catch-all erases existence of Palestinians who are not Muslim;

• APR compounds Islamophobia and anti-Arab racism, further isolating Palestinians while also reinforcing existing oppressions;

• This compounding hatred can lead to brutal violence against visible Palestinians and Muslims in general -- young Palestinian men in Vermont, shot for wearing their keffiyehs; the killing of Wadea al-Fayoume, a six-year ld Palestinian boy; the chemical attack on Palestinian students at Columbia University, etc;

• Framing Palestinian human rights as a religious conflict between Muslim and Jewish peoples misrepresents history and creates deeper divides.

What are some responses to this?

• Anti-Arab racism, Islamophobia and anti-Palestinian racism are all connected but still manifest differently and on a spectrum. 

• Arabs and Muslims can be anti-Palestinian, and don’t necessarily stand in solidarity with Palestinians, so it’s not accurate to conflate Palestianians with all Arabs;

• Racialization is intersectional for Palestinians— factors such as are they wearing hijab, Islamic dress, keffiyeh, be they Black, Christian, etc. means their experiences are vast and nuanced despite sharing APR.