Middle Eastern Affairs

» SimonMelville - Israel crosses the line

In response to Israel crosses the line posted by Sumaira1985:
Samaira -- I'm curious as to why you have chosen Rabbi Yisroel Dovid Weiss of Neturei Karta (NK) as a sane voice of anti-Zionism?

By any measure, NK are an extreme bunch. They believe that any repopulation of the biblical land of Israel is violation of divine will. But they're happy for there to be Jews in Israel once the Messiah comes.

Is that what all anti-Zionists believe? I hardly think so. Surely you have to qualify why you support anti-Zionism not just throw in your lot with religious bigots like NK because it suits your argument? This is like the Israelis who gleefully accept succour from Christian fundamentalists who believe that a strong Israel is a step towards the End Times -- with Apocalypse due in the Holy Land. A weird marriage of convenience, that.

I'm sure that American news stations show bias towards the Israeli point of view. Non-European news broadcasters redress that balance by being pro-Arab. In terms of media bias, I think both sides turn out equal -- although you will not get either side admitting that.

I think we can all agree that anti-Semitism means hatred towards Jews not hatred towards Semitic people, irrespective of the original meaning of the word Semitic. There are many words which have lost their original meaning -- again it's curious to pick on that one word for a bout of Talmud-style hair-splitting (I'm sure Rabbi Yisroel would be proud of you!).

Just because hatred of Arabs does not have its own special word does not make it any less vile, of course.

While it is wrong to conflate anti-Zionism and anti-Semitism we must be careful about the words used.

Daniel2006 -- by any rational measure, Israel is not committing genocide on any people in the Middle East. It may follow a bone-headed and destructive policy towards its own Arab minority and towards its neighbours, but its goal is not the systematic death of every Arab.

However, the systematic destruction of Jews is what Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and Hizbullah want because they say so. Whether they have the capabilities to do this is uncertain but they repeat this desire so often we can only accept that they do wish to see this. I don't see many condemnations of this, but of course it's the Israelis who are genocidal! Of course!

By all means criticse Israel, even question it's right to exist but the use of the word "genocide" in connection with Israel is at best mistaken and invites accusations of anti-Semitism. Why use such an emotive word in connection with a state built on the back of that act in Europe?

As for Palestnians not being responsible for the death of 6m Jews in Europe fifty years -- that I can agree with.

-- posted by SimonMelville