With the freedom of expression at the west, when is it not anti-semitism in criticizing israel?

Question

Anti-semitism and anti-Israel, are they interchangeable terms? are they synonyms?

Note: I thought politics would be better that religion and languages to post this question.

Answer 1

There is NO freedom of expression at the west my friend when it comes to israel & the jews.
What freedom of expression u r talking about!!! when u cant talk about israel,
and u cant talk about the jews,
and u cant deny or even suspect the holocost,,,,,,,,etc
When they trial & jail a writer in uk cause he dared to suspect the holocost!!!
freedom of expression can not be only on certain subjects,it should be open to any subject as long as u r respectfull ,and thats not the case in the west,actually its the opposit.

Answer 2

Anyone else notice that zube is pasting the responses to the same question? And that certain people here seem to be having conversations with themselves, post using similiar language and and communication nuances, all posted around the same time with the same message? Hmm....

Anti-semitism has nothing to do with religion. And yes, you can criticize Israel without being anti-semitic. However, when you call Israel a terrorist state or accuse Israel of committing war crimes and you a) exagerate the incident/evidence; b) make up fictional incidents/evidence; c) completely ignore the actions of true terrorist organizations and the governments who support those terrorist organization; and/or d) twist reality and history, either by half-truths or lies, to suit your own views against Israel and further your own agenda (particularly when the stated agenda is the destruction of Israel) then you are BOTH a propogandist and anti-semitic. You are what you are.

/edit: ooo, also noticing a pattern in Mrs. Pretty's questions...hmmm...

Answer 3

No, they aren't. There are many Semitic people in many countries. The term may now be primarily used to decribe Jewish people, but that is not its correct/original meaning.

Even if you prefer to use it to describe Jews, they are scattered around the globe. There are many Jews who do not reside in Israel, and many who do not support Israel's policies. They could not realistically be described as 'anti-themselves.'

In any case, 'anti' means against, or opposed. The terms then would mean 'opposed to Semites' and 'opposed to Israel.' One term describes people, the other a country. Israel has many Semites as citizens, but non-Semitic people also reside there. The terms therefore cannot be interchangeable, as Israel is not wholly composed of either Jewish or Semitic peoples.

You no doubt hear many people who, for political purposes, prefer to use the terms interchangeably, and do so to such a degree that the meanings have become further corrupted, particularly in the media.

Answer 4

You raise an important issue. Most people do not see this distinction. The other answerer tonalc1 points it out well, you can be critical of a country without being critical of the religion it practices. Unfortunately most people do not see this and they equate anti-Israel with anti-semitism. Case in point: the current inhabitants of Israel are hardly "semitic" in the anthropological sense. Yes they speak a semitic language which is Hebrew but race-wise they are caucasian. They have lived for generations in Europe and America and have little in common with semitic people who were the original inhabitants of this region. The true semites would be Israel's arch enemy the Palestinians.

Answer 5

I feel the difference between legitimate criticism of Israeli policy and anti-semitism (I couldn't care less about the semantics of the term) is when Israel is held to a different standard than any other nation.

For example there are many people who say Israel should not exist, but they can't name any other nations they feel should not exist. As someonne once said, "Why are the Israelis expected to be the only real Christians in the world?"

Answer 6

You are so right Anti-semitism is used only in the USA due to Zionists propaganda Israel is by no means represent the Jewish World but Zionist in the USA made Israel and Israeli actions = the Jewish ppl everywhere

Answer 7

It is indeed a shame. Bush and Olmert both have made fools of themselves and degraded US in eyes of many nations and people, particularly after their latest Lebanon misadventure. US has lost its diplomatic persuasion with most of the Arab countries. What have they accomplished after killing so many innocent civilians including children ( Israelis and Lebanese ) and devastating a beautiful country ? To ensure an effective defence, which most of the Arab armies are incapable of doing, Lebanon should induct all the Hezbollah fighters into the Lebanese army. This may deter Israel from picking on Lebanon, which it has done 4 times uptill now. US now is a dog which its tail, Israel, is capable of wagging the dog through the strong Jewish lobby

Answer 8

When you can separate religion or race from politics. I entirely disagree with the neverending war in palestine, but there also is a perennial problem with the historically proscribed "solution" to the "jewish question" being entirely too "final". Get my drift? Probably not, huh? Oh well, go look up some Goebbels diatribe.

Answer 9

What freedom i ask you. As soon as one criticise a Jew or an Israel one had it. I know, i have been running from them and paying for them since i was born 1940. You are right in placing this in the politics section. Why? you may ask, because anything a Jew does equates to politics and/or money. Yes,interchangeable in terms but simplistic. This Kraut will not make any excuses or pay any Wiedergutmachung anymore. May they Jews have interesting times and fleas under their arm pits. Heil Sharon!

Answer 10

No, anti-semitism and anti-israel are not the same at all. Jews are not the only "semites". Palestinians are semites as well.

Being anti-Israel is "anti-zionism".

I am most definitely an anti-Zionist, but I have several close friends who are Jewish.