Okay, I’m not remotely suggesting that antisemitism is not on the rise and neither is Peston or Steinberg, so I don’t get why you are so dismissive of legitimate criticism of Israel’s appaling ongoing actions. As Steinberg says:
‘If Israel’s cause is just, let it speak eloquently in its own defense. It is very telling that some of Israel’s own supporters instead go to extraordinary lengths to utterly silence the other side. Smearing one’s opponents is rarely a tactic employed by those confident that justice is on their side. If Israel’s case requires branding its critics antisemites, it is already conceding defeat.’
My posts here have nothing to do with ‘smearing criticism of Israel’. It’s about opposing hatred of Jews which is wrapped up in many who call themselves Palestinian activists. It’s not all, but it needs calling out because it’s been part of a climate which has driven up hatred of Jews. The problem I have with Peston and Steinberg is that they don’t acknowledge this and focus on half the picture. Steinberg makes out that the real problem comes from the far-right. I do not deny that there isn’t a problem there, I have spoken of Musk’s buddying up to antisemites and George Soros, which are eerily reminiscent of Rothschild conspiracies, from the right before. However, recent events have shown that it is existent in not an insignificant number among many on the left, and I didn’t just single out academics, but others too. Hence we have credible accusations of UNRWA members allowing some horrendous things to be taught in their refugee schools, keeping Israeli hostages, journalists casting doubt on Oct 7th atrocities (e.g. Owen Jones), TikTok rubbish, activists coming out in New York to support Houthis (their slogan includes “a curse upon the Jews”) and so many tweeting hate at Jews for anything that falls short of the ‘right opinion’.
It is, of course, possible to criticise Israel antisemitically. I have not thought anything you have said is such, for example. My own thoughts are that Netanyahu is a fascist prat (would use a stronger term that rhymes, but would fall foul of swearing rules) who has no to little regard for human life. I think Hamas caused this conflict and put blame on them for that, but I naively hoped that there wouldn’t be the response we’ve seen from Netanyahu’s Israel. I was wrong to be so careless in that and in some of the things I previously argued. I still say it’s not genocide, it’s a war which is not taking appropriate care for collateral damage. Gazans were told to move south, but have to continuously move, which doesn’t seem thought out. Progressive activist, Brianna Wu, said Israel is making the same mistakes as the US post-9/11 and I can sympathise strongly. Even though Hamas embed themselves within society, such callous bombing of refugee camps, with weapons that don’t seem to be precision strikes, is bad. There is no justification for the starvation of Gazans, I suggested that such aid should come in the past, but it hasn’t happened. There are multiple parties at fault here, Hamas do steal some of it, but I don’t think enough has been let in anyway. Surely air drops can work. All of this is disgusting from the regime, but many don’t criticise along these lines and seem to treat Israel with a disdain they don’t share with other similar or worse regimes. And some of the criticism goes into antisemitic tropes. I am not referring to people who criticise Israel, but too many treat any antisemitic comment as if it’s just criticism of Israel. Portraits of Netanyahu drinking blood are not reasoned criticism, but Jew hate, in the same way a racist portrayal of Idi Amin would be. Both Amin and Netanyahu are not good people, but racist portrayals are still condemnable.
It also goes the other way, and some comments have been anti-Muslim and anti-Palestinian. I have read a lot of this guy’s output recently and agree with much of it:
Nothing antisemitic at all in his criticism of Israel, and I am not referring to such when critiquing Peston, so I don’t think I am conflating anything.
And Palestinian deaths, disease and famine has increased by a greater amount in Gaza. A definite ongoing cause of your antisemitism concern.
And Islamist terror attacks and genocides (i.e. Yezidis) kill more than anti-Muslim bigotry in response. So we should stop caring about anti-Muslim bigotry and accept Muslims facing hate then?
I thought the Newsweek piece was excellent. I also think his commemt on Oct 7 is more thoughtful than claiming Hamas started it on Oct 7, which is too simplistic IMO…
‘While Hamas’ horrendous Oct. 7 attack seriously set back hopes of a lasting peace, it is indisputable that the security and well-being of Israelis are inexorably linked to the dignity and prosperity of Gazans.’
You didn’t single them out but you included them in a broad brush sweep. Might be better if you were more specific about who has said such a statement because from what I read, it looks like they’re part of a pack you’re demonising. Sorry, but That’s how it reads
Hamas didn’t start the issues then, but this round of conflict was initiated then. There would still be an uneasy ceasefire, in all likelihood, without it.
You didn’t single them out but you included them in a broad brush sweep. Might be better if you were more specific about who has said such a statement because from what I read, it looks like they’re part of a pack you’re demonising. Sorry, but That’s how it reads
I included them in a broad brush sweep because there have been academics who have disgraced themselves with antisemitic comments and tolerance of such. Hence why Jewish students are reporting fear of going to lectures, because there is little sympathy to them and many academics have not supported them.
When academics have previously supported people like David Miller and are now doing things like saying calls for genocide are only antisemitic in context, it’s not the fault of Jews or others for calling it out.
I have said many times that it does not represent all. But neither does problems with rapey policemen in the Met. It doesn’t mean there isn’t an issue with that in the Met, and the same applies here. Both academia and the police have been negligent with such issues.
I’d also argue this claim below is at odds with some of your posts from a few weeks ago which, correct me if I’m wrong, were suggesting civilian casualties in war are inevitable? Of course they are, but not on this level and scale of inhumanity surely?
‘but I naively hoped that there wouldn’t be the response we’ve seen from Netanyahu’s Israel’.
The problem is also that it could be also said that is it any surprise Israel has gone to Likud with Hamas. I don’t know what a peace deal with Hamas could be. Their mission statement is to kill Jews and have Israel destroyed, and no amount of compromises could be made with that. That’s not a reasonable demand for any other nation to cope with. A peace deal for them is more time to build up weapon stock and plot Israel’s destruction. There won’t be any long term peace until Hamas are removed from power somehow (yes, Netanyahu and co too, but at least they can be voted out).
Which is one reason why I mentioned Netanyahu and co. However, I think it’s deluded to expect there to be peace talks with a group who repeatedly make their intentions clear in how they want to deal with Israel and won’t change. No nation is going to agree to terms with a group who say they want to keep killing them after what’s gone on, whether they have monsters like Netanyahu or someone more sensible and less loony.
And the Palestinians have agency, so Israel are not at fault for others going down extremist routes in response. US black people managed to find a more peaceful and tolerable way to bring about greater equality without turning to extremism. Palestinians can too.
There are those in Israel who would advocate the annexation of the West Bank and Gaza.
How about this then, let them, then give the whole population equal voting rights.
Ah, but then there is Law 14 of the Israel Basic Law.
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