The Difference of Words…

There’s a clear difference between legitimate criticism of Israel and Anti-Semitism:

Clear criticisms of Israeli policy & its backers	Antisemitic ideas often repeated by activists with no anti-Jewish intentions	Lines emerging directly from neonazi & antisemitic organizations
Israel has a repeated & ongoing record of human rights offenses.	“Israel is a worse humans rights violator than most or all other countries.”	“Israel is the root of the world’s problems.”
Many Israeli soldiers justify their actions toward Palestinians by saying they’re ‘just following orders.’	“Israelis are just like Nazis.”	“Israel is worse than the Nazis,” “This wouldn’t have happened if the Nazis were successful,” etc.
The Zionist movement has included elements of racism from its early days, such as the claim that Palestine was “a land without a people for a people without aland.” Major Zionist factions have implemented conscious, intentional racist policy. Regardless of individual Zionists’ intentions, Zionism as a whole has had racist & oppressive results for the Palestinian people.	“Zionism is racism.”	“The Zionist conspiracy is behind this,” “Zionism is the root of the world’s problems today,” etc.
AIPAC,* weapons lobbies & others give U.S. politicians incentives to push anti-Palestinian policies, & attempt to silence &intimidate both Jews & non-Jews who raise alternatives.	“The ‘Israel Lobby’ is what is pushing America off track &away from its true interests,or caused us to go to war.”	“Israel /The Zionists /The Jews /The Jewish Lobby…is controlling the U.S./ the world.”
In this issue, as in so many, the corporate media provide one-dimensional, sensationalized coverage, usually biased toward whatever side the U.S. government is backing – when they cover it at all.	“The media, controlled by Zionists, never talks about the plight of the Palestinians.”	“Zionist control of the media is part of a vast web of Zionist power over banks & world governments, in their conspiracy to rule over humanity.”
Lack of a resolution between Israel & Palestine is one of several major regional conflicts preventing justice & stability in the Middle East. Outside powers such as the U.S. & Europe have played & play a role in sparking & perpetuating these conflicts.	“The Israel-Palestine conflict is the root of violence & instability in the Middle East / of America’s bad relationship with Arab countries.”	“Everything would be better if Israel was destroyed,” etc.

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I agree with most of the statements in the LEFT column – I am not sure about the role of the US in the media coverage in Europe – nor am I sure that the US and/or Europe as such have directly fuelled the conflict – to me it seems more like they have been opportunists and used the situation to their advantage after the fact. Any way – the above table is exactly what I have tried to convey in discussions with violent Anti-Semites and Anti-Semitic statements – criticism of Israel is ok – when it is warranted – but don’t cross the line into Anti-Semitism, knowingly or unknowingly.The above Table is from “The Past Didn’t Go Anywhere,”

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