To think there are very few allies against Anti-Semitism?

But the details are the bit that matters.

Almost all people believe Israel has a right to exist.

Believing it has the right to continue with the Palestinian genocide isn't acceptable.
Believing that it should peacefully coexist with Palestine is acceptable.

Respectfully, I disagree.

I oppose Israel's current actions in Gaza, and criticizing the Israeli government is most certainly not inherently anti-semetic.

I do have some sympathy with the idea that legitimate criticism of Israel is wrongfully dismissed as antisemitic. On the other hand, though, I find that a lot of criticism, intended or purportedly intended to be of its current government, is actually antisemitic.

I think the British left (of who I am a part) are the biggest problem, here. They/we frequently use antisemetic language, or express antisemitic beliefs (as we have seen in this thread) but then demand that everyone acknowledgedes that criticising Israel =/= being antisemitic.

People who genuinely don't want to see the two matters conflated should be among those who take the most care to avoid it - but generally, the people who object conflating the two in defence of Israel's government are the same people who conflate the two when attacking Israel (and, therefore, Jews).

What would you like me to do...write some sort of political manifesto? People will have varying ideas of what should and shouldn't happen and what government policy should be. Thats the details part. The overall belief is that Israel has the right to exist as the Jewish homeland and we have the right to self determination.

Tell me...do you think Israel shouldn't exist? If so, how would that work?

Yeah okay then. But seriously with attitudes like that (that any critique is racist) how can you not see you are encouraging antisemitism? If there is no difference between saying I think Netanyahu is awful and that Israel is committing atrocities and screaming abuse at a man for wearing a kippah, then people will just shrug when someone complains of antisemitism.

That's not a proper definition - what does 'the right of Israel to exist' mean in practice?

I think it is usual in the UK, in terms of the number of people who misuse it.

Still wrong, mind.

This is ever more ridiculous.

Israel is the Jewish state. The Star of David is the national flag. Hebrew is Israel’s official language.

Of course anti-Israel campaigners - who don’t care about any other conflict - oppose Israel because it’s Jewish. Proportions of non-Jewish Israelis and comparisons with the UK are irrelevant.

Anyway, what’s now clear is that the anti-Israel mindset is implacable and irredeemably bigoted. So the issue is to combat antisemitism in practice, not to try to argue against it, which has proved fruitless.

While this is true, misusing the word "Zionism" to attack only the more extreme forms of it, is an example of antisemitism - even if its often unintentional.

Oh I know and I agree entirely. I thought it was telling that they used the word "usually" as if it's the accepted definition rather than some sort of left wing nonsense....

I'm so sorry this happened to you OP. I'm not surprised though, as you say it feels completely mainstream these days.

Have you reported these incidents to CST?

Honestly, it is true.

There is a disconnect. Most British left wing folk who condemn Zionism do not realize they are using the term wrongly.

It does become a problem when they are made aware of that and persist, unabated, but most are not intending to use it hatefully.

I'm sure the need to educate them is exhausting and it shouldn't be on your plate, but I do think its worthwhile to know that the disconnect exists.

Expected by who? Why would people be expected to join a foreign military?

By quite a lot of people. Okay then, there are mild (Israel has the right to exist and shouldn’t encroach further on Palestinian land) versions and extreme ones (Israel has the right to ethnically cleanse the land of Palestinians and expel them from their homeland). The first I find unobjectionable and the second I find disgusting.

There is the expectation that Zionists support the military, hence the draft. I've had acquaintances who went to Israel (pre-the current situation) who went to join the military.

‘I mean if they're offering to pay for me to go on holiday...fab. I would love to visit Israel....I hear the nightlife and beaches are amazing...not to mention the food!’

I’m fascinated by the history of the country but the kind of people who would go on holiday to Israel while it starves the Gazan’s to death with impunity are probably the same ones who think going to Dubai is high end and classy. Oooh think of the nightlife, never mind that a few miles away a genocide is taking place! Think of the sun & the sea

Zionism is a broad church, which contains positions I find entirely acceptable and some that I find abhorrent.

It’s usually used to describe those who do not see an issue with how Israel treats Palestinians

Is it? By whom?

Zionism, broadly, means believing that Israel should continue to exist as a Jewish state. Could be with smaller or larger borders than it currently has.

This has already been explained several times in the thread, as has the fact that the British left use the term differently from most.

“a political movement that was originally begun in order to establish an independent state for Jewish people, and now supports the development and protection of the state of Israel”

I guess it depends on how you define “development and protection” because Netanyahu claims that is exactly what he is doing through his abhorrent actions. So it’s not quite as simple as saying that Zionism equals believing Israel has the right to exist. It’s usually used to describe those who do not see an issue with how Israel treats Palestinians and the encroachments they make on their land.

I mean if they're offering to pay for me to go on holiday...fab. I would love to visit Israel....I hear the nightlife and beaches are amazing...not to mention the food!