Anti-Israel or Anti-Semite?

September 3, 2006

The fruitless debate between critics and supporters of Israel about where to draw the line between candid criticism of Israeli policies and anti-Semitism continues.

As defined by Wikipedia; Anti-Semitism is hostility toward or prejudice against Jews as a religious, ethnic, or racial group, which can range in expression from individual hatred to institutionalized, violent persecution.

But the contemporary or the “New” anti-Semitism concept argues that in the latter part of the 20th century, a new style of anti-Semitism began to appear. This new approach is said to be more political in nature, often overlapping, and being (intentionally) confused with anti- Zionism. This form of anti-Semitism pervades Left wing politics in both Europe & North America, and is characterized by borrowing language and concepts from anti-Zionism.

If you ever decided to publish something that would be considered highly critical of Israeli government or policies you'll find yourself subject of an all-out attack by neoconservative pundits and accused of anti-Semitism, stated a recent editorial on Los Angeles Times.

When Human Rights Watch, America's largest rights group, and Ken Roth. Roth, its executive director, whose father fled Nazi Germany, condemned the Israeli crimes committed by the occupation army in the Lebanese territories, part of the offensive launched by Israel last July, both Roth and HRW found themselves accused of unethical behavior, and supporting "terrorists" (Hezbollah resistance movement) and anti-Semitism.

The conservative New York Sun accused Roth (who is Jewish) for having a "clear pro-Hezbollah and anti-Israel bias", claiming that Roth became involved "the de-legitimization of Judaism, the basis of much anti-Semitism."

Neocon commentator David Horowitz called Roth a "reflexive Israel-basher … who, in his zest to pillory Israel at every turn, is little more than an ally of the barbarians."

All that because the rights organisation criticized Israel for the indiscriminate attacks on civilians, which resulted in the death of over 1,000 innocent people, mostly women and children in the month-long war in Lebanon.

Human Rights Watch was highly criticised by Alan Dershowitz who claimed it "cooks the books" to make Israel look bad. Also in the Jewish Exponent, Jonathan Rosenblum claimed that Roth is resorting to a "slur about primitive Jewish bloodlust."

As fighting intensified in Lebanon, Roth accused the brutal Israeli army of "treating southern Lebanon as a free-fire zone," noting that the Israelis' failure or rather insistence not to distinguish between civilians and combatants constitutes a war crime.

Human Rights Watch has repeatedly been accused of having an anti-Israel bias, but those who know the history the organisation know well that such accusations are mere claims.
HRW critics include the Anti-Defamation League, Gerald Steinberg and the Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs's NGO Monitor, Anne Bayefsky, and Abraham Cooper.

In response to the HRW’s coverage of Israel’s Jenin Massacre, the Anti-Defamation League, accused the organisation of “pre-judged Israel's behavior.”

“Human Rights Watch charged Israel with violations of international law and war crimes. Neither discussed the international law violations involved in arming a refugee camp, or demanded the United Nations be held in any way accountable for its lack of oversight in the camp. While Human Rights Watch acknowledged in a May 3 report that there was no evidence of a massacre and that Palestinian gunmen had contributed to endangering Palestinian civilians, they continued to emphasize that there was prima facie evidence Israel committed war crimes,” The Anti-Defamation League claimed.

It’s become impossible to have a civil debate about the Israel policies in the U.S. nowadays.

Anti-Semitism Any criticism of Israel, or the U.S.’s pro-Israeli policies is instantly countered with charges of anti-Semitism. Never make your criticism of Israel's aggression against Palestinians or crimes in Lebanon public, unless you’re ready to be called an anti-Semite and may be a terrorist sympathizer.

With mounting anger at the Israeli policies fueling instability in the Middle East and all over the world, it's past time for Americans take stand against their government’s blind support to Israel and pressure it take needed measures to bring a just peace to the Middle East.