To say that to criticise the actions of the Israeli state…

[MaggieBsBoat]

Is no more anti-Semitic than being critical of the actions of the Afghanistan state is anti-islam?

It’s so difficult sometimes to separate the anti-semitism from the justified concerns about the killing of a people (seemingly en masse).

i have myself questioned whether I am anti-Semitic and have had this discussion with my many Jewish friends and then accepted that it is of course a separate issue. But the actions of the state of Israel are playing directly into the hands of anti-semites and these people abound! Even my husband has said things which are frankly beyond the pale. And as a German he should know better.

Yes hopefully all Country's would adhere to international law, but some desperately poor Countries perhaps in long running civil war for example, we not be suprised if they don't.

Oh right, well I wouldn’t expect people from less economically developed countries to be more barbaric than anyone else.
But anyway, there are clearly some double standards being applied here. You only have to look at how people don’t know that Israel has been under fire from neighbouring countries for years, resulting in the displacement of tens of thousands to see that. Or how Gazan civilians looted the kibbutzim on 7th October, or how Hezbollah is hand in glove with Assad (yet people at demonstrations hold up I ❤️ Hezbollah signs). Yet Israel is uniquely terririst/genocidal/Nazi-esque. Why?

The Assad connection should be truly troublesome considering what he's done to his own people, but hey, love is blind.

There are also the silly people who chant support for the Houthis but nobody, nobody at all is apparently as bad as the Israelis. I just can’t think why.

The thing is most of us aren't like that.

Yes, there are stupid (mainly university aged) people who pledge support for disgusting groups like Hamas and Hezbollah because social media has told them to. But the vast majority of us just see that this war isn't ever going to end unless a real effort is made towards peace, and towards stabilising the region at large - and that includes taking action on things like Saudi Arabia and Yemen, on Iran, on Hezbollah and Hamas and ensuring countries like Syria can rebuild. (Not an exhaustive list)

The Middle East has been used as the West's playground for proxy wars for far too long - look at Afghanistan with the soviets and America, the toppling of Saddam Hussein to never actually make an effort to help Iraq after this. The region has been destabilised for the West's gain and this is the outcome. Nobody wins in this scenario, everyone ends up hurt.

You'll also find that a lot of these viewpoints exist in an echo chamber online. Either you speak out about Gaza or you're "cancelled".

I have had a friend message me to say she's blocking me because I've not posted about Gaza on my instagram story. I don't have a large following so I can't change anything. Nobody seems to want to have their viewpoints challenged, and that isn't healthy. Conversations (and I am NOT excusing anti semitism in anyway, I am not referring to antisemitic tropes but discussions about the situation) should be able to be had.

I don’t disagree. I’m pointing out that anything Israel does is highly scrutinised yet many don’t even know the basics of the situation when they portray all the other participants as either victims or heroic resistance fighters. Pointing this out inevitably results in claims of weaponising antisemitism. It’s an unequal debate.

@ChallahPlaiter I do agree, but I wonder if, as other posters have pointed out - Israel is almost viewed as part of the West (as in in terms of development etc.), it is viewed as a developed nation that should adhere to the same standards as America, etc., are expected to. But meanwhile a lot of the rest of the Middle East isn't.

Everyone should be held to the same standard and I do think that countries like the US being so closely involved at this time aren't helping the situation, and it's doing nothing to ease tensions.

I have had a friend message me to say she's blocking me because I've not posted about Gaza on my instagram story
Well that's just bonkers your friend is mad, it's hardly representative

@Dulra you only have to look at social media to see it though, and admittedly it is mainly coming from one "side".

If you post anything on Twitter these days and it gets any sort of interaction you're expected to say something about Gaza, you're expected to constantly speak up and be an activist.

I'm not on twitter I'm sure it's cesspit, I was commenting on your own friend blocking you which is something very different and irrational

@Dulra it's just one example. It's pretty extreme but she views herself as an activist.

It would be more surprising if the US wasn’t involved considering the influence that Russia has always exerted on what happens in the region.

@ChallahPlaiter yes, Russia is another huge issue especially with regards to Iran and their backing there.

But the USA also has a terrible track record in the Middle East and I do question whether their involvement is genuine for the good of Israel, or to stoke tensions and benefit from that

Oh well on that I wouldn’t like to comment!

@ChallahPlaiter I think we both know the answer to that! and god help everyone if Trump gets in in November!

It’s amazing how many people on this thread seem to have Jewish friends who absolutely agree with their perspective…

Israeli citizens have protested against their government. It's entirely possible that people don't agree with the actions of the government.

Of course lots of Israelis disagree with their government and recognise their actions just make them less safe. A lot of Israelis have also tried to help and protect aid workers going into Gaza. This is on the news.

Yeah I wasn’t commenting on that… there are only 300,000 Jews in the UK yet every poster here seems to have a Jewish friend…

@OneRarelySeesABrazierTheseDays , I wish it were a ridiculous concept. There is much on this issue readily available to read but to make it easier for you to educate yourself I’ve found you one. I’ll be surprised if you bother to read it but at least I tried.

https://chrissmith.house.gov/uploadedfiles/antisem_anti-israel_hearing_hillel_neuer.pdf

Not only is that incorrect it's also disgusting.

This.

They don't read any details or history. They parrot soundbites

Such a child-like yet passive-aggressive response. You do not know what I will or will not do