David Cameron on Anti-Zionism and Anti-Semitism

[Bonobo]

http://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2015/04/david-cameron-on-anti-zionism-and-anti-semitism/390759/

When I met not long ago with David Cameron, the prime minister of Great Britain, I knew that he had repeatedly and publicly professed concern about the safety of his country’s Jewish citizens, but I did not know that he was thinking deeply about the nature of anti-Semitism and anti-Zionism—in a similar manner to Manuel Valls, the French prime minister, who is Europe’s leader in combating anti-Zionism and Judeophobia. (You can read more about Valls and his opposition to anti-Zionism here.)

In my conversation with Cameron, parts of which appeared in my April cover story on the future of European Jewry, he made it clear, in much the same way that Valls made it clear, that the issue of anti-Semitism ought not to be the concern of Jews alone. He stressed that he is worried that the international movement to declare Israel an illegitimate state—with its contention that Israel’s existence as an independent, Jewish-majority safe haven is morally unsupportable and should therefore be brought to an end—shares characteristics with anti-Semitism. In light of what is happening in Europe—not only the kind of anti-Semitism that prompted me to write the cover story, but also the slow vanishing of the line that separates anti-Israel discourse from straight-up anti-Semitism—I thought it would be worthwhile to post longer excerpts of our conversation.

Goldberg: Is there a bright line in your mind that separates anti-Zionism from anti-Semitism?

Cameron: As well as the new threat of extremist Islamism, there has been an insidious, creeping attempt to delegitimize the state of Israel, which spills over often into anti-Semitism. We have to be very clear about the fact that there is a dangerous line that people keep crossing over. This is a state, a democracy that is recognized by the United Nations, and I don’t think we should be tolerant of this effort at delegitimization. The people who are trying to make the line fuzzy are the delegitimizers. And I have a very clear view, which is that if you disagree with the policies of Israel, fine, say so, but that is never a reason to take that out on Jewish communities. We have to be very clear about threats—this is a dangerous line that people keep crossing over, that says that anti-Zionism is a legitimate form of political discourse.

[Little Tich]

1. Spot on, Mr Cameron! And it’s written by Jeffrey Goldberg, no less. n/t

[guillaumeb]

2. utter nonsense.

When Cameron says:
"As well as the new threat of extremist Islamism, there has been an insidious, creeping attempt to delegitimize the state of Israel, which spills over often into anti-Semitism. We have to be very clear about the fact that there is a dangerous line that people keep crossing over."

He is making a crude attempt to equate any criticism of actions taken by the Israeli government with anti-Semitism. The actions of the Israeli government do not represent the actions and beliefs of every Jew all over the world. They represent the actions of a few right wing militarists who are trying to create an apartheid like state, violating International Law in the process.

As to Israel being a democracy, yes, it is, as long as the citizens in question are Jewish.

As to anti-Zionism, it is a philosophy, not a people. Criticism of the philosophy is not criticism of all Jews everywhere in the world. It is criticism of a particular school of thought.

[Bonobo]

4. "As to Israel being a democracy, yes, it is, as long as the citizens in question are Jewish. "

You are unaware of the number of non-Jewish Israeli citizens?

[guillaumeb]

5. I am aware of them, as well as being aware that the non-Jewish citizens

of Israel are NOT treated equally.

[Bonobo]

6. You said it was not a democracy unless you are Jewish.

I point out there are non-Jewish citizens who vote.

If you understand that and you understand what a democracy is, you must understand that your statement was hyperbolic rubbish.

[guillaumeb]

8. I will agree that Israel is a democracy

with two classes of citizens. First class citizens who are Jews, and second class citizens who are not Jews. If that version of democracy is acceptable to you I understand. But the apartheid system in South Africa operated the same way.

[Shaktimaan]

7. No.

He is making a crude attempt to equate any criticism of actions taken by the Israeli government with anti-Semitism. The actions of the Israeli government do not represent the actions and beliefs of every Jew all over the world.

He said nothing about how "any" criticism of Israel equates to anti-semitism. He very clearly stated that anti-Zionism, (aka: the rejection of Jews' right to a national state), frequently crossed over into anti-semitism. He actually states quite plainly that the issue is the delegitimization on Israel, not the criticism of it.

As to anti-Zionism, it is a philosophy, not a people. Criticism of the philosophy is not criticism of all Jews everywhere in the world. It is criticism of a particular school of thought.

Correct. It happens to be a philosophy that espouses fewer rights for Jews as opposed to other nations.

[geek tragedy]

3. If Israel continues on the path to apartheid, and with the blessing of its voters, and its

institutions, it's really absurd to characterize attempts to delegitimize industrial-scale human rights violations as anti-Semitism.

Religiously-driven nationalism has a spectacularly awful record in the annals of human history. It's not anti-Semitic to point out that righting Jewish nationalism differs very little from Christian or Islamic or Hindu nationalism in its logical conclusion.