The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #65316   Message #1074884
Posted By: McGrath of Harlow
17-Dec-03 - 06:53 PM
Thread Name: BS: The Guardian on anti-semitism, anti-zion
Subject: RE: BS: The Guardian on anti-semitism, anti-zion
No, Ms Burchill's not being characterised as being anti-semitic. But there's something inconsistent in accusing people of being anti-semitic when one of your heroes - even one you have latterly decided is flawed - was a vicious anti-semite.

The paradox is that if the surrounding countries had not attacked Israel in 1948, and there had been no flight of frightened Palestinians away from he fighting, the country today would have a population equally made upon Arabs and Jews, as envisaged by many leading Zionists. And yet people who call for the return of the refugees and their descendants, which would recreate that very situation, are liable to be called anti-semites who are seeking to destroy the nation of Israel. (The same goes for those who might argue for the establishment of a country covering the whole of what is referred to either as as Eretz Israel or as Palestine, including both Jews and Arabs in full equality, and a right of return from exile for both peoples.)

That is not to deny that there are people who are anti-semitic, and who use anti-Zionism as a cover. There are also people who hate Arabs, and who use support for Israel as a cover, for that matter. You've got to watch out for false friends, wherever you are.