Attempts to silence critical voices show that authoritarianism is an intrinsic component of Zionism, Alejandro Bodart said.

On Friday, the Buenos Aires Criminal Court sentenced leftist leader Alejandro Bodart to six months in prison for allegedly inciting antisemitic discrimination.

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The complaint was initially filed by the Delegation of Argentine Jewish Associations (DAIA) in May 2022, after Bodart posted the following on the social media platform X:

“74 years of catastrophe endured by the Palestinian people at the hands of the racist and genocidal State of Israel. The key, a symbol of their stolen homes and lands, is present in every struggle. For a secular and democratic Palestine, from the river to the sea.”

Subsequently, the DAIA sent Bodart a message requesting that he retract his statement. In response to such intimidating action, the leftist activist refused to apologize, asserting that his message did not contain hateful antisemitic content.

“This permanent anti-democratic attitude of seeking to silence every critical voice only strengthens our political conviction that authoritarianism is an intrinsic component of Zionism,” he stated.

In May and August 2024, two lower-court judges acquitted Bodart of the charges. However, after the most recent ruling was appealed, the matter was transferred to the Third Chamber of the Court of Appeals, which overturned the acquittal by majority vote.

One of the judges who voted to uphold the acquittal, Patricia Ana Larroca, argued that Bodart’s tweets did not meet the “objective or subjective elements” required to constitute the crime of discrimination. She further stated that “the expressions under dispute are protected by the right to freedom of expression,” ARGmedios reported, noting that Bodart announced he would appeal the decision at all possible levels.

Since October 2024, Israeli occupation forces have killed over 45,000 Palestinians in Gaza, the majority of whom are women, children, and the elderly. In light of these events, the International Criminal Court (ICC) convicted Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of crimes against humanity.

“Other international human rights organizations have also agreed that Israel is committing ‘genocide’ in Palestine. Even Pope Francis called for an investigation into whether the events in Gaza could be considered extermination crimes against the population,” ARGmedios highlighted.

teleSUR/ JF Source: ARGMedios

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