Project Esther; right-wing scheme to liquidate pro-Palestine movement
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The Heritage Foundation's "Project Esther" purports to combat antisemitism, but its true objective is to dismantle the Palestine solidarity movement as part of suppressing all forms of domestic dissent in the US.
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Protesters demonstrate near City Hall during a pro-Palestinian protest, on October 7, 2024, in New York. (AP)
A report by Mondoweiss states that the Heritage Foundation has garnered substantial attention during this election cycle, largely due to its controversial Project 2025. However, this is not the only initiative it intends to push forward now that Donald Trump has returned to the White House.
One such initiative is Project Esther, a new proposal from the Heritage Foundation that purports to address anti-Semitism in the United States. In reality, however, the project seeks to undermine the Palestinian solidarity movement, positioning it as the first step in a wider campaign aimed at stifling activism against US policies, both domestically and internationally, according to Mondoweiss.
There is no doubt that this project is not entirely new. For over a century, the Zionist movement and the Israeli occupation have used false accusations of anti-Semitism as a weapon. However, Project Esther came to unify and coordinate the cynical use of the fight against real anti-Semitism to completely dismantle the movement advocating for Palestinian rights.
But this is just the beginning of its agenda. As the full plan unfolds, its architects view it as a stepping stone to catalyzing broader movements aimed at challenging US imperialism abroad and white supremacy at home.
Project Esther: What is it?
The Project Esther document outlines its objective as follows: “Named after the historic Jewish heroine who saved the Jews from genocide in ancient Persia, Project Esther provides a blueprint to counter antisemitism in the United States and ensure the security and prosperity of all Americans.”
Mondoweiss raises an important concern, noting that the document treats the story of Esther as a historical fact. However, most biblical scholars agree that the story is either fictional or, at best, allegorical. Only the most literal and extreme interpretations of the Book of Esther would regard it as an actual historical account.
The main strategy outlined in Project Esther is to target the Palestinian solidarity movement by labeling it as a "Hamas support network." The plan categorizes the organizations within the movement as "Hamas-supporting groups," effectively equating advocacy for Palestinian rights with support for the militant group Hamas.
The strategy includes:
According to Mondoweiss, the first objective is to discredit the Palestinian solidarity movement and its affiliated organizations by linking them to the Hamas movement, relying on long-standing smear campaigns aimed at tarnishing the group's image and delegitimizing its goals.
The second goal is to cripple the operational capacity of these organizations by branding them as "supporters of terrorism." This would effectively block their ability to raise funds legally or conduct legitimate business transactions.
It’s no surprise that the "Hamas support network" labels American Muslims for Palestine as a key target, prominently, including organizations, such as Students for Justice in Palestine and Jewish Voice for Peace, as reported by Mondoweiss.
The narrative is further reinforced by the involvement of funding organizations such as the Open Society Foundations, the Tides Foundation, and the Rockefeller Brothers Fund.
Throughout the document, the authors not only blur the lines between anti-Zionism and anti-Semitism, but they also attempt to frame the Palestinian solidarity movement as a threat not just to the Israeli apartheid regime but also to democracy in the United States.
Mondoweiss added that the conspiracy that Project Esther attempts to depict also extends to the US government.
The document names figures such as Rashida Tlaib, Ilhan Omar, Cori Bush, Jamaal Bowman, Summer Lee, Ayanna Pressley, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Greg Casar, Andre Carson, Hank Johnson, Jan Schakowsky, Mark Pocan, Pramila Jayapal, Bernie Sanders, Chris Van Hollen, and Elizabeth Warren as part of the "Hamas caucus" or as supporters of Hamas.
