Antisemitism?

Most of my life I have recognized antisemitic language bouncing around America’s cultural venues. Seemingly harmless, it isn’t. It is vile. Ugly. Hurtful. And yes, dangerous when paralleled with the Nazi’s extermination campaign. Hatred for Jewish people is real. It is widely scattered. Often found in surprising places.

Today’s news headlines regarding antisemitism, however, is tied to the current Israeli/Hamas/Palestinian conflict. That conflict is broadly discussed by many who dislike the past actions of Hamas and those, too, of Israel. Any discussion appears to be attenuated toward the antisemitic discussion.

I, for one, do not think of myself as antisemitic. Far from it. If anything, I have long favored Israeli independence and their own nation state in the Middle East. That doesn’t mean I have to give up my intellectual capabilities of arguing specific points, however.

I think Israel should have been working tirelessly and continuously toward a peaceful solution to their problems with Palestine. I favor a two-state solution, but failing that, I favor an Israeli led nation that makes all Palestinians citizens of Israel with voice in their governance like any other Israeli citizen. Only then, my argument goes, will discussants finally have the weight of their convictions to argue for justice.

Israelis are not without guilt in the Gaza problems. Netanyahu has negotiated in bad faith for a very long time. Israeli voters have backed him up, even when it has been proven he was playing games with the lives of Palestinians. This stance, after all, is a key to his power to win elections in Israel.

That situation has created a lot of the problems the region suffers today. It is only right that Israel makes good and makes peace. They will have to compromise. They will have to bear some heavy expenses. And they will need to govern through difficult times ahead. The impoverishment of the Palestinians can go on no longer. As an American, my tax dollars and foreign aid are not a license for Israel to trample over others in their region. I want justice for Israel. But also, for Palestinians. And I want peace, real peace that isn’t constantly interrupted by petty acts of violence by Hama, Hamas supporters, or Netanyahu’s ill-considered tantrums.

Supporting open and honest dialogue between the parties has nothing to do with antisemitism. Make no mistake about that.

Real antisemitism deserves our attention at home and abroad. That is only right that we do so. Just don’t conflate debate positions as antisemitic. Enough of that double speak.

December 4, 2023

 

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