Between protest and violence: Antifa reflects blurring of lines between good and evil - opinion

In the turbulent political arena of the 21st century, few movements have stirred as much controversy as Antifa – short for “anti-fascist.”

Antifa’s roots go back to Europe in the 1930s, during the rise of fascism in Italy and Germany. Left-wing groups, often communist or anarchist, engaged in physical confrontations with far-right movements. After World War II, their activity waned, only to resurge in the 1980s and 1990s, mainly in Germany and Britain, as part of anti-neo-Nazi and anti-racist campaigns.

Over the past decade, as right-wing parties have gained ground in Europe and the United States, Antifa has become a symbol of resistance – often accompanied by violence.

It does not function as a traditional organization; there is no leadership, structure, or budget. Instead, it operates as a loose network of autonomous groups. Each group determines its own boundaries for action, which at times include using violence against those it identifies as fascists, police officers, or simply state symbols.

The order described Antifa as “a violent anarchist movement whose goal is to undermine American democracy.” Legal scholars and security experts, however, argue that such a designation is difficult to apply to a non-hierarchical network. Antifa has no offices, membership lists, or recognizable leadership. It operates through small, anonymous cells, relying heavily on online communities.

Antifa groups also exist in Israel, though on a much smaller scale. Groups such as Antifa 972 participate in protests against racism, homophobia, and police violence. In some cases, members clashed with right-wing activists at political demonstrations. In others, they engaged in peaceful social protest.

Among supporters of one Israeli soccer club, there is a subgroup that identifies with the Antifa ideology. Members wave red or black flags and chant slogans against fascism and against the Israeli government’s policy toward Palestinians. Some view this as an expression of social activism and anti-racism; others see it as a cover for anti-Zionist and sometimes antisemitic agendas.

The core dilemma surrounding Antifa concerns the boundaries of legitimate protest. Should citizens be allowed to use violence to combat ideologies they see as violent or dangerous?

Critics warn that such violence ultimately serves the enemies of democracy, undermining the rule of law and fostering a culture of chaos in which each side justifies its actions in the name of fighting the other.

Rutgers University professor Mark Bray, author of Antifa: The Anti-Fascist Handbook, explains that the movement operates according to its own internal logic: It views fascism as something that cannot be defeated through democratic means alone and must be stopped before it spreads. He acknowledges that this approach can quickly slide into anarchy and harm innocent people.

Across Europe, where far-right movements are gaining strength, Antifa is present at nearly every major protest. Despite lacking a central body, the movement maintains a network of sometimes anonymous activists who coordinate activities through social media campaigns and digital forums. Communities of thousands of users identifying with Antifa have formed on platforms like X/Twitter, Telegram, and Reddit. Some distribute propaganda, protest guides, and videos of clashes with police.

The internet has become Antifa’s primary arena of operation, where legal and identity boundaries blur. Legally, banning a movement without an organizational structure is difficult. But Trump’s designation of Antifa as a domestic terrorist organization set a precedent for deploying state security tools against political movements.

Trump’s critics warn that this opens the door to political persecution of ideological rivals. Supporters counter that Antifa’s repeated acts of violence, vandalism, and mutual political hatred cannot be ignored.

Antifa reflects a new era in which the lines between good and evil, democracy and anarchy, are increasingly blurred. It is a symptom of an age in which every side sees itself as absolutely righteous and everyone else as the enemy.

In Israel, radical groups – even if they do not call themselves “Antifa” – are also operating in extreme ways, often under the radar of law enforcement. Excerpts from WhatsApp groups of activists reveal calls to “march on Balfour [near the Prime Minister’s Residence in Jerusalem] with flares, paint, and more,” to “provoke police,” and to create chaos.

“Call the cop a ‘son of a bitch,’ and spark a riot. We’re not afraid to die. If someone comes to kill you, rise early and kill him first – that’s the mindset here.” Other messages urge setting streets on fire with tires and Molotov cocktails, targeting important buildings, “ending at Balfour.”

These are just some of the “gems” circulating in Israel’s radical groups. Members belong to fringe factions that, in their brazenness, booed when US envoy Steve Witkoff mentioned Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during a speech at Hostage Square last Saturday night. They remain fringe for now, but history teaches that such wild growths must be taken seriously and remembered.