Is it possible to criticize the policies of the Israeli gov w/o being labeled anti-Semitic?

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bgood26

Look at the answers that MAYA, ZENO, and NIKKI give. They immediately attack Jews as
* "control[ing] the press in the U.S. [and] blocked publication of a Harvard study of AIPAC" (Nikki)
* "loose cannons" with "their incessant demands,displays of venom and wild accusations" (Zeno)
* unable to "tell the difference between antizionism (which is left-wing) and antisemitism (which is right-wing)" (Maya).

These answers are anti-Jewish because they stereotype Jews very similarly to infamous reads like "The Protocols of the Elders of Zion," "The International Jew," and "Mein Kampf." They use Israeli, Zionist, and Jew interchangeably, while they refuse to recognize the murderous acts of the Arab terrorists.

So, unlike them, you really don't hate Jews, but you want to criticize Israel.

1. Do not mention Zionism. Zionism is a fancy word for Israeli nationalism, and as such you cannot criticize it unless you are also willing to attack Palestinian nationalism, and all nationalism in general. What is good for the goose is good for the gander.

2. Be specific when criticizing Israelâ€™s policies and avoid hyperbole. Acceptable: Israel's policy of demolishing the family homes of suicide bombers is wrongheaded and inflames the situation. Unacceptable: Israel's policy of demolishing the family homes of suicide bombers is a horrible war crime and proves how violent and evil Israel is.

3. Do not mention Jews. Mentioning Jews or using the word "Jewish" as a synonym for "Israeli" is a red card. Anti-Semitism, you're out! They are not "Jewish settlers" but "Israeli settlers." Jews are not occupying the West Bank, Israelis are. The ONLY exception to this rule is if you need to differentiate Arab Israelis from Jewish Israelis.

4. Understand the big picture. It is impossible to divorce Israeli actions from the Palestinian actions. This does not necessarily justify everything Israel is doing in response, but if you talk about the pain and suffering of Palestinians as if they lived in a vacuum and ignore the suffering Israel has been subject to from the suicide bombers, then you are being dishonest at best, and anti-Semitic at worst.

5. If you mention Nazis in references to Israel, you are automatically qualified as an anti-Semite. There are plenty of ways to characterize tragedy without mentioning Adolf's boys. If you go out of your way to mention Nazis, it can only be because you want to poke a stick into an unhealed wound, and you deserve all the scorn that will come your way.

6. Pro-Israel activists in the United States are strong. This is obvious and fairly uncontroversial. But if you mention anything about how pro-Israel activists "control" anything, you are treading on the very thin ice of anti-Semitism. And do I even need to mention that the term "Jewish lobby" is anti-Semitic unless you are referring to the vestibule of a synagogue!

7. Israel is not monolithic. There are Israeli citizens, the Israeli Army, the Israeli government, a dozen or so major political parties, settlers, peaceniks, and everything in between.

8. Have I mentioned being consistent? If Israeli occupation is a bad thing, shouldn't you save at least a small bit of your venom for Syria, which has occupied Lebanon for over twenty years? If oppression of Palestinians is to be abhorred, is it worth mentioning the persecution of Palestinians by the various Arab states like Jordan and Kuwait?

9. You can of course point out American culpability for Israel's actions by writing how Israel receives 3 billion dollars a year in aid from the United States, but also be sure to mention how Egypt gets 2 billion dollars a year, and consider why Egypt's misuse of American aid is almost never covered by the press.

10. Be honest. There are plenty of things Israel does wrong; there's no need to make stuff up. And don't believe everything you read in the press. Even the American press holds a heavy bias toward Hamas.

From my own experience, yes it is. Jews living in Israel are mostly more open to critism than Jews living somewhere else like in the USA. Jews living in Israel mostly know what's going on first hand, while others living aboard are fed many times with false or at least not neutral information through the media.

I personaly do not have any problems with socializing, talking etc with a Jew also when I do not agree with Israel's politics. When I do meet a person who thinks the same way, then there is no problem at all.
People do not have to agree on certain things but they still can treat each other with respect and accept each others opinion without being caled anti Semitic or hating Arabs.

Take care.

golfer7

anytime you do it in America you're taking a chance on being criticized or worse. That is most evident with the severe oppression of the Palestinians-I know people who are actively trying to do something constructive about it but they have to be very secretive and low keyed or they will be villified and their efforts will have a backlash.

HopelessZ00

No, if it was ok my question:
Which other country holds children as young as 8 in adult prisons when it goes against international law?
International law states that children 15 and under must be held in Juvenile detention centres. Why then are children as young as 8 being tried in adult court and sentenced in adult court in Israel?

www.youtube.com/watch?v=FMb1Ye3qpWE

would not have been deleted, I was not attacking Jewish people only criticizing the gov as to why they kept children in jail. Cheers!

pwwatson8888

It depends on who makes the criticism and to whom and where. In the US it is near on impossible. Woe betide you if you hold an important job in the government. In the media in the UK it is constantly criticized. Of course there are topics even the BBC won't touch. Probably this link below despite the fact it is written by Jews from Israel.

With all due respect- Is it possible to criticize the Palestinians of "terrorism" without mutually accusing Muslims of "terrorism?" Of course it is, there are non- Muslim Palestinians, unlike Israel, an all Jewish state (as far as I know). The Palestinians are constantly oppressed, under siege, and deprived of their homeland and human rights by the Israeli government, therefore they have no choice but to resort to extremism. I for one strongly criticize the Israeli government, am I anti- Semitic? Of course not. What you are suggesting is that by criticizing the Israeli government you are criticizing all Jews, solely because they are Jews. There are loads of non- Israeli Jews all over the world who are against the Israeli government, therefore by criticizing Israel, you are no where near anti- semitism. If the situation was different, and every single last Jew was in one state (Israel) all together, and they, their parents, their children, and their children's children all believed in the same policies as Israel does today, and someone criticized that particular state, it still would not be anti- semitism, you are simply against what the Jews believe in, why? Because you are not a Jew! If you are Jew than you must believe what the Jews believe in, if you are not, then you must be against what Jews believe in. What your suggesting is that everybody who isn't a Jew is anti- Semitic.

BUSH/ISRAEL =warcriminal

Its a perfect excuse to evade the rest of the world that oppose the israeli war crimes so whenever we talk about that they make it sound like we are opposing jews. Jews and israel isnt the same thing but they seem to mix them up real often.
But too bad most of the jews all over the world defends israel,
and arabs(who are semite by blood) are also "anti-semitic" for israelis

riviva

As possible as it is to criticize a black leader without being considered racist

As possible as it is to criticize the policies of Hillary Clinton without being sexist...

It's possible, but unfortunately there are many people who ARE anti-Semitic. Make sure that you're not holding Israel to an extreme double-standard within the context of Middle Eastern nations, and you'll be fine. As long as you're being fair, most people will have no problem with you.

Joshua N

It is very possible. I don't even agree with every policy. However, a person who hates a people group of any kind is an ethnocentrist. This is a made-up word from the actual word ethnocentrism, which is the philosophy that a person is better due to one's identity.

paperback writer

Yes of course. Millions of Israelis do it every single day.

Anyone can criticise Israel; if their views are based on objective, verifiable history of the country.

But when, as so often happens, someone states that Israel has no basic right to exist, and when they are ONLY saying that about the JEWISH country, then of course that's racist - what else could one possibly call it???

Similarly, when someone MISdefines 'zionism' and THEN on that basis condemns Israel, that is totally unfair also.

zionism = person who believes Israel has the right to exist

Israel = 0.01% of the middle east

neshama

Yes, its very much possible to critzise any government without being labeled an antisemite.

Primus Pilus

What are you talking about??? Semitic people originate from areas such as Israel, Jordan, Iraq etc.

Maya

I will respond with both an answer and a question: (1) No. (2) Who cares? We all know jews can't tell the difference between antizionism (which is left-wing) and antisemitism (which is right-wing) and I've long since decided it's a waste of time to attempt to convey that distinction to a people who can't even grasp the ethnic multiplicity of our world and insist that humanity consists of only two races,jews and gentiles,conflating everybody from the Chinese to Africans into one wholly imaginary entity. Any people as far-gone as that need not engage our attention except to subdue their ability to influence events. In any event,their only response to any criticism is name-calling,so again: who cares? Let them call names all they wish. It doesn't affect anything. Americans have heard this "antisemite" slur ladled out with abandon by the ADL so often and recklessly the accusation no longer elicits anything but a shrug. In any event,I've directly asked if they conflate antizionism and antisemitism and the answers were as one. Yes,they do. Fine,I'm willing to accept that. Almost all jews are rabid zionists anyway,so who cares? It's up to them to pick their enemies and that they have done,to put it mildly. For me there will be no turning back. I don't care if they think I'm simply anti-jewish. I don't care what they think. I just don't want them running Palestine or any other country anywhere,ever. "Never again",that's my motto when it comes to "jewish government". No,it is not "possible" to avoid their incessant and very shrill name-calling but then again,who cares? They can fling out all the labels they wish,that doesn't matter. Who cares? Just talking heads that intelligent people ignore and a few jewish newspaper columnists with minimal influence except among their own. They can call names all they want. All they accomplish is to demonstrate their infantile disposition and incapicity for intelligent discourse.

Zeno

Maybe in Europe,not in the U.S. However this abuse of the term is so heavily overplayed I don't really see it as having much impact in the future. Americans are getting very,very tired of jews and their incessant demands,displays of venom and wild accusations. To the average citizen they are simply boring. To the politically aware they are a loose cannon,a network of chronically reckless and irresponsible organizations.

Corrosion EAC

Scott's answer proves an American reality. Norman Finkelstein, son of Holocaust survivors, was pressured out of his professor's job at DePaul University for writing "The Holocaust Industry". Uri Avnery and Mordecai Vanunu, both Israelis, are routinely called "self-hating Jews" in the USA for wanting peace with Palestine.

Then, view the website of the Tel Aviv newspaper Ha'aretz, where you find lively and vibrant discussion of Israel ongoing. Israelis have widely differeing viewpoints of their own government and its actions against Palestinians. Ha'aretz is not afraid to publish.

Shay p

You just did
Nobody calling you anything

freepress04

NO,,,and if anyone tries they will be labeled anti-Semitic. here in yahoo it could cost a account as all it would take are but a few hard core question..chow dear..F.P

Marum B

In Israel we criticize our leaders but in the Arab world you can not criticize any leader.

Nikki

They control the press in the U.S. but not the minds of the people. They constantly stage enraged frothing-at-the-mouth press campaigns against anyone who utters a word of criticism,but the internet changed everything. They blocked publication of a Harvard study of AIPAC but it's online anyway. The internet is rapidly defanging them.

Ben J

Of course - Israel is a democracy and freedom of speech occurs all the time in the country and towards the country. The anti-semitism comes into the picture when criticism of Israel is used as a proxy for anti-semetism - ie it is an excuse to be critical of Jews. The other time that comments could be labeled anti-semetic is when there are clearly double-standards applied to Israel which arent applied elsewhere, or where similar things are ignored elsewhere but picked up on in Israel. Hope this helps.

Birthday Persinowitz!

Your question makes the statement that you have criticized the Government of Israel and were labeled anti-Semitic. This kind of question baits people who hate Jews and the existence of Israel to answer the question with a negative nasty divisive tone against Jews.

If you criticized the policies of the government you would get a discussion not a label. As you can see most of the people here are not even Jews and most as you know hate Jews and Israel.

If you want to criticize the Israeli Government in the Travel Israel section go ahead. I have not seen much criticism against the policies of the Israeli Government mostly I have seen intolerance.

Mr. Pitiful (was Gonzo)

NO
not even if you are jewish

Scott A

Yes. You just have a twisted view of reality unfortunately. What if a Jew criticizes Israel? Is he/she an anti-semite too?
A self hating jew. What if they are religious, and make a comment that criticizes the Israeli government... can he also be labeled an anti semite? It wouldn't make any sense.

Mr. X

yes, of course, it happens all the time, every day, most notably IN ISRAEL which has a FREE PRESS.

it's very simple. criticize the policies without questioning israel's right to exist or calling for its destruction.
that's all.
lots of people criticize Bush, but don't call for the destruction of the USA.
same thing.

easy, huh?

Bosco

Not in the U.S. or Canada where journalism is heavily dominated by the jews. I agree with Maya. Let them call you anything,just plunge ahead anyway. We can't let them intimidate us with words.

jdriven

I sure hope so because there are a bunch of us Zionist out here that thinks the Israeli government is bad news.
I know some Jewish Semites agree and I bet some Muslim Semites do as well.

ianmoniq

Is it possible for Israelis to have one little tiny area in YAnswers where they talk about their beautiful country to possible tourists without Muslims coming in and hounding them.....

No. Not in real life, not on the Internet, not even when Muslims leave their countries of heritage and join the Western world. They bring that backward hatred with them. Predators.

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