Twenty five years after Durban, equating Zionism with racism has become mainstream – editorial

Twenty-five years ago, the 2001 World Conference against Racism in Durban, South Africa, became a pivotal event in the campaign to delegitimize Israel. While the official UN declaration did not equate Zionism with racism, the parallel NGO forum accused Israel of being an "apartheid state" and called for its isolation. This conference helped mainstream the narrative that Zionism is racism, moving it from ideological extremes into human rights discourse and international organizations. Over the past quarter-century, accusations of apartheid, racism, and genocide against Israel have become increasingly common, particularly following events like October 7. The article argues that Durban's legacy is the erosion of the distinction between legitimate criticism of Israeli policies and opposition to Israel's very existence, with the term "Zionist" sometimes used in ways that echo ancient antisemitic tropes.