http://www.osce.org/news/show_news.php?id=4035

Is critiqe on Israel's ways in opressing the Palestinians antisemitism?
Is the questioning of the validity of the Israeli state antisemitism?


Yugoslavia was a manmade state and it's validity disappeared in the 90's as it fell apart in a bloody civil war. Israel is also a "created" state just like Yugoslavia. What do you think about the similarities between those two states (in respect to being manmade, having different religions and cultures clash within it)?

__________________
_____________________________________________

Anti-zionism is not to be confounded with anti-semitism.
I am against the principle of Zionism, but I have nothing against their religion. A critique of Israels dealings with the Palestinians should not be viewed as anti-semitic either. Israel has engaged in actions which ought not to happen. They have endured much pain, and have been and still are under the threat of terrorism, but the way in which they have handled the situation and plight of the Palestinians cannot be excused. Same goes for the way many Palestinians go about the issue.

Lately Israel has been using the antisemitism card to the extent that they may run into a "boy who cried wolf" situation when antisemitism truly occurs and they want the world to know.

When all of Europe didn't blindly condone all of Israel's actions they immediately accused that antisemitism is rising in Europe.

And when someone (an Israeli) held an art exhibition in Sweden where the picture of one of the Palestinian suicide bombers were the centerpiece of the exhibition, the ambassador of Israel went on to throw lamps around and immediately cried "antisemitism". The artwork of course wasn't meant in anyway to accept the suicide bombings, but to criticize the whole situation between Palestine and Israel. Still, it was antisemitism in Israel's opinion.

I'm not accepting a lot of Israel's actions but I'm in no way antisemitic. I can also criticise the African dictators without being a racist. The critisism against Israel is based on their actions, not on who they are.

__________________

i think that phunkie mentioned what seperates anti-semitics from critics. it
depends on what you base your arguments on: actions or who they are.

but as in so many things you can't really blame anybody directly. sure, israel is
quick to point the finger and shout "antisemitism". on the other hand, anti-semites
are shouting back that they aren't antisemitic, but that the israelis brought those
negative feelings upon themselves through their actions. what seems important to
me is that jews are not israelis and what sounds somewhat cheesy, but is also true
is that there are big differences between isrealis themselves. i am appalled at many
of the recent decisions the isreali government took, as well as the weak reaction of
the international community. unfortunately with the way the un works and the usa's
unilateral stance on the matter, it is difficult to change anything to this stalemate
situation.

__________________

ALthough the separation between criticism and anti-semitism are there, one, especially in europe, is quickly put into the right wing once one announces the dislike for any of the actions taken by the state of Israel. This is particularly true for Germany where many of the Jewish Council play the anti-semitism card way too often. Granted, there is some of it around but nowhere to the extent it was in the last 600 years...

__________________
_____________________________________________

that is not what i observe. it rather seems to me that in western europe
people, governments and the media are shifting to an understanding of the
palestinians and to a disapproval of the israelis way to deal with the situation.
so no, i don't think that people are put into the rightwing, if they announce
the dislike of actions taken by israel.

__________________

Please show me any sanctions taken by the EU against Israel due to their unethic treatment of the Palestians, . Show me where states like Germany stopped sending millions over millions to support the Israeli state.
People maybe understanding of the reasons for the Palestinian cause and but as long as I finance the opressors, what good does "understanding" do???

__________________
_____________________________________________

i don't really know about the flow of money from eastern european countries to
israel, although i don't doubt that they exist. unfortunately there are no eu sanctions,
but on the other hand, of how many eu sanctions have you heard? there have been
some, but they are a rarity. un sanctions are more popular, because they represent
a worldwide legitimacy. unfortunately, as we all know, those are not going to enforced,
if it concearns israel, as the usa are quick to oppose any actions.

but there was a huge outcry against the results of sharon's latest visit to the us and
against sharon's change of policy regarding arafat's immunity. there aren't many
actions yet, but at least official voices are getting loud that criticize israel's policy.
and what i find rather disturbing is that the more israel shocks us with it's fatal policy,
and the more we are reminded how few options we have to stop that insanity, the
more we tend to understand - NOT APROVE OF! - the situation that drives certain
palestinians to terrorist actions. i mean i am not even concearned and still the
attrocities committed on each side make me angry. i don't want to imagine how i'd
feel, if i were directly concearned.

__________________

Bob,

I understand what you are saying but we are a far cry from politics doing anything about their dislikes of actions.
I will stick my neck out once and maybe provoke some responses:
How is Israel's forcing the palestinians to live in refugee camps and randomly flatten them or parts of them through military action different from the ghettonization of the jews in the end 30's... (Yes, I know that Israel doesn't set out to commit genocide soo don't bring that portion up....) For the sake of this argument, leave the "final solution" out of the picture...

__________________
_____________________________________________