The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #66010 Message #1093601
Posted By: CarolC
15-Jan-04 - 05:03 PM
Thread Name: BS: A very Arab obsession
Subject: RE: BS: A very Arab obsession
Martin Gibson, if I'm an anti-Semite, then I'm in very good company, because there are a hell of a lot of Jews who are saying exactly the same things I'm saying. In fact, I get most of my information from Jewish human rights organizations. If you look into the link I provided about the 1949 war, you'll see that it is a Jewish website. Are these Jews anti-Semites?
Here's what they have to say on the subject:
Any criticism of Israel is traditionally seen by American Jews as harmful to the Jewish people, even if the criticism is true. But "my people, right or wrong, my people" is no different than "my country, right or wrong, my country". Once we start down the slippery slope where the ends justify the means we have left behind any claim to morality. Along with millions of other American Jews unaffiliated with the major U.S. Jewish organizations, we are outraged at the Israeli government's ongoing oppression of the Palestinians and feel that it has been the ruination of the high moral standing of the Jewish people.
CONCLUSION I For Jewish Readers
Calling everyone who criticizes the government of Israel an anti-Semite makes exactly the same amount of sense as calling everyone who criticizes the government of the US anti-American. And I make a point of criticizing the US government whenever I think it is in the wrong. Since the US government and the government of Israel are making me complicit in their crimes against humanity by using my tax dollars for these things, I have a responsibility as a human being to speak up about it. And so do you.
Here's what the the Jews who belong to Jewish Voice for Peace have to say about using the charge of anti-Semitism in the way you have:
Jews have a special role to play in bringing about a change in American and Israeli policy. Israel claims to be acting in the name of the Jewish people, and it is up to us to make sure the world knows that many of us are opposed to their actions. More importantly, as long as even legitimate criticism of Israel is blocked by accusations of anti-Semitism, it is the responsibility of Jews to stand up for universal justice. Because we are Jews, we have a particular legitimacy in voicing an alternative view of American and Israeli actions and policies. As Jews, we can make the distinction between real anti-Semitism and the cynical manipulation of that issue to shield Israel from legitimate criticism.
Jewish Voice for Peace