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

[Longingdreamer]

This month, I have had experienced Anti-Semitism twice. Both times I was with my children.

Both times, my children were distressed, and no one around did anything to protect us or raise the alarm. When we asked for help, we were dismissed. We were in very busy public spaces both times: a tube platform, then a high street.

I reported the first episode to the police. I'm not even sure if it's worth reporting the second episode. Sadly it feels so mainstream, and the authorities are not supportive when I report it either.

There, quite obviously, is not a political manifesto for Zionism, or there would not be divergent groups of Zionists, with different philosophies, beliefs and aims.

Wiki intro: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Types_of_Zionism

Thank you for supporting my point that Zionism and the actions done in the name of Zionism are varied, do not always align coherently with professed values and, furthermore, that Zionism is not just the belief in the right of Jews to self rule and self determination in Israel per comedycook’s over simplification.

You have just contradicted yourself by saying there isn’t a political manifesto, but rather many political manifestos due to divergent groups of self professed Zionists in addition to the original, largest and official World Zionist Organisation.

Zionism is a political movement. Every political movement has political manifestos and other creeds that go along with and evolve as the movement evolves and responds to current events- including the formation of splinter groups and ideological splits.

I’m really sorry this happened to you and your children.
i don’t understand why people are anti semetic. I don’t understand why people are racist. It saddens me that this is the world we live in and I wish I had the power to change things for the better. Please know you are not alone op x

Agree with this.

Okay. Let's say that:

• the Conservative Party believed that Northern Ireland should remain part of the UK.

• Reform wanted the UK to annex Ireland.

• Labour supported Irish reunification, such that the UK would become the United Kingdom of England, Wales and Scotland.

Would you feel comfortable in saying they share a "UKism" manifesto, because they are a political movement that all agree to some extent, that the UK should continue to exist?

If so, sure, I guess, modern Zionism is a similar political movement with a similar manifesto. I don't see how thats helpful, though.

I'm sorry you experienced anti-semitism, and I'm sorry this thread has derailed.

It's so important to remember that not all Jewish people are israeli or pro-israel. And we can be anti-israel and pro-Jewish. I'm for a free Palestine but they are seperate conversations, and anti-semitism as a phrase has absolutely been used in the wrong context so often recently that serious incidents such as yours, OP, are overlooked.

Do you mind telling us what happened?

When you say you are for a Free Palestine, what does that mean to you?

@DazedAndConfused321

I think it's also important to remember that Israeli civilians are as undeserving of hatred as non-Israeli Jews. There are many good, innocent Israeli people.

It's fine to hate the Israeli rulers hip and government, but it's not fine to collectively hate Israeli citizens.

I’m an ally, OP.

Anti-semitism is everywhere and it’s so deeply rooted and just so blatant, I can only conclude that the people who deny this are either a) thick or b) anti-Semitic.

For context, I’m London Irish, a leftie, my parents were active in Sinn Fein. I feel deeply for the plight of the Palestinian people. But I also support the continued existence of the state of Israel.

I had always hoped for a two state solution, but that seems unlikely in my lifetime, sadly. Even prior to October 7th, Netanyahu wasn’t a peacemaker. But crucially, Hamas aren’t freedom fighters or any kind of ‘liberation army’. Theyre the puppets of a delusional religious extremist Iran on a mission fuelled only by an extreme hatred of Jews. They don’t even pretend otherwise.

My teen DD told me recently that at her extremely diverse London state school, you would be effectively cancelled/badly bullied/possibly attacked by the other kids and run out of the school if you used racial slurs like the N or P word, or said anything anti-Islamic, but that kids regularly say they hate Jews and regurgitate horrific tropes about Zionist Illuminati running the world etc. I find this so upsetting …in 2025 in London!

I have written to her headteacher to ask what they are planning to do to urgently address this.I won’t stand for this shit. I will call it out when I see it. ❤️

Actually people regularly say such things about racism, including using phrases like ‘playing the race card’ or suggesting that ‘crying racism’ or being ‘professionally offended’ or ‘looking to be offended’ just ‘undermines the cause’. These are constant refrains of racists.

That's definitely true but, when it comes to anti-semitism, a lot of so-called "anti-racists" (who would be critical of the refrains you cite) tend to suddenly misplace their professed values.

It’s impossible to properly engage and vote on an AIBU thread where the OP doesn’t actually say what actually happened.

I’m astonished it’s at 13 pages when all we’ve heard is: ‘someone upset me, I won’t tell you what happened, but I want you to be angry this happened’.

It’s the 2nd thread like this I’ve read over the last few weeks where someone has said they were walking through a non specific London location with their children and been subject to antisemitism. They won’t say what happened but that everyone’s a dick which now includes Underground staff with access to CCTV imagery and Transport Police on speed dial.

Well I woke up to the news that two Jewish comedians had their gigs cancelled at the edinburgh fringe next week. They’ve both been performing for years at this venue and were cancelled yesterday without warning. I wonder when I’ll start seeing ‘no Jews allowed’ signs on the windows like my grandparents’ generation.

For years I argued with my family that the actions of Israel were helping to promote antisemitism. They called me a self-hating Jew. For years Israel has tried to suppress criticism of their actions with claims that this in itself is antisemitism. People have really had enough of the manipulative lies and the seemingly endless misery for Palestinians.

During apartheid in South Africa people here took what action they could to show solidarity with black South Africans, this is the same but perhaps more extreme due to the genocidal actions of the Israeli state.

Anti semetism was around long before the state of Israel was established.

And what other country attracts such hatred ....there are plenty of countries who behave in a far worse way yet their actions don't cause this amount of hatred around the world.

You think I don't know antisemitism existed before 1948??

Many countries are reviled for their actions - Russia, Afghanistan are two of the most high profile at the moment. The difference with Israel is that they boast of being democratic and a civilised beautiful place of culture that just wants to live in peace. But their actions across decades tell a very different story.

Growing up, I believed the propaganda but it's impossible to look at the disaster they've created now with anything other than horror and fear for the future.

I believe Israel wants to live in peace....if only their genocidal neighbours would let them.

I think you mean the other thread where OP said the UK is like 1930s Germany. I think it’s the same OP both times.

As a non-Jew, I'm not going to debate you on the fundamentals of your opinion, but...

For years I argued with my family that the actions of Israel were helping to promote antisemitism.

...even is Israel's actions do often trigger a rise an antisemitism, they never should among reasonable minded people. If a person is unable to distinguish between Israel (particularly its government).and Jews generally, then they are already antisemitic. Even if you think Israel is "giving them ammo", the underlying conflation is the primary problem.

This is an intentional derailment on the thread, and is very disrespectful to OP. If you want to discuss my opinions we can do that on another thread.

Not sure their “genocidal neighbours” are forcing them to create a man made famine,kill children collecting water,destroy hospitals, stop aid and actively target people trying to get food.

Its despicable as are the attempts to excuse it.

YANBU

I think there's two issues.

First, people can't seem to apply the same moral standards to Jews as they do other minorities. They have a fantasy picture of Jews as rich and white, and therefore consider them suitable targets.

Secondly, all the organisations and people who are meant to "fight racism" are themselves antisemitic. And they've therefore refused to identify antisemitism within their own ranks.

I'm very sorry you're experiencing this. Many of us stand with you.