Starting in recent times the argument "Anti-Zionism vs Anti-Semitism" has creeped into the news literature. This argument is older than the current war in Gaza.
(1) I came across it in the following book.
White Nights, The Story of A Prisoner in Russia. Written by Menachem Begin. English translation in 1979. Translated from the Hebrew edition of 1957. Let me know if you want to borrow this book from me.
Begin fled east to Lithuania when the German army invaded Poland in 1939. The NKVD sentenced him to a Soviet gulag from 1940-1942. After Germany attacked Russia in July 1941, Begin was released to join the Free Polish Army. This book covers only that period in his life.
Chapter 16. Soviet Prisoners' Tales.
Page 165. The Story of the Assistant Editor of Pravda.
Begin has a debate with another Jew named Garin. Both are prisoners in the gulag. This is a one page discussion on "Anti-Zionism and Anti-Semitism", in Soviet Russia and in the world. Which is the point of me making this review. Then this chapter goes on to discuss other matters. Related to the gulag and communism.
(2) With the magic of a Yahoo search, I can read more information with names from this book.
< garin soviet gulag >
The anti-Zionist Communist Jew Who Wanted to Hear 'Hatikvah' in the Gulag
https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/2021-10-22/ty-article-magazine/.highlight/the-anti-zionist-communist-jew-who-wanted-to-hear-hatikvah-in-the-gulag/0000017f-e7ce-d97e-a37f-f7ef8a1f0000
(3) While the main purpose of my E-Mail is the theme;
"Anti-Zionism vs Anti-Semitism". The book White Nights has lots more information on how the Soviet system works in treating prisoners in prisons and gulags. Too much for me to write details here.
Basically about the conflict between Lenin and Trotsky. Conflict still shows up today with the red diaper babies. Back in the days when we went downtown to heckle Not In My Name; I would call Joel Finkel a Trotskyite. This irritated him more than the Israel vs Palestine debate.
(4) More on Soviet/Communism policy.
Chapter 17. With Orchestral Accompaniment
Page 181. One paragraph discussion. Opinion added by me; after the first paragraph which is a direct quote from the book.
"Throughout the world Communists have fought for special rights for the political prisoner. In the Soviet Union the political-prisoner class has been liquidated, but there is no equality between different classes of prisoners. The political prisoner in the land of Communism has only this special right: to be hungrier than the hungry, more debased than the lowliest."
Conditions are different outside of Soviet Communism, between the classes.
# In 1947, Stalin supported the Jewish State in Palestine as an anti-British move. In 1949 Mapam did not become the major party in Israel. So Israel became persona non grata.
# More recently, up to including today. Russia supports the PA and PLO because Israel is a tool of western imperialism. Mahmoud Abbas is a graduate of Patrice Lumumba University. Even though the majority of Arabs are Muslim and not Communists.
(5) Years ago I read another book on the Soviet Gulag.
Confess! Confess! Eight Years in the Soviet Prisons. Written by Yehosua Gilboa. The author tells about meeting Begin there. And another Jew who asked Begin to sing his song, Hatikvah. That Jew missed his Jewish identity after years devoted to the Communist Revolution.
A second argument for Zionism told in the Gilboa book. Years before World War Two, Gilboa was taking up a collection for Keren Kayemet LeYisrael. Years later, he meets this Jew in the Gulag.
Part one in Warsaw.
A non-believing Jew asked him why do you collect money?
We are planting trees in Eretz Israel.
If you want to see trees, go to Siberia. There you will see trees as far as the eye can see.
Part two in the gulag. Gilboa meets this same Jew years later. The Jew asks Gilboa to sing his Zionist song. He misses Zionism. Was this man Garin, or another Jew?
(6) The later part of this book covers the time Begin was released from the Gulag. Polish prisoners were released after Germany attacked Russia. Chapters 19, Etap; up to Chapter 23, The Rules of the Queue. These chapters describe individual and political life in the Russian interior. Period 1942-1943. Lots of information with little details.
# Begin repeats the Hatikvah episode a second time here. I read the following in another book; possibly The Revolt: Story of the Irgun. Begin describes how he joined the Free Polish Army; Left Russia; Went AWOL in British Mandatory Palestine to lead Irgun.
(7) In Chapter 24, After the Death of Stalin; Begin speculates on Lenin, Stalin, NKVD, and the Soviet Communist government inside Russia.