Criticize Israel? You're an Anti-Semite!

[bridgit]

'EVER WONDER what it's like to be a pariah?

Publish something sharply critical of Israeli government policies and you'll find out. If you're lucky, you'll merely discover that you've been uninvited to some dinner parties. If you're less lucky, you'll be the subject of an all-out attack by neoconservative pundits and accused of rabid anti-Semitism.

This, at least, is what happened to Ken Roth. Roth — whose father fled Nazi Germany — is executive director of Human Rights Watch, America's largest and most respected human rights organization. (Disclosure: I have worked in the past as a paid consultant for the group.) In July, after the Israeli offensive in Lebanon began, Human Rights Watch did the same thing it has done in Iraq, Afghanistan, Chechnya, Bosnia, East Timor, Sierra Leone, Congo, Uganda and countless other conflict zones around the globe: It sent researchers to monitor the conflict and report on any abuses committed by either side.' http://www.commondreams.org/views06/0901-22.htm

[TechBear_Seattle]

1. Been there, done that

The real irony being that some of the sharpest criticism I have heard about the Israeli government comes from my Jewish step-father. Nearly a third of his family died because of the Nazis, and he is bewildered beyond belief at the parallels between Israeli treatment of Palestinians and Nazi treatment of the Jews. Bring up Israeli national policy with him, and he will eventually mutter, "You would think we'd have learned something from our own experiences."

[Name removed]

4. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[JohnyCanuck]

2. Well I don't give a shit what they call me,

but IMHO, the Israeli government is behaving in a very cruel and inhumane manner in their invasion of Lebanon and in their treatment of the Palestinians in the occupied territories. Then again, I'm an anonymous poster on an internet forum so I don't run the risk of having the ADL and the neoconservative establishment publicly jumping down my throat and broadcasting to the world what a racist anti-semite I am.

[peacetalksforall]

5. I don't care if they call me one. I know I'm not an anti-semite. It is a

boring an ineffectual accusation for someone like myself. It is also flawed. I know the term is in the dictionary, but it's quite erroneous in reference to Israel. I prefer that Semite be taken literally and when it is, it is a wasted name-calling accusation.

I only wish there was a term for the people who so frequently get elected in Israel who also pursue the imbecile policies against their neighbors and borders. It would help me identify the people I target as perpetual war mongers and inhumane.

[sabbat hunter]

12. it doesnt matter what you want

it is what the term means. anti semite=anti jewish. despite the 'literal' definintion. antisemite is understood by just about everyone that it means anti jewish.

[breakaleg]

3. This place is evidence that everything in that article says is true.

[pelsar]

7. how many times....

has anyone been called an antisemite here?...

what i do see is lots of claiming " that i will be called an antisemite........anybody want to find the numbers and compare?

[Violet_Crumble]

8. I've been called one...

And I've seen it happen a fair bit at DU....

[pelsar]

10. i know it happens....

i've read it too.....but i seem to read a lot more:

i'll be called one when i criticize israel.....and then a long list appear of eveyone agreeing, but no one calling any one anti semites....

[geek tragedy]

13. Of course you're not an anti-Semite.

Unfortunately, what has happened is a combination of two things:

1. Critics of Israeli policy on the left turn a blind eye to anti-semitism in their own ranks. To the point where an author who uses "Christ killers" imagery gets his opinion pieces posted here, with people actually disputing whether the author is an anti-semite ("well, he was born a Jew, so he can't be anti-semitic"). People go to absurd lengths to defend Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, a man who refers to the "so-called Holocaust" which "has not yet been verified." (that language taken directly from the Iranian National News Agency, so people complaining about the corporate media distorting his words can kiss my ass).

2. Cynical Likudniks and emotional supporters of Israel interpret the presence of anti-semites in the ranks of the critics of Israel on the left as proof that criticism of Israel is inseparable from anti-semitism.


The truth of the matter is that there is much of Israel's conduct that can be criticized on its own terms, and it is also true that some people are opponents of Israel because they dislike Jews. And there are also people who have allowed dislike for Israeli policy to taint their souls, and have become anti-semites.

[Lithos]

14. Excellent summary

I'm afraid that is exactly what I've been seeing for many years. I do wish to offer up an addendum if I may.

One issue the left has is identifying the motives of those who are critical of Israel. It is awfully easy to pull in "as allies" those who seem to be against Israel's policies when in fact they are obfuscating their position. What is not realized by some is that these very people are putting on a front and are deliberately choosing the left's vocabulary in order to mask their anti-Semitism. Of course I'm talking about the paleo-Con Libertarians, the Holocaust Deniers (American Free Press, David Irving, etc.) and those who contribute to them and freely reproduce their material. The truth of the matter is, the vast majority of these people are not part of the left and if you dig a little deeper, they are definitely no allies of the left.

And to add further, these very same groups are so good at promoting their agenda in a deceitful manner and their message is based on half-truths whose mis-focus is usually only seen when taken in toto, not piece part that it is sometimes hard for people who are learning or only half-engaged to know the difference. Thus I've seen many an innocent who did not know better, repeat something that sounded extremely plausible, and receive quite the verbal assault here. It's a education and diligence that must be shared by all sides of the debate.

Another issue we have to deal with is the stereotyping of groups or nationalities based on the actions of a few people. I've seen attacks made against Palestinians and Israeli's using the quotes of a few leaders. Just as people re-emphasize the diversity of political opinion (and culture) of Israel, it must be realized that such is true for Palestine, Lebanon and every other nationality or group inside of Israel. Even groups such as the Muslim Brotherhood or the Ultra-Orthodoxy cannot be be lumped in this way.

<soapbox>The I/P and the Middle Eastern issue is one of of human or civil rights where one of the leading problems is intolerance and/or disrespect for diversity. From Biblical times, the Middle East has been prospered when diversity tolerance was valued and it has retrograded and stagnated when it was not. </soapbox>

[geek tragedy]

15. Yes, the real problem is that those whose agenda is driven

by hate infiltrate liberal and leftwing movements and attempt to turn or convert people into buying into classic anti-semitic imagery and theories.

The motifs and paradigms of the haters are easily digested and provide simple answers. Why does the US tilt its foreign policy in favor of a certain faction of Israel? Why, because it's a secret cabal of Jews control the Bush administration? What about public support for Israel? Why, that's because the Zionists control the media? Not to mention the whole "Jewish Lobby" theories, which blame Jewish groups for things like the Iraq war (as if Cheney and Bush were pushed into that conflict by some noisy Jews!).

The simplicity is the power of the Neocon narrative--either you're a pro-Israel Likudnik or you're an anti-Israel activist.

A fundamental point that is never made in American politics: The best way to be pro-Israel is for the United States to tell Israel when it is wrong, and to try to actually SOLVE problems instead of egging on the Likudnik elements and cheerleading bombing raids.

Would a truly pro-Israel administration cheerlead Israel into bombing Lebanon while excluding Syria and Iran--the two states who could actually restrain Hezbollah--from the negotiations? How on earth does that even make sense?

[IntiRaymi]

16. You are hewing close to endorsing a Thought Police.

You are assuming that the left is:
(a) Stupid,
(b) Manipulated,
(c) Evil intentioned.
None of the above are true, and, quite frankly, the exact same accusations can be leveled at pro-Israel sycophants.
****
One issue that pro-Israel apologists have is that they are unable to see to sides of the coin. The rhetorical tools at the disposal of these gentlemen are multifaceted, and quite unfair. For instance, they enjoy a closer familiarity with the halls of power in the west, they have a greater facility with english - the lingua franca of the world, and they also have the ability to shut a debate down by raising the 'anti-semitism' flag, and also the 'holocaust' flag.
The problem with all this, as you have all been tirelessly reminded of, is that rhetorics are just that. They are not tools for understanding the truth, as much as tools for debating. And that is why these arguments must be disposed of - there is a mass of humanity suffering at the hands of Israel this very instant, and we, the citizens of this powerful nation, have had these rhetorical blinders placed over our eyes for too long.
It is time that the supposed survival of the Israeli state should be placed on grounds other than the absurd repression of the palestinian people.

[Lithos]

17. I think you missed my point

There are quite a few far RW-oriented groups who are attempting to mainstream their hate and are currently doing so under the cover of the left. This is a fact that is not worth the time to go into. They are doing so by using the language of the left and a basic ignorance which exists for many involved in this rather complicated situation. Ignorance is not stupidity but that doesn't mean it, especially willful ignorance or what I call knowledge bias/blindness, can't occasionally be used by others. And yes, it does happen.

As for your focus on the subject covered in point 2 several posts higher in the thread, there are those involved in the greater I/P debate who see anti-Semitism in any criticism of Israel. Such a view is of course not only wrong, but simple to the point of being hypocritical. Yes, there is anti-Semitism out there which must be excised along with any anti-Islamic/Arabic bigotry, but criticism of Israel and the PA are both necessary and healthy components of any debate which respectfully considers any benefit to the people of both Israel and Palestine.

As to your statement, please review what you just said.

One issue that pro-Israel apologists have is that they are unable to see to sides of the coin. The rhetorical tools at the disposal of these gentlemen are multi-faceted, and quite unfair. For instance, they enjoy a closer familiarity with the halls of power in the west, they have a greater facility with english - the lingua franca of the world, and they also have the ability to shut a debate down by raising the 'anti-semitism' flag, and also the 'holocaust' flag.

It sounds like you are saying there are a group of people in power working behind the scenes here who are controlling the situation. True?

[IntiRaymi]

19. It sounds like I am acknowledging influence.

The game is rigged.
And you are intimating that I am stealthily bringing up a "Protocols' type argument.
You are a moderator, and you can probably look at my posting history. And I can tell you that if you look, you will find that my critiques of Israel are based on the treatment that it metes out to certain peoples that are within its reach. Nowhere do I sugest that there is an effort for world domination by jewish organizations - a ridiculous claim that ignores jewish history.
On the other hand, what I am sugesting is that the 'ontological sphere' (if you will) of americans is dominated by one side of the coin. And this is due to the reasoning laid out above, since the lobbying efforts are directed not just at the representatives, but also at the american public.
This is to the detriment of people that are equally deserving of peace, liberty, and happiness.
As for the far-right wing mainstreaming of hatred towards jews, I would request a couple of things from you:
(a) Proof.
(b) An explanation of how this changes the realities on the ground, in Palestine, and in Lebanon, and even within Israel itself.

And, for the gazillionth time:

CRITICIZING ISRAEL IS NOT THE SAME AS HATING JEWS.

[geek tragedy]

27. As far as proof that the extreme right isn't trying to penetrate

the left, I can give you two names.

The first is Gilad Atzmon (an opinion piece by this racist was unforunately posted in this forum), a man born Jewish in Israel but who now engages in anti-semitic rhetoric so foul it would make a drunk Mel Gibson blush. Mr. Atzmon has been invited to speak for 2-3 consecutive years at the SWP's Communist rally/convention in the UK. Whatever one may say about him, he is certainly on the left. Though, it bears noting, that UK Anti-Zionist Jewish organizations have denounced his bigotry and embrace of Neo-Nazi rhetoric and propaganda.

Mr. Atzmon is close friends and a strong ideological ally (regarding Israel) of a man who calls himself Israel Shamir. Israel Shamir labels himself a Russian-born Jew who has lived in Israel--hoping that will shield him from criticisms of his anti-semitic (Christ killers rhetoric, etc) speech.

Who is Israel Shamir?

Israel Shamir is a writer and journalist who is known as a controversial anti-Zionist. He is a citizen of Sweden, where his legal name is Adam Ermash <1> (previously Jöran Jermas). Critics (including several pro-Palestinian activists) have accused Shamir of anti-Semitism and of misrepresenting his background and career.

. . .
Shamir is an active supporter of coalition and interaction of Far Left and Far Right. He maintains links with, and is supported by far right activists and in many countries <33>, including Horst Mahler <34> in Germany, Martin Webster <35> in the UK, and David Duke <36> in the USA.

He has berated Arab-Americans for demonstrating against the National Alliance who demonstrated against Zionists saying; "I would bless whoever supports the cause of Palestine without checking their ideological credentials. I bless all supporters of Palestine full stop." This attitude was based on Shamir's concept of balance: "The world is full of bad guys, and things are good only if and when the bad guys balance each other. Saddam would balance Sharon, while the White supremacists would balance the Jewish supremacists."<37>

In Poisoning Wells<25>, Shamir repeats: "The Jews and non-Jews would be able to live together happily, after the Jewish supremacy trend will be vanquished. However, until it is achieved, we, the friends of Palestine, should seek understanding and cooperation with all possible allies, black, white, red, green or rainbow, as blessed are the seekers of peace."<25>

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Israel_Shamir

More on Israel Shamir:

Here is the background to my hostility towards Israel Shamir, who also writes under the names of Schmerlin, Robert David, Vassili Krasevsky and Jöran Jermas. I cannot vouch for which of these is the real Israel Shamir:

Shamir is apparently a right-wing Russian journalist, who pretends to be an Israeli Jewish leftist. He claims to live in Jaffa, and may well have a home there, but he also seems to live in Sweden. He uses a Swedish email address, and his website used to be hosted there. His son was deported from Israel to Sweden, and when Shamir tried to sell Nazi memorabilia to David Irving, he wrote to him from 16 Dalagatan, Stockholm, phone and fax [phone].

. . .

Last year, he announced his “conversion” to Greek Orthodox Christianity; I’m sure he was a Christian long before this, but found it useful to pose as a Jew. I stress his Christianity because it is key to his positions. He subscribes to the most anti-Jewish strand of Greek Orthodoxy, and regularly denounces “the Jews” (or “the Mammonites,” as he sometimes calls us) as Christ-killers.

His essay “Christmas Greetings to Hellenes”<1> is revealing. He writes: “The Jews are forever fighting Christ and the Church; there is no chance for peace in the Holy Land unless the position of the Synagogue is undermined and the Jews saved by the Church…only the Orthodox Church can offer true salvation to the Jews escaping their supremacist creed.... There should be an effort to help the Israeli Jews to reach salvation. It can’t be separated from the question of Palestinian clergy, for the Palestinian clergy can show the Israelis that the way of the Church is also the true path to peace.”

In his 2001 Easter Message he wrote: “The Jewish supremacy forces and the greed worshippers united again to crucify Christ…. Two thousand years ago, the spirit of brotherhood rose again, to give hope for the second joust. If he is defeated again, we all shall become forever slaves to our faceless masters. They will destroy the Mother Earth herself, turn her into waste lands of Mordor. They need this victory to bind U.S. together by the dark forces of domination. Let U.S. deny them, this time.”<2>

I’m not given to looking for anti-Jewish racism under every stone; but I think that, in this case, it is shouting from the roof-tops! Like many U.S. racists, he refers to the forces of ZOG (Zionist Government) to explain the behavior of the U.S., where he writes: “This brings us back, to the Fifth Element of Luc Besson, for in the movie as in real life, Zog is not an independent force. A slave of Mammon, a servant of the Shadow, he is helping the Dark force fulfill its metaphysical task, to blot out the Light of Christ and to turn our world into Godless desert. That is why he sends bulldozers to wipe out flowers in Palestine, sends troops to sack Baghdad and Damascus, threatens Paris and Moscow, perverts Christianity.”<3>

Other essays are titled “The Vampire Killers,” “Poisoning Wells,” “Kugel Eaters,” “Bloodcurdling Libel” (in which he claims that Jews really did murder Christian children to use their blood in matzo,<4> “New Portnoy’s Complaint,” “The Elders of Zion” and the “Masters of Discourse” (where he argues that it doesn’t matter if the Protocols of the Elders of Zion are a forgery; they are true in any case), and other titles clearly designed to stigmatise Jews. This is not incidental; his comment on Le Pen’s success in the first round of the French elections was “Le Pen is a bad guy in my books, but bad guys will be called to undo the excessive Jewish power if the good guys fail to do it.”<5>

http://www.socialistviewpoint.org/sept_04/sept_04_22.html

From the extreme left to the extreme right in one link.

[geek tragedy]

30. Further proof of how the extreme right can fool people on the left:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nazir_Ahmed,_Baron_Ahmed

Yes, a Labor MP actually invited Joran Jermas, a Swedish Neo-Nazi, to speak at the House of Lords.

[Lithos]

32. For your answer

I'm going to ignore the obvious starting place of old fashioned bigotry of Pat Buchanan and ask you start with something called the "New Orleans Protocol" signed in 2004 and whose signatories included (from Wiki):

David Duke, European-American Unity and Rights Organization (EURO)
Don Black, Stormfront
Willis Carto, American Free Press
Dr. Ed Fields, Truth at Last
Sam G. Dickson, Council of Conservative Citizens
Kevin Alfred Strom and David Pringle (nationalist), National Alliance, both have since been kicked out of the National Alliance which does not recognize the NOP
Paul Fromm, Canadian Association for Free Expression
John Tyndall, of the British National Party, signed as an individual, not as a representative of his party.

One of the desired reasons stated during the meeting was to establish a mechanism to create a better image and to "mainstream their cause". One of the items in the protocol included the clause "no enemies on the right.".

David Duke did add additional commentary later.

Those who conform to the Jewish-Hollywood stereotypical image of racially conscious European-Americans do our Movement far more harm than good. Our people and beliefs are noble (just as the word Aryan denotes) and the expression of our philosophy and positions must be of a moral tone in line with our ideals rather than degeneracy reminiscent of the Jewish supremacists.

This idea of "mainstreaming hate" is not an old one with this group. Willis Carto founded the IHR (Institute for Historical Review) with this notion. His speech to the group in 1981 says quite a bit about his motivation.

"Zionists" are "predators" who exploit the "guilt" of Western society and "offer us expiation for the sins of our fathers by giving us the magnificent opportunity to contribute to the building of God's promised land for God's chosen people with our tax money." The IHR's game plan is simple by legitimizing "debate" over the settled historical veracity of the Holocaust, deniers hope to sow the seed of doubt, which in turn will foster anti Semitism in the form of resentment against those who have promoted this "hoax": the Jews.

Sound a bit familiar? He is not alone as this and the rehabilitation of motivations/politics of the Third Reich have been the motivation of many other Holocaust Deniers including Robert Faurrison, David Irving and Ernst Zundel.

The next bit, is how successful have these people been? Well, unfortunately fairly successful. Taking a small snapshot of just Willis Carto, you will see that his founding influence includes the IHR, The Barnes Review (TBR News), and American Free Press which he still controls. You will see material from these sources cited/republished/rebranded quite often on the Internet by RW-leaning sites which cater predominately with conspiracy theory and which are then in turn cited by those on the left who are not aware of their original source.

L-

[pelsar]

25. as defined as a "pro israeli apologist....

i suspect i am one of those that many claim that i "unable to see the other side".....actually i am only too aware of the "other side" having been one of those that would enter Palestinian houses at 2:00am and see the fear on the children's faces....

but what i have discovered here is an inability by many of the "pro Palestinians" to actually finish a discussion with me when the fears that israelis have are discussed or to have "dismissed" as insignificant aspects that are very important to us...That i find most interesting of all...and very telling of them "seeing the other side".

What one gets here are general denunciations of israeli policies, some of which are well deserved....but thats where it usually ends. Any attempts i make to delve into the details, the options are usually met with .....end of discussion (there are one or two exceptions from time to time, and infact an interesting one is going on with "Douglas Carpenter" about hamas/fatah and their society http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=124x146459#147235).

for instance, and perhaps i can be helped out here: a typical discussion ender is when i inquire as to israeli options if israel does pull back to 67 (or whatever the end negotiations consist of)...and the kassams continue.... This is probably the most important question on the minds of most israelis, yet in this forum it has yet to be discussed.

in the years that i have been here, one "pro Palestinian poster, actually said that "she/he" has no answer....the honesty was appreciated.

i have received recently: i've already answered that (not true) and "In fact I've humored you more today than I usually allow myself." Both show disdain for the israeli citizen, as if they're worries are of no consequence.

another one perhaps closer to todays date: what should israel do about the kassams flying out of gaza.....many have called them "no more than spit balls, or inconsequential. both remarks express disdain for the israelis living under constant attack. Israel has tried multiple options, none of which seem to work, all have been condemned here, but viable real options?....have yet to see one expressed here, or even discussed.

There have been some answers: but always the general, israel must pull back etc, nothing that addresses the immediate issue of kassam and potentially katushas coming out of gaza....real worries of the israeli citizen.

Many times israeli civil society is discussed....it obvious of little interest to many here, palestenain society and its implications on the future, though again for us israelis thats the key to a peaceful future. The lack of interest in itself is quite interesting as well, as if the palestenian citizens civil rights in terms of his/her own society is of little consequence, nobodies business or simple isnt relevant. We see it quite differently, however lack of interest here maybe no more than that, people simply arent interested in "Palestenian citizens within their own society"-a bit strange for a "progressive forum" but ok, if no one is interested, i can accept it.

______

for those who claim us israelis dont see the "other side"..... i would like to see the issues that worry israelis addressed in a serious manner, otherwise its pretty clear to us, that its the "pro Palestinians" that cant see the "other side".

[The Magistrate]

18. Actually, Sir

Persons on the left, in my experience, are every bit as prone to foolishness and susceptible to manipulation, and contain a similar proportion of "bad hats", as any other identifiable group of persons.

Nor is an inability or unwillingness to see another point of view something encountered on only one side of this debate. Nor, for that matter, are attempts to shut down debate by raising various storm flags. On the part of those opposed to Israel, these range from the sturdy "I'll be called an Anti-Semite, but..." gambit to professing to see no important difference between Israel and the Third Reich.

[IntiRaymi]

20. Why do you insist on reading what isn't there?

Where did I compare Israel with the 3rd Reich?
Your inability to recognize the human qualities of Israel's victims is what should be discussed here.
That is the thrust of this thread.

[cali]

22. Please

try and read what the Magistrate wrote, not what you think he wrote. He didn't suggest that you personally compared Israel to the third reich, and you are way over the line in accusing him of not caring about Israel's victims. He said nothing to the kind. There's something eternally disgusting about twisting someone's words.

[IntiRaymi]

23. It happens to me often.

But, I acknowledge your complaint, and I apologize for it.

[cali]

26. kudos to you

It's rare that someone exhibits the graciousness you just displayed. It sets a great example- I'll try and emulate you in the future when I screw up and someone calls me on it.

[The Magistrate]

31. Having Noted Your Apology Elsewhere, Sir

My comments in reply will be a good deal milder than they otherwise might have been.

In response to Mr. Lithos' general comments on the subject of rightist Anti-Semitic infiltration of the stream of debate on this topic on the left, you made yourself some general comments on the conduct of one side in this debate, which seemed to me worth a small and general rebuttal. You were accused of nothing, and for some reason that escapes me, chose to both declare what any comments by me should address, and that what is in your view a lamentable lack of human feeling on my part should be the topic under discussion here. Such a discussion would provide me great amusement, my tastes in humor and enjoyments running rather dark as they do, but would hardly do much to advance debate on the topic of the conflicts of the Middle East.

My general comments on the course and content of debate on this subject are rooted in having participated in it here for nigh on five years at varying levels of energy, dating back to the old days before the instititution of the specialized rules on the subject here in a dedicated space, and freshened by devoting considerable time to tending the late discussions of the matter permitted for a while in the upper forums. Any attempt to deny that comparisons of Israel to the Reich were a prominent feature of those discussions would be futile, as we removed numerous such comparisions daily, and indeed they crop up here in this forum occassionally still, though they do not last long. Nor would any attempt to insist that pre-emptive cries of "I'm going to be called an Anti-Semite for this, but..." do not greatly outnumber actual accusations of Anti-Semitism be any less futile, as we received remarkably few actual and actionable complaints of people being called Anti-Semites over the past weeks, though the pre-emptive cry could be encountered frequently every day.

The fact is that some opposition to Israel is rooted in hate for Jews. This is particularly true on the right, among so-called "paleo-cons". It is also true that some of that stripe see left opposition to Israel as an opportunity to engage in a demarche towards common ground with, or infiltration of, radical left circles, with an eye towards recruitment to their own cadre. There is a good deal of hot-head rhetoric employed by some on the left that suggest it might indeed be a fertile field for such an approach over this issue, and there are some on the left who lack the political sophistication to recognize rightists of this extreme sort are not really their friends, even on this issue, where they feel they have detected an over-lap in sympathies, without enquiring too closely into its roots, or full extent. It is also true that some leftist agitation against Israel, whether unwittingly or otherwise, does invoke common tropes of classical Anti-Semitism, and in fact derives its utility as propaganda from the utilization of these themes, so deeply ingrained into the culture of Christendom, as they are sure to arouse in many the response of "you know, that's just what I think" which it is the acme of the propagandist's art to produce in as many people as possible.

[breakaleg]

21. What do you mean by "opposed to Israel"?

I hope you don't mean disagree some of with Israel's policies with respect to Lebanon and Palestinians.

Being opposed to Israel sounds like wanting it not to exist.

[The Magistrate]

29. A Term Of Convenience, Sir

People who discuss this are loosely grouped into two sides, tending to support one side and oppose the other.

[Name removed]

9. Deleted sub-thread

Sub-thread removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[IntiRaymi]

6. The concept of antisemitism is a tool of Israeli foreign policy.

Put it in the same category as 'Freedom,' 'Democracy,' etc. The danger that happens here is that whenever a word is appropriated for political effect, as it is with this one, it invariably loses its meaning.
This is bad, because 'antisemitism' exists, and it has consequences.

[oblivious]

11. I think it's losing its effect just like 'anti-American' did.

I ran into the 'Your anti-American' a lot in the run-up to the Iraq Massacre when I criticised American justification for the coming war. I think the accusation had some effect at that time. Now it has no effect whatsoever.

[wellst0nev0ter]

24. Criticizing Israel Is Like Criticizing A Friend's Mother

Your friend may be free to criticize her mother all she wants, but you are threading on thin ice if you try the same thing yourself. Nothing terribly wrong about that, but it's a shame that criticism over Israeli policies and its history is more open in that country itself than it is over here. For example if I were to write something like this in these forums, I probably wouldn't argue against my immediate banning. But apparently it's acceptable in the Israeli press.

[geek tragedy]

28. That was a criticism of the Israeli government, and would

not get you banned here.

Note this piece from the same blog:

http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/753971.html

It shows the libelous and anti-semitic rhetoric of al-Jazeerah (not a surprise to those familiar with al-Jazeerah, of course) while pointing out the hysterics of someone like Alan Dershowitz.

[The Magistrate]

33. That Is A Pretty Funny Screed, Sir

To the point and damned pointed. It is hard to see what difficulties anyone would have with it, and indeed, if recollection serves, it was put up here earlier with no complaints registered.