Criticize Israel? You're an Anti-Semite!?

Question

How can we have a real discussion about Mideast peace if speaking honestly about "Israel" is out of bounds?

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.

In a climate in which good-faith criticism of "Israel" is automatically denounced as anti-Semitic, everyone loses. "Israeli" policies are a major source of discord in the Islamic world, and anger at "Israel" usually spills over into anger at the U.S., "Israel's" biggest backer.
With resentment of "Israeli" policies fueling terrorism and instability both in the Middle East and around the globe, it's past time for Americans to have a serious national debate about how to bring a just peace to the Middle East. But if criticism of "Israel" is out of bounds, that debate can't occur - and we'll all pay the price.

You don't care cause u are not effected by it.

Answer 1

First of all, you haven't asked a question - you've simply ranted about Israel for two paragraphs.

Secondly, you say it's impossible to debate about Israel. Consider what happened when people wanted just to LOOK at the cartoons of Mohammed - the Muslim world went mad, they were burning flags, attacking people, threatening suicide bombings. Meanwhile, plenty of cartoons and stories appear about Israel that are negative, and unfair - but you've NEVER seen either Israel or the Jewish population in any country react like that!!

I have no problem discussing Israel and the Middle East - I enjoy it! The only thing I ask is that the other people I'm discussing it with know the facts, otherwise no real conversation can take place.

And remember, it's not the Israelis who plant bombs, hijack planes, blow up trains in London, and attack New York.

As for your absurd statement that dislike of Israeli policies leads to terrorism, what utter rubbish! It's not even worth dignifying with a response.

Answer 2

I agree that a dialog about Israel is essential to lasting peace in The Middle East. Israel is not without fault in the on-going strife in the region and the United States should not take sides automatically with Israel in disputes between the warring factions.I don't know why being critical of the Jews and their policies in Lebanon and the Gaza means that you are an Anti-Semite.I know that their is a huge Jewish lobby in the United States,especially in Washington D.C., that influences public opinion to always side with Israel no matter what the issue.On the other hand, Israel is surrounded on all sides by their enemies and has no Allies in the region to help them if they're attacked.They do need the United States to be a staunch allie to dissuade her neighbors (Iran) from thinking twice about becoming aggressive for Anti-Semitic reasons.I don't believe that Israel's missteps in policies towards their neighbors should be out of bounds when discussing peace in the region. I think all things should be on the table for discussion and debate about all the issues that divide the principles in the on-going upheaval in the Middle East.

Answer 3

OK, Im going to try to answer the question I think you were asking - "why is it that criticizing Israel is automatically labeled as anti-Semitic behavior?"

The simple answer is that it isnt. The more complicated one is that it really depends on the criticism. If you bring about legitimate criticism, I see no problem with that and I dont think anyone else does. Many US officials and administrations have criticized many actions taken by Israel and many of its policies, and no one ever suspected the US of being Anti-Semitic. In fact, Israel, as a true democracy, have had internal criticism bring about the end of quite a few administrations (through a legal, democratic no-confidence vote in the Israeli parliament) which brought about new elections and new leadership. How often does that happen in the Arab world?

Your assertion that " "Israeli" policies are a major source of discord in the Islamic world, and anger at "Israel" usually spills over into anger at the U.S., "Israel's" biggest backer. " is not constructive criticism, its more of an opinion that really should be substantiated if it is to be taken seriously. The purpose of criticism is to start a debate, and in order to do that both sides need to agree of some factual basis.

So if you want to bring up accurate, factual-based criticism, I say go for it. That is not anti-Semitism. Anti-Semitism is defined as "discrimination, hostility or prejudice directed at Jews". Your statements are discriminatory and you have definitely shown prejudice, so maybe that is why you are accused of anti-Semitism

Answer 4

"Israeli" policies are a major source of discord in the Islamic world, and anger at "Israel" usually spills over into anger at the U.S., "Israel's" biggest backer.

This is according to you.

Does the word "SUICIDE BOMBER" mean anything to you. Their "policies" are the way they are because Islamic extremists want to blow Israel out of the sky.

You have all of these questions about Israel, so why don't you go over there and do something about it? Stop complaining about it on y/a. That is all you do is complain. I am so sick of your anti-Israel crap.

I mean, you didn't even write a question. You are writing political garbage...and isn't that what they made 'blogs' for? so do yourself and everyone else on y/a a favor and go to sign up for a blog and complain there.

Just stop ranting your anti-Israel crap. I am so sick of reading it on y/a. When you get out of Middle school or whatever, and you take a real history class, I think you will start to understand what Israel has to put up with.

Tinkerbell:

"but the illegal occupation of the Palestinian territories..."

GOD GAVE THEM THAT LAND!

They have had that land for the past 5,000 years.

Every time someone has tried to take over Israel, that nation has fallen:

Greece fell.
The Nazi's fell.
Romans fell.

But yet, Israel has always prevailed.

It is not the Palestinians land. It is the land of the Jews. THAT IS WHY THEY CONTROL THAT LAND.

The Israelis and the Palestinians and the Arabs all have the right to live in peace.

If the terrorists would stop bombing and taking hostages, the Israelis would stop bombing them. COMMON SENSE.

RESPONSE TO TINKERBELL (AGAIN):

INTERNATIONAL LAW?

What the crap is that?

I didn't know the earth I'm living on had such a thing as 'International law'

This so called 'LAW' must not have much power if Israel is still around.

Who runs this international law? The international police? Who runs them? The One World Leader?

OH! you must mean the UN! Oh, they really know what their doing.

How can a group of people decide what country is legal and what isn't?

Israel is there. I don't think any law can move it. You need to read History books. Israel has ALWAYS PREVAILED. Why? Because Gods chosen people OWN THAT LAND.

Answer 5

I agree that a communique approximately Israel is considerable to lasting peace contained in the middle East. Israel isn't with out fault contained in the on-going strife contained in the area and the united states shouldn't take aspects immediately with Israel in disputes between the warring factions.i do no longer comprehend why being severe of the Jews and their rules in Lebanon and the Gaza ability which you're an Anti-Semite.i comprehend that their is a extensive Jewish foyer contained in the united states,extraordinarily in Washington D.C., that is affecting public opinion to consistently factor with Israel no count what the undertaking.on the different hand, Israel is surrounded on all aspects by employing their enemies and has no Allies contained in the area to help them in the event that they're attacked.They do desire the united states to be a staunch allie to dissuade her associates (Iran) from questioning two times approximately turning out to be aggressive for Anti-Semitic motives.i do no longer think that Israel's missteps in rules in direction of their associates must be out of bounds whilst discussing peace contained in the area. i think of all issues must be on the table for communicate and debate approximately each and every of the subject concerns that divide the concepts contained in the on-going upheaval contained in the middle East.

Answer 6

The nation of Israel, has a clear title to their nation that goes back over 5 thousand years. The middle east's largest complaint is that the Israelis are alive, how do you discuss that? Iran, Syria, Egypt Lebanon, these people will not rest until the Nation if Israel is gone. It is not about the Palestinians, the Arabs, do not care about that in the least, it is entirely about a nation, that refuses to submit to Islam in the middle of this area. America is right to support "blindly" Israel, God said clearly " I will bless those who bless you, and curse those who curse you" The history shows the results, Egypt, once great, now nothing, Greece once great, now nothing, Rome, Hitlers Germany, the list go's on. Like it or not, Israel is the homeland of the Jewish people, and they have a defender much mightier that America, If you want to see hell here at home, let American support for Israel change. There is "peace" coming, it will last for 3 1/2 years, then you and the rest of this world will really see what is behind the middle east conflict.

Answer 7

Unfortunately yes...many people don't seem to understand that criticizing Israel's policies towards the Arabs doesn't make anyone antisemitic,as criticizing the Nazis doesn't make anyone anti German...Criticizing the policy of a country doesn't make you a racist...

I am amazed by the answers...First this conflict has nothing to do with religion,it's about land...not Islam or Judaism is the problem here,but the illegal occupation of the Palestinian territories...Then of course you won't see any Israeli blowing himself up...How much money and weapons are being send to Israel by US?You have on one side the Palestinians who's most advanced weapons are the Qassams and on the other side a country that has the nuclear weapon.Seems pretty fair,doesn't it?

A dialog with Israel is essential for stability in the Middle East,but unfortunately this is not possible as long as Israel thinks it can ignore international law and continue its illegal occupation of Arab lands.Right now the only viable solution is two states solution...Until there won't be any real justice for Palestinians ,there is not going to be any peace...


ritefiel…international law says that Israel is illegally occupying the Palestinians territories...I could not care less that the Bible says that God gave them the land because last time I checked the Bible wasn't dictating international law...

Well it seems you don't know many things,do you? Stop bringing God in this discussion because He has nothing to do with this.I didn't said that Israel is an illegal country,I only said that it is illegally occupying parts of other countries.Yes,Israel exists ,but it should exist in the borders from 1967.They should withdraw from all the territories they occupied after they attcked the Arab countries in 1967...
The UN could actually do a great job if there wouldn't be for some countries who keep interfering ...

Answer 8

Funny. I thought you made a good point here - that debate is necessary. And it is. HOWEVER, I read the answers here and remembered (how could I forget?!) that Islam wants nothing more than to murder Israel. Plain. Simple. They don't ask for open debate. They merely want Israelis dead.

Good try, dude, but we're not buying it.

Answer 9

Anything non-Islamic causes them great consternation. That's why they feel it's their Allah given right to attack and destroy anything non-Muslim. Theirs is not a religion of tolerance, it it their way and their way only.

I have never found a Muslim who will debate the Koran, they will tell you that the bible is wrong, that it's corrupted but will never discuss the inadequacies of their holy text.

Read Sura 9:5, this sums it up.

It's pretty plain, but they'll tell you different.

What good faith criticism are you talking about. The only words I hear are for the elimination of Israel, I guess if we did eliminate them, it shows good faith toward the Muslims.

Answer 10

You don't get it, Israel's exsistance not it's policies are the issue here. How do you debate your right to exsist? Israel you have no right to exsist, every Israeli must convert ot islam or be put to death and the state of Israel must cease to exsist, what are the points to debate in that?