Psychologists Against Antisemitism (PAAS) is an Israel advocacy group, with the profession of psychology as its principal target. I find the name rather deceptive, but I think lately their primary mission has become rather obvious: to shout “Antisemitism!” whenever they encounter any form of opposition to the ongoing genocidal assault against the Palestinian people. From what I’ve observed, it doesn’t matter to PAAS members that real antisemitism is best understood as discrimination, prejudice, hostility or violence against Jews as Jews. Nor do they seem to care much that this real antisemitism, a very significant and growing threat, is far more prevalent on the political right — where neo-Nazis and Christian nationalists can be found — than on the political left.
A month ago, PAAS officially accused the American Psychological Association (APA) of “systemic” and “virulent” antisemitism. On what basis? Because they apparently find it scandalous that some APA members criticize Israel and express support for Palestinian rights, dignity, and freedom. That’s not antisemitism, of course. But the charge of antisemitism seems to be the only card in PAAS’s deck, so they play it again and again. Reportedly, some PAAS members are even developing plans to approach the Trump Administration — a welcoming home for real antisemites and other white supremacists — in an effort to compel changes at the APA. Draw your own conclusions about the moral compass of such an alliance.
But here I want to focus on a heartening (and for me, admittedly unexpected) tale of turnabout that has followed PAAS’s most recent shameful barrage against the APA. It began last week, when PAAS members were infuriated by this photo on the webpage of the APA’s annual August convention:
The cause of their outrage? The keffiyeh, a traditional MENA garment worn for centuries by farmers and Bedouins as protection from sun, sand, and wind. Over time, it became a broader symbol of Arab identity and resilience, and in the 20th century the black-and-white patterned keffiyeh became globally recognized as a symbol of Palestinian resistance and solidarity.
Although there’s nothing antisemitic about the photo, PAAS members reportedly felt otherwise and insisted that it be removed. According to a reliable source, one member ludicrously described the keffiyeh as “the symbol of genocide against Jews.” Another member made the preposterous suggestion that wearing a keffiyeh is comparable to someone dressing in the white hood of the Ku Klux Klan (KKK).
For those who might not be familiar with the KKK, it has been a violent vigilante group for over 150 years, dating back to the Reconstruction era after the U.S. Civil War. The organization is particularly infamous for terrorizing Black Americans — including nighttime raids, the torching of homes and churches, and extrajudicial lynchings — all to preserve racial segregation and white supremacy in the United States.
Returning to the “offending” photo itself, the APA should have refused to remove it. But instead they swiftly surrendered, replacing it with this “safe” alternative that PAAS members apparently found acceptable:
Opting to go with two Black conventioneers may contain a bit of irony. After all, Black Americans — and people of color more generally — have long been among the groups most supportive of the Palestinian struggle against oppression. For example, consider these two internationally recognized icons of peace, justice, and reconciliation:
It should be clear that the real offense lies not in the original photo on the APA’s website, but rather in the groundless demands from PAAS members and in the APA’s unjustified capitulation. That choice by the APA quickly became a source of great pain and distress for many who understandably saw it as indicative of a willingness to diminish and erase them, all for the sake of expediency. It was also deeply disturbing to those of us who recognized this episode as further evidence that the weaponization of antisemitism by groups like PAAS is out of control and is imperiling civil rights and democratic principles.
But I’ll end with the good news. A groundswell of educating, organizing, and mobilizing in opposition to the APA’s misguided action has taken place over the past several days. Led by Palestinian, Arab, and Muslim psychologists along with diverse allies, this campaign has borne fruit: to their credit, yesterday the APA’s leadership backtracked, apologized, and restored the photo to its original location.
To be sure, serious questions and concerns remain, and not everyone will be pleased with these developments. As for me, I find myself imagining the possibilities if standing up to bullies now becomes habit-forming for the APA.