I understand opposition to the Israeli government’s activities in the West Bank and Gaza. Obviously that government should be targeted by BDS. Businesses also seem fair game. But what about individuals? For example, if an artist posts periodically online, should they also be subject to boycott?
Yeah, but let’s also not ignore that antisemitism in the past weeks has become wider spread than for a long long time, and often is hidden behind various criticism of Israel. For distinguishing legitimate criticism of Israel from antisemitism there’s the 3-D test.
Antisemitism was always there. The problem of palestinians is embedded into it, because Antisemites count on the continued suffering of the palestinians. They want dying palestinian children they can blame on Israel, and with the palestinian children dying you can see their eyes brighten up these days. Because now they can go rampant with their undifferentiated hatred against all Israel and all Jews.
But that’s consistent. Palestines are Semites, too, after all. Just don’t try to hide your hatred behind “concern”.
Isn’t Israel quite happy to keep Israel and Judaism undifferentiated, though? They seem happy to conflate anti-zionism with anti-semitism, and even any criticism of the state of Israel, or support of Palestine as anti-semitism. With such broad and frankly ridiculous definitions, I’m not surprised to see a rise in so-called anti-semitism.
I wouldn’t be surprised if hateful people did take delight in the genocide Israel is perpetrating, but I don’t see it. And criticising genocidal actions doesn’t require hatred for the perpetrators in order to be valid. Anti-semites were clear to lambast Israel at any point in the past 100 or so years, even more so now. And so were normal people.
Would you prevaricate thusly when speaking about, say, the third Reich? Or would you “delegitimise” that entire state? Maybe you should think twice before publicly “demonising” the Nazis?
Sometimes a “whole state” bears criticism. Israel does, right now, because it is committing war crimes with western support.
The 3D test unfortunately proves nothing. It would be very useful if we could prove criticism of Israel was coming from an anti-semitic place, but you can’t, because you can’t read minds. It’s one of the most insidious features of all racism: it’s very easy to hide. At the moment, though, it is fair to assume that a majority of the criticism of Israel comes from common decency and human compassion, because the IDF are dropping tower blocks on children in their thousands in “self-defense”. Anyone enabling those types of actions is the worst of humanity because of their actions and decisions, not because of which god they pray to.
Oh look, I would consider nothing in this comment antisemitism. That’s valid criticism of what Israel currently does. A tad ignorant of the use of civilians as shields by the Hamas in this very unequal war, but it allows for a normal discussion.
I think it’s valid to casually use a state’s name as an actor instead of always pointing out its the government. Not always applicable without differentiating too little, but valid in principle.
But that’s different from making each Israeli responsible, or calling for the abolishment of the state, both of which we see quite often on Lemmy these days (and before)
Totally agree. I’m British, so bearing responsibility for all the horrific and stupid shit the people in charge of the place I was born have done is especially unappealing. Abolishing Israel isn’t the answer, nor is blaming powerless Israeli citizens. Even worse is attacking the Jewish diaspora around the world as if they have anything to do with it, that’s clear and unambiguous racism.
Similar is the disgust for China/the CCP.
Fuck the CCP --> valid criticism
Fuck China --> ambiguous, could be either
Fuck the Chinese --> outright racism
The problem is the racist can hide behind the likes of the middle statement, using it as a dog whistle, and it can seem like it has huge support, even though most of the people agreeing think they are agreeing with the top statement.
Unlike for example what Myanmar did to the Rohingya, neither the UN nor any human rights organizations of note have used the term “genocide” related to what Israel does or did.
In the 3-D-Test this statement easily fulfills “double standards” and “demonization” and is clearly antisemitic.
@CaptObvious Corporations are subject to boycot, individuals to dialog. If an individual Israeli takes a pro-war/apartheid stance online then they should be challenged, but if they are for peace and reconciliation then they should be supported.
Is this hypothetical artist an Israeli settler in the West Bank? If so, I certainly would not give them my money. Otherwise, if we’re just talking about some random Israeli then there’s nothing inherently objectionable about that.
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