Is Criticism Of The Israeli Government Anti Semitic?

[Atheist]

Well is it?

[MissTerious2]

No

[MissTerious2]

Sorry, I could go into more detail but not just now.

[Atheist]

Fair criticism of a government's policy shouldn't be labelled as in any way racist.

[sandyRoe]

It shouldn't be, but voice criticism and you risk being described as an anti Semite.

[rowanwitch]

Difficult because very few governments are so bound to the religion of the majority. It should be possible to criticise policy where it contravenes human rights for example, or on strictly factual grounds. I suppose it's like criticising one of the Arab countries on their treatment of women for example you would always run the risk of being considered anti muslim. It seems to give such countries a degree of immunity from direct challenges... They use the religion to justify the action of the state.

[royfromaus]

No

But say something like
'Illegal immigrants shouldn't take priority over UK citizens'
you are definitely a racist.

[naomi24]

Depending upon the nature of the criticism, it could be.

[Atheist]

roy; I wish you would talk straight for once. Give it a try.

[rowanwitch]

Technically not Roy from aus, xenophobic maybe, nationalistic definitely but the statement doesn't rely on race, only status.

[Atheist]

rowan; Human rights is a human and social construct. If another country sets up its own construct which differs from ours, then we are in a difficult position. E.g. USA allows capital punishment, but that doesn't mean we should go at them with all we've got; diplomacy and reasoned argument must come into play. Likewise, we should not rush to declare war on other countries because their laws and customs do not accord with ours. Diplomacy takes time.

[royfromaus]

I'm well aware of that, Rowan but there are certain people on this earth that will shout 'RACIST' at anything and everything.

[rowanwitch]

I agree, education, leading by example, are both important. I don't agree with forced regime change but at the same time I have no problem with using economic pressures such as denial of international aid without progress towards a more humane society. I certainly would argue against welcoming those from the most oppressive governments, or those with proven war crimes/ crimes against humanity to the UK for the purposes of strengthening economic ties,getting trade deals no matter how much we need them.

[Atheist]

Rowan; I agree with you.

[Mozz71]

No, as long as the criticism is based on their policies and actions rather than their religion.

[mibn2cweus]

//No, as long as the criticism is based on their policies and actions rather than their religion.//

Many of those policies and actions being determined by and a consequence of religion, their own as well as the often conflicting religious beliefs of others.

[fiveleaves]

Anti-semitism never really goes away. The best that happens is that it is suppressed in some countries for a period of time.
Israel is the worlds only Jewish nation. It is surrounded by Arab Muslim nations who are mostly hostile to it. Iran makes no secret of its wish to destroy. The only reason it is pursueing a nuclear programme is to build a bomb to launch at Israel.
That is the climate that Israel finds itself in. Two quick facts. Jews have lived in the land of Israel continuously for 3,500 years. There has never been a Palestinian state that was removed by Israel

[Atheist]

Who were the people that god told to smite the Midianites and to kill them all and only to keep the animals they could eat and the young women they could love?

[Atheist]

Numbers 31 has more details than I was able to remember.

[naomi24]

Anti-Israel doesn’t equate to anti-Semitic.

[ynnafymmi]

But being pro-Palestinian terrorism or being pro-Naziism or Hitlerism could be considered anti-semitism,Naomi.