How would you feel about this wording?

The belief that Israel has the right to exist as believed by the majority of Jewish people, is at odds with a harmonious life? Are you saying most Jews are extremists?

Extreme doesn't always mean it isn't common. It can also mean a view which is at odds with the norm, or harmonious life. Zionism is that.

I see what you're saying. No. I stand corrected. They could have - should have - worded it in a less discriminatory way.

Well that is a different discussion, frankly.
Trying to feel safe in Israel has been rather counter-productive because of the ways it’s been navigated by successive Israeli governments.

It's practical to single out Jewish people?

Yes. That's my reading too.

I went to a rally in support of Palestinians and there was someone there holding the Israeli flag, shouting and trying to drown out the speakers. This is what your work doesn't want. Sounds as if they're just trying to be practical.

@Ddakji - its really difficult isn't it.

While I obviously don't share the genetic memory of persecution that Jewish people do, I completely understand where Zionism came from and the acceleration of it after the Holocaust and I fully accept that the current state of Israel has a right to exist.

What blows my mind is the hypocrisy and lack of understanding from all sides

The failure to acknowledge that the palastinian people (ancestorily and culturally) have also suffered huge amounts of persecution over the years - long before they became a predominantly Muslim population and that the terrorist tactics employed by Hamas in the name of achieving a Palastinian state have a lot of parralels with those used by the Irgun in the name of achieving a Jewish state.

I don't actually think Hamas do want a Palastinian state - I think they use it as a reason to try and get rid of Israel and that Hamas is a manipulation of Palastinian desperation by Iran - but that is a different conversation.

I can absolutely understand why the Palestinian people felt that the methods employed by Hamas might get them what they want - given that it 'appears' to have worked for Israel (I say appears because I am fully aware that it was a whole lot more complicated).

I don't know how this conflict will ever be resolved but I hope it is for the sake of the millions of children, women and men in both Israel and Palestine that just want to live peaceful lives.

Yes, it’s a good question and I don’t have an answer to hand!

The point I’m making is that I think a lot of anti-Semitism hides behind “I’m
not anti-Semitic, I’m anti-Zionist”. Whether that’s deliberate or because people don’t understand that the belief in the Jews getting a home of their own is part of Judaism I don’t know.

I remember reading many years ago, in a school story of all things, a Jewish character explaining the difference between Jewish and Christian religious festivals - Jewish ones are about things that happened to the Jews (because they’re Jews), Christian ones are about things that happened to Christ. It really sums up the millennia long persecution of Jews.

This needs whistleblowing and should not be held in a workplace.

Yes I’m wondering how @NoSoupForUis defining it

@Ddakji - If being Anti-zionist is viewed as being against the existence of Israeli state full stop, how can people describe their stance to summarise the view that they aren't against the state of Israel existing as is, but are against the concept of Greater Israel and the expansionist programme currently being advocated for and implemented by Revisionist and Religion Zionists?

How can people, who are genuinely not Anti-semetic, abhor anti-jewish sentiment and think that Israel has a right to exist within its existing borders, but who are against the illegal occupation of the West Bank and the destruction of Gaza express their views without being labelled antisemitic and accused of not wanting Israel to exist?

Genuine question by the way - not an attempt to be snide or play gotcha!

I think they were foolish to explicity mention Israeli and Jewish colleagues but my view as to whether it was discriminatory would hinge on this:

If Israeli and Jewish colleagues wanted to set up their own group as a safe space for people who wanted to help the families of the 7th October terrorism attack, agreed with Israel's approach to Gaza and / or Zionist aims, or for people who wanted to learn more about it, and the group included criteria that excluded those who are pro-palestine, would it be allowed?

If it would, then the wording is not discriminatory as it is not excluding Israeli's or Jewish people, it is just saying it is a group for like-minded people to discuss the issues, not a debating group and they don't want it disrupted by people with differing views.

However, if that group wouldn't be allowed, then yes, it is discriminatory (but not antisemitic)

What are you trying to achieve here OP?

Thanks. Yes. I think your statements are downplaying what Israel is. It’s meant to be the one country in the world where Jews can finally be safe and not persecuted. It’s not “just another country where Jews live”.

It is just one of many countries that Jews live in.
And it’s the sole Jewish State in the world.

What is "public sector ish " ?
No civil servants would publish that, local or national govt. Regardless of their personal views.

Does the "ish" mean university and is it a private group, like a society?
Is it a small charity (that would be "third sector" not public sector).
Is it a social group within a nationalised company like one of the rail companies?

I deplore what Israel is doing in Gaza and don't think the word genocide is unwarranted for what they are doing, but would only go along if I felt like people watching & verifying they were madder than a box of frogs.

Zionism (the belief that the Jews should have a home of their own) isn’t an extreme belief.

Which of my statements are you referring to?

I think you should do something about it at work if it bothers you, not keep posting about it on here.

It’s both.

Everyone is affected by the current war, including Israeli’s. They don’t want to help everyone. They want to help Gazans.

The majority of Jewish people are zionists. It's really not an extreme position.

Urgh 🤮 what the fuck?

There are, of course, some Jewish people in England who subscribe to zionist ideals. Their right and their choice. Similarly, there are some Muslims to subscribe to the more extreme sects.

Which is all they needed to write ..... "We want to help those people affected by the current war".