“Our government is pouring petrol on the flames by instructing its representatives around the world to stigmatize all criticism of its actions as anti-Semitism. This way it sticks the label of anti-Semitism on the entire world, from the UN General Assembly and the International Court of Justice to humanitarian organizations.
It is easy to create this confusion when one does not differentiate between ‘Jewish’ and ‘Israeli’. Everything becomes mixed up: anti-Semitism, anti-Zionism, criticism of Israel, criticism of Sharon. Such a mix-up is convenient for those interested in manipulations, but it not good for the Jews. ‘Jew’ and ‘Israeli’ are not the same.
Israel is a state like any other state. It was indeed created by Jews and a majority of its citizens are Jews. But Israel is an independent and separate entity. It is permissible (and, in my opinion, desirable) to criticize the policy of our government, much as it is permissible for us to criticize that of any other state. There is no necessary connection between such criticism and anti-Semitism.”
[Via: Aron’s Israel Peace Weblog]
How true. When I criticize the Dutch government (which, by the way, is also desirable…), I’m not anti-Dutch (and therefore anti-me).
I know how you feel Edwinek. When I criticize my government, I’m anti-America and therefore unpatriotic. Funny, I thought democracy gives me the right to be critical of my government. If anything, I am criticizing and screaming for improvements for the LOVE of my country, so doesn’t that mean I’m more patriot than the mindless citizens who lets the government do whatever they please?
haha I take that back, what I said was totally different than what you said. 😛 That’s what happens when you skim read. You miss keywords like the word, “not”.
In any case, Anti-Israel is definitely not Anti-Semitism. It’s just convenient to connect the two so that everyone will be afraid to say anything bad about that government.