We reject antisemitism in all its forms, including when it masquerades as criticism of Zionism or Israel’s policies. We also recognise that, as journalist Peter Beinart wrote in 2019, “Anti-Zionism is not inherently antisemitic—and claiming it is uses Jewish suffering to erase Palestinian experience.”
The fact that this even requires saying is a testament to how thoroughly drenched the (so-called) “west” is in regurgitated pro-Israeli propaganda.
I personally think that Netanyahu made many huge mistakes, including building the wall, and he should resign and leave politics forever, but I’m going to criticize him only after Hamas is eliminated.
Now, any pro-Palestinian voice is perceived as pro-Hamas. I heard the crowd chanting “from the river to the sea”, which basically means “kill all Jews”. It is antisemitism, yes.
“From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free” is not an antisemitic chant. It’s calling for the liberation of Palestinians from their genocidal apartheid.
By killing all Jews and destroying the state of Israel. This is literally their political program.
If you’re referring to “landback”, that’s a far deeper act of decolonization that indigenous people all across the world have started fighting for, rooted in leftist revolutionary ideals. It started with Native Americans. No one gets genocided in landback, that’s a colonialist projection. Explain how it’s a slogan for genocide.
Most of Arab countries have far-right government. Hamas is a far-right terrorist organization. What are you talking about?
I don’t give a fuck about Hamas in this conversation. This is strictly about liberation for oppressed peoples.
When you talk about liberation, it’s usually good to clarify what exactly you mean by that.
The Russian invasion of Ukraine was called “liberation” too by the Kremlin.
Liberation means that Palestinians get to be treated as human beings, not trapped in an open air prison, not limited to the bare minimum amount of food and water, and not harassed and beaten by the IDF just for being Palestinian. They live in an apartheid state with very few rights or freedoms.
The Jews are the only people for whom criticizing the government of the country they’re typically associated with is interpreted as racism. If I say the Chinese government is committing crimes against humanity no one thinks I’m a racist. If I say Donald Trump is a moron, no one thinks I hate all Americans. If I say the Israeli government shouldn’t be responding to Hamas’ attack the way they are? Oh man, now I’m an antisemite and hate all Jews!
The fuck is wrong with this world?
It’s public relations spin. If you haven’t noticed, the Israeli government isn’t exactly what one would call ethical. They use every trick in the book to insulate themselves against criticism, up to and including crying antisemitism.
It’s disgusting, really. After WWII, many people did what they could to distance themselves from even the barest hint of antisemitism, and with good reason: the actions of the Nazis were reprehensible. Israel has taken that cultural awareness, unwillingly purchased with the blood of their ancestors, and used it to commit genocide of their own.
