Hamas strike on Israel - Threadbans in op - mod warning in OP updated 19/10/23

Anti-Semitism absolutely IS a problem and there is real anti-Semitism within a minority of the pro-Palestine movement internationally.

But too many of those who are tasked with fighting anti-Semitism and those who should be calling out anti-Semitism are not really interested in doing that, they're too busy mendaciously reclassifying legitimate and necessary criticism of the state of Israel as "anti-Semitic", and thus cheapening the very concept of anti-Semitism itself for political purposes.

The IHRA examples of anti-Semitism are a classic example of this. The IHRA examples of anti-Semitism are a pro-Israel political project rather than a good faith attempt to combat real anti-Semitism.

Nowadays it seems you can get away with any anti-Semitism as long you're sympathetic to Israel. Donald Trump, Vladimir Putin, Kevin McCarthy, Viktor Orban, the Law and Justice party in Poland, Douglas Murray, Kevin Myers and Elon Musk have all proved that. And Israel itself proves it over and over and over again.

This is a grotesque inversion of reality as a political propaganda project.

Israel's basic law defines it as a Jewish state. A Jewish state for a Jewish people, just like Northern Ireland defined itself as a Protestant state for a Protestant people.

Israel's government and propaganda operation believes words matter. But not in a good faith way. Every reality-denying regime in history knows that words matter. That is why reality-denying regimes use words to distort, not to inform.

That is why Israel searches endlessly for any formula of words and policing of words which will delegitimise and discredit its critics.

And why it engages in words which distort the truth for political gain, even if these words constitute real anti-Semitism, which they often do.

James Craig said it. He was the Prime Minister of Northern Ireland.

Northern Ireland, like Israel, was caught in the double think that it was a state for one religion and one religion only, while also pretending that it did not discriminate against the minority.

The Republic of Ireland also discriminated on a religious basis as you point out and as far as I know technically still does according to the constitution.

However neither the Northern Ireland state nor the Republic were ever remotely as a cold a house for the minority as Israel is nor inflicted the level of utterly grotesque and systematic oppression it has inflicted on Palestinians.

Northern Ireland was a hateful place, but Catholics were not reduced to the level of the Jewish ghettoes of World War II like Palestinians now are.

How am I trying to do that? This is more bluster and unsubstantiated nonsense.

It is Israel and those who refuse to acknowledge that "Jews = Israel" is an anti-Semitic trope who are saying that "Jewish business and schools and places of worship = Israel".

Israel seems happy to place a big red cross on the heads of Jews worldwide for its own convenience. This is similar to how the far right in Ireland, far from wanting to protect people from crime, want crimes like the Parnell Square stabbing to happen, and they want more of them. Because such crimes benefit them politically. It's also similar to how Hamas sees the slaughter of Palestinians by Israel as a massive recruiting sergeant, benefitting it in the long run.

I condemn any attacks on Jewish civilians anywhere whether they support Israel or not. But challenging people on their political views in an appropriate setting is not an attack. If people people volunteer opinions in accepted forums for debate such as Twitter or other online forums, they will be challenged.

Meanwhile we have complete silence from the pro-Israel posters here as it is demonstrated that supporters of Palestinian human rights are under consistent and chilling attack in the US and elsewhere.

Another lie thrown in there that " you (I) think the actions of the PIRA and/or Hamas were justifiable." Fairly pathetic stuff on your part.

Neither the actions of the PIRA nor Hamas were/are justified. But if you decide to suppress discussion of the underlying reasons why such groups emerged in the first place, you are doomed to repeat the cycle. Fundamental injustice if perpetuated long enough will usually lead to such groups emerging. Address the fundamental injustice and you lessen the likelihood of such groups emerging and you lessen the likelihood they will attract support of they do emerge.

Making the same mistakes over and over and over again will lead to the same outcomes.

Very basic stuff.

They actually make apartheid South Africa look positively benign by comparison, which is some feat.

South Africa were banned from most international sport for decades, even rugby relented in the end and ostracised them.

Israel will produce a shiny pop act for the Eurovision in May and they'll be all smiles and leotards and white teeth and lovely make up and pink puffer jackets and we'll all be told to cheer and vote for them and believe that this is a perfectly normal country like any other. Pass the effing sick bucket.

That post is a load of hot air. Remember what this exchange was about: the anti-Semitic trope that "Jews = Israel".

Jews do not equal Israel.

You still maintain they do.

This is prima facie anti-Semitism.