If you question Israel in any way, is that anti semitism?

Question

I think there have been many instances when Israeli soldiers have brutalized palestinians. There seems to be plenty of evidence (on both sides) . But one coworker claims if I question Israel or the actions of Israelies , then I'm anti semetic.How? I have nothing against the Jewish religion. It just seems anyone who is critical of any aspect of Israel is branded an anti semite,,,

Answer 1

I suppose it depends on how one is asking the questions. Questions and opinions dont make one a biggot or anti anyone assuming the questions/opinions are done in the spirit of wanting to learn or understand.

However, with Israel, most often these questions are statements masked in a question format with undertones suggesting the people do not even have the right to exist.

Israel as with the USA, is a democracy and do not have any problem with debate, questions and opinions. In fact--Israelis like to discuss such things.

They ony become anti-semetic when ones questions/opinons are hateful towards the Israelis ethnic background.

Answer 2

Well, no.
Disapproving a regime's policy is legitimate. Opposing to a country's ideology is legitimate. Disliking one's army's actions is legitimate.
Many Jews question Israel and its policies- including many Israelis- and none of them is considered an Anti-Semite or a racist. I do not have a problem with the Jewish religion and people, and I do not have a problem with Israel and Israelis (especially due to the fact that I'm an Israeli Jew myself), and I do not agree with every thing that Israel does. Yet, I doubt anyone will ever accuse me for being Anti-Semite.

Anti-Semitism is an ethnic hatred against Jews.
It leans on the claim that all Jews are guilty with something; that all Jews are to be blamed. The classic Anti-Semitism, the Christian one, maintains that some mystical eternal guilt covers all Jews for the murder of the son of god, a guilt that could be easily washed away with the water of baptism. The modern Anti-Semitism [backed up with the "protocols of the elders of Zion" (that for some unknown reason has flourished all over the world as a valid document) and the Nazi ideology] claims that Jews are filthy, despised, inferior, greedy, power-craving and devious by nature, and that nothing will change their evil blood.
Another Anti-Semitism (a bit controversial, though) is the Anti-Zionist-Anti-Semitism. This kind of Anti-Semitism uses the legitimacy of criticizing Israel as a camouflage for Anti-Semitism.

Unfortunately, a lot of the criticism that Israel gets does not grip realism or relevant submissions and originates from irrational hatred. The caricature of Ariel Sharon as a Palestinian-baby-eating beast (as a paraphrase for Goya's "Saturn eats his own babies") and the post of khalid s below this post are great examples of how Anti-Semitism finds its way out through criticism against Israel.

So, if your criticism is purely political, you have my permission, as an Israeli Jew, to "question" Israel's actions and policy.
If you use the legitimacy of criticizing Israel to target the Jews, then of course you’re an Anti-Semite.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anti-Semitism#Antisemitism_and_anti-Zionism
http://www.jewishagency.org/JewishAgency/English/Jewish+Education/Worldwide+Community/Anti-semitism/?wbc_purpose=Basic&WBCMODE=PresentationUnpublished

Answer 3

To question ones governmental policies is not racists of the people living in that country. However it all depends on how you ask and see the question.

Both sides of the border have brutalized soldiers. It all ends up in retaliation that started along time ago.
if you are going to ask such a question then you should also ask why is it that when the Arabs were offered peace by the Israeli government the men in power chose to fight instead?

Isreal and most of the Arab nations have been at war almost since time has begun. In any other instance of war where have there been one faction giving back land that was won in a war just to have peace?

I know that not all Arabs are Terrorists and agree with there government as well goes for the Israeli's so what gives us the right to stick our noses in what happens there in the first place unless we actually live there?

Answer 4

You need to question the Palestinians first and learn what they've been doing for years. Muslims in most countries hate Israeli's and Israel and won't be happy till Israel no longer exists. I have news for people like Khalid s and Ahmed, etc. That Will Never Happen. We are survivors PERIOD. But no I don't think you were being anti semetic, you were just too caught up in the filthy news and asking some questions. The Palestinians ONLY get what THEY ask for. They are the GREEDY ones.

Answer 5

You allege brutality. There has been plenty, by the Palestinians against innocent Israeli civilians.

Not all Muslims are terrorists, but all terrorists today are Muslims.

The Hamas and other Muslim terrorist groups have been firing hundreds of Qassam missiles at southern Israel since the summer of 2005 (when Israel left Gaza), targeting innocent Israeli citizens.. Today they were "successful" and killed one Israeli woman and seriously injured two Israeli men.

The Israel Defense forces have the capability of flattening the town from which the Hamas terrorists have launched hundreds of missiles. Why does Israel not flatten this part of Gaza to stop the murderous attacks?

Answer 6

NO. Being anti-Semitic is when you believe Israel has no right to be a nation. you can question everything Israel does, and disagree with everything the gov. says but if you want there to be a Jewish state then you are not anti-Semitic.

Answer 7

Not necessarily, but my observations have been that the overwhelming majority of those who criticize Israel, especially on Y!A are denying Israel's right to self defense or even to exist. Those who accuse Israel of targeting civilians are either badly misinformed or antisemitic, as the Israeli army goes to greater lengths than any other army in the world to avoid harming enemy civilians, even at the risk to Israeli soldiers & civilians.

Answer 8

You are not an anti-Semite. I am an arch Zionist, and Jewish, and I often question the Israeli government and military. Likewise, I very often question (and curse) the present American Government. The American military is not always perfect, either.

Answer 9

stupid question, but to give you a succinct answer: no. Nevertheless, it frequently is anti-Semitic. Just out of curiosity, do you ever question the brutality of the Palestinian terrorists who launch unprovoked attacks every day against civilians in Sderot, or who claim Israelis don't have the right to LIVE, or who encourage their children to blow themselves up in civilian areas within israel proper? if your answer to this second question is 'no', then the answer to your first question then becomes 'yes', in my opinion.

Answer 10

Theoretically no,you are not anti semite...if you criticize a country's policy doesn't mean you are racist...
But unfortunately when it comes to criticizing Israel you could be accused of anti semitism...