In waves, the world is once again devoting extra attention to the suffering of the Palestinians. But that attention is not a recipe for a balanced view of the situation, says anthropologist Martijn de Koning, whose research includes Islamophobia in the Western world. “Islam and anti-Semitism are increasingly mentioned in the same breath.” The focus on the Palestinian territories is linked to the violence the population is experiencing, Martijn de Koning points out. Now too, in view of the overwhelming military response to the Hamas attack on 7 October. There are then two sides to the picture, says De Koning: on the one hand, there are people who start studying the subject and begin to understand the pro-Palestinian demonstrations. “On the other hand, however, you also see an increase in anti-Palestinian racism. Polarisation is increasing.”De Koning points to a standard reaction to the demonstrations, as if an Islamic alliance was at work here, fuelled by hardcore anti-Semitism. “Look at the label the demonstration was given, Hamas at the Radboud. Something like that has a toxic effect on others, who speak out in polarising statements. A false image of Islam is being created as if it were inherently anti-Semitic. And this is racially extended to Muslims, portrayed as a group that only speaks the language of violence. In fact, it is a dehumanisation of Muslims and of Palestinians.” The other 7 OctoberIt is conveniently forgotten that Muslims, Christians and Jews have lived peacefully side by side in the Palestinian territories for a very long time, says De Koning. “Now the image is one-dimensional: you are either Palestinian or Jew, while there are also Jewish Palestinians.” The Hamas attack of 7 October does not help the nuance, De Koning also realises. “It has acquired an iconic status, just like 9/11. But I’d like to highlight another 7 October, which was much more destructive: the day of the US invasion of Afghanistan, backed by Western troops in 2001, but which hardly anyone remembers as such today.”The reaction of the authorities to the demonstrations adds fuel on the fire, according to De Koning. “People then say: how do you think Jewish fellow students feel about this? Although there are obviously also Jews among the protesters. No one asks how Palestinian students feel about the quashing of a demonstration.”Training to become an academicThe fact that fewer student protest encampments are springing up on campuses around the world is also regrettable, says De Koning. “They put into practice what we teach in lecture halls. What they show is at least as important as the abstractions of the lectures. Such a demonstration is also an expression of your education as an academic. It makes you think about how you want to be in the world, what influence you can exert to create a world according to your ideals.”De Koning points to the recently installed Schoof cabinet; thinking about your (future) role as an academic in a polarising world is becoming increasingly relevant. “It worries me deeply that there are Ministers with far-right ideals for whom the constitution is negotiable.” De Koning is a member of the curriculum committee of the 'National Training Institute Against Radicalisation', part of the Ministry of Justice. “In that role, I indirectly advise the Minister but I’m now seriously questioning whether I want to continue in this role. Because you are working in a context where Islam is increasingly easily associated with radicalisation.” Meanwhile, De Koning has made his decision: he is resigning his work for this study programme with immediate effect. “The stigmatising effects of anti-radicalisation policies are already problematic enough, and under a government with a far-right party that is mainly targeting Muslims and migrants, it is ethically and professionally unjustifiable to provide advice and support.” Photo: Manny Becerra via Unsplash