Jewish Figures Defend Ruffalo Against

More than 180 prominent Jewish figures, most from the entertainment industry, issued a statement on Wednesday in strong support of actor Mark Ruffalo. They rejected accusations of anti-Semitism leveled against him after he criticized a proposed media merger.

Ruffalo had linked Paramount's planned $111 billion acquisition of Warner Bros Discovery to Oracle co-founder Larry Ellison, whose family owns Paramount. The actor connected the deal to Ellison's support for what he called Israel's "genocide" in Gaza and Oracle's work with the Israeli military. Paramount responded by accusing Ruffalo of invoking "anti-Semitic tropes," stating that references to genocide and apartheid in a corporate context went "a bridge too far."

Ruffalo called Paramount's allegation "appalling and fundamentally dishonest." He argued that criticizing Israeli government policy, military contracts, and specific executives is not the same as criticizing Jewish people.

The Spark of the Controversy

On August 21, Ruffalo shared an old clip on his Instagram story featuring Oracle Executive Vice Chair Safra Catz. In the clip, Catz proudly highlighted Oracle's work to support Israel following the Hamas-led October 2023 attack. She stated the company helped "advance the agenda for the Israeli military." Catz said, "We have some really profoundly scary technology at Oracle and we wanted to make sure that it was available for the effort."

Ruffalo criticized Catz, accusing her of revelling in "genocide" committed by what he termed an "apartheid system of oppression powered by Oracle." He also questioned why former President Donald Trump had pushed the "illegal merger" through, adding that such mergers are typically bad for workers and consumers. The Simon Wiesenthal Center's Jim Berk denounced Ruffalo's comments as "a textbook case of obsession and demonisation" of Jews. Anti-Defamation League head Jonathan Greenblatt called them "cynical and sickening."

Ruffalo later clarified his position. He stated his views stem from political convictions and "should never be interpreted as hostility toward Jewish people." He is among many Hollywood figures opposing the merger. In April, over 1,400 film industry professionals, including actors Ben Stiller and Emma Thompson, signed a letter against the deal. They argued it would further consolidate a concentrated media landscape.

A Pattern of Allegations

Experts told Al Jazeera the controversy exemplifies a longstanding pattern. Accusations of anti-Semitism are increasingly used to discredit criticism of Israel, especially as U.S. public opinion grows more critical of its actions in Gaza. Jewish historian Zachary Foster described the accusation against Ruffalo as "a totally nonsensical, irrational double standard." Foster told Al Jazeera, "If you attack Israel, you're anti-Semitic, but if you attack any other country in the world, you're not accused of being bigoted towards that country's professed religious identity."

Foster, founder of the Palestine Nexus platform, emphasized the importance of connecting the Ellison family's media consolidation to their links with the Israeli military. He said the goal is political, not financial. Foster suggested Ellison is trying to "reverse the tide" of growing global criticism of Israel. Larry Ellison has been a key funder of the Friends of the Israeli Army, contributing $16.6 million in 2017 alone.

Silencing Criticism

Jenin Younes, legal director of the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee, said such allegations have long been used to suppress pro-Palestinian voices. "Americans are beginning to recognise that anti-Semitism allegations are frequently misused to shut down criticism of Israel," Younes told Al Jazeera. She cited the cases of academics Norman Finkelstein and Steven Salaita, who faced severe professional consequences for their criticism.

Other public figures have faced backlash. Oscar-winner Susan Sarandon and Scream star Melissa Barrera were dropped by their agencies after commenting on Gaza. YouTuber Ms Rachel also came under fire for speaking about children killed in the enclave. Palestinian-American analyst Yousef Munayyer said Israeli supporters have shifted from defense to offense. "It's very hard to defend apartheid and genocide," Munayyer told Al Jazeera. "It is much more effective... to try to go after the critics."

Foster noted another tactic is to attack Muslims and highlight a supposed "threat of Islam." He referenced recent anti-Muslim rhetoric from Israeli leaders and pro-Israel supporters. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu recently suggested "the first Islamic republic with nuclear weapons will be the Islamic Republic of Britain." Conservative commentator Ben Shapiro's company also released a movie trailer critics say pushes anti-Muslim tropes.

Younes said these accusations have a "deleterious" effect on activism. Campus protests have dwindled due to successful suppression, she argued. Pro-Israel groups have found "a willing partner in civil liberties violations" in various governments. The severe consequences for a few individuals, like activists Mahmoud Khalil and Rumeysa Ozturk, send a chilling message to others, encouraging silence.