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This. You can be critical of Israel's actions. You can also be critical of Israel's existence specifically as a nation that discriminates against non-Jewish cit

This. You can be critical of Israel's actions. You can also be critical of Israel's existence specifically as a nation that discriminates against non-Jewish citizens. None of this means you are an anti-semite who wants the destruction of Israel, let alone Jews. By and large, for example, the UN security council resolutions that the US keeps single-handedly vetoing are not calling for any destruction. They simply condemn Israel's violent behavior.

bern4444 5y ago
Of course one can. Except for the fact that often people scapegoat their criticisms with a line like I'm not antisemtic, I'm just criticizing the government. Which typically comes just before an anti semetic comment is made. It's also an entirely an uneven playing field. No other country is condemned and attacked by the international community as often, and as widely despite other countries' far worse offense. Criticisms of Israel is unique and direct and no other country is held to the same standard. How much of a joke is it that Saudi Arabia was on the human rights commission at the UN for so long. Or the lack of similar statements against China for their decimation of Uighurs. This isn't a finger blaming game, its recognizing that the UN demonstrates a massive bias against a single country with standards that no other nation has to face
vasilipupkin 5y ago
This is technically true but ignores the complexity of the situation, which is that Israel is essentially at war with groups such as Hamas, which call for Israel's destruction and deny its right to exist. When Hamas starts firing rockets at Israeli civilians, it just isn't clear what response critics prefer Israel show. Israel has little choice but try to destroy and degrade the infrastructure used to fire those rockets. Israeli violent behavior is in response to attack on its civilian population. Ignoring this while criticizing Israel seems strange to me
- kmonsen 5y ago
  We will never know but I believe this current conflict was provoked by Israel with heavy police presence outside the mosque in Jerusalem. For what it is worth I have visited Israel and the West Bank, and my sympathies are with Israel as the only democracy in the region. That does not mean I cannot criticize when it acts wrongly. Sure the whole conflict is incredibly difficult with no easy solutions, but some people want to use it to stay in power. Of course Hamas is not better, but that is not the expectation for Israel.
  - vasilipupkin 5y ago
    heavy police presence provokes firing rockets at civilians? not sure I can agree with that.

bern4444 5y ago

Of course one can. Except for the fact that often people scapegoat their criticisms with a line like I'm not antisemtic, I'm just criticizing the government. Which typically comes just before an anti semetic comment is made. It's also an entirely an uneven playing field. No other country is condemned and attacked by the international community as often, and as widely despite other countries' far worse offense. Criticisms of Israel is unique and direct and no other country is held to the same standard. How much of a joke is it that Saudi Arabia was on the human rights commission at the UN for so long. Or the lack of similar statements against China for their decimation of Uighurs. This isn't a finger blaming game, its recognizing that the UN demonstrates a massive bias against a single country with standards that no other nation has to face

vasilipupkin 5y ago

This is technically true but ignores the complexity of the situation, which is that Israel is essentially at war with groups such as Hamas, which call for Israel's destruction and deny its right to exist. When Hamas starts firing rockets at Israeli civilians, it just isn't clear what response critics prefer Israel show. Israel has little choice but try to destroy and degrade the infrastructure used to fire those rockets. Israeli violent behavior is in response to attack on its civilian population. Ignoring this while criticizing Israel seems strange to me

kmonsen 5y ago
We will never know but I believe this current conflict was provoked by Israel with heavy police presence outside the mosque in Jerusalem. For what it is worth I have visited Israel and the West Bank, and my sympathies are with Israel as the only democracy in the region. That does not mean I cannot criticize when it acts wrongly. Sure the whole conflict is incredibly difficult with no easy solutions, but some people want to use it to stay in power. Of course Hamas is not better, but that is not the expectation for Israel.
- vasilipupkin 5y ago
  heavy police presence provokes firing rockets at civilians? not sure I can agree with that.