David Bernstein notes that "no one has as yet come up with a Chomsky quote acknowledging that some anti-Zionism is motivated by anti-Semitism" (this apparently offered in the way of support for his earlier contention that Chomsky "wants to deny that ANY manifestations of anti-Zionism are motivated by anti-Semitism").
When I first read this, I thought to myself, "Gee, well maybe that's because no one has ever put that particular question to Chomsky." So I did:
Question: Do you acknowledge the existence of anti-Semitic anti-Zionism?
Chomsky: I can't technically "acknowledge" it, any more than you or I can acknowledge the existence of the moon, and for the same reasons.
Question: Okay, let me rephrase: Is there such a thing as anti-Semitic anti-Zionism?
Chomsky: Yes, just as certainly as there is such a thing as the moon. The only aspect of the question that is of some interest is what "strange doctrine" (to borrow your username) motivates people even to ask it, in either case.
I find the lunar reference particularly apt.
UPDATE: Just to confirm, the above post is an exchange with Noam Chomsky in our email correspondence. (Some doubts were expressed in the comments. [NOTE: Referenced comments were on third-party platform, now defunct.])
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