Column: Progressive Activism Against Israel Is Helping to Fuel Antisemitism Among Young People

[RandySF]

Of all the awful consequences of the Oct. 7 massacre in Israel, one stands out above all else: that the savage murder of more than 1,200 Israelis and the kidnapping of hundreds of others has led to the most significant wave of anti-Jewish hatred in recent American history.

It adds insult to profound injury—and if public opinion is to be believed, things may only get worse for American Jews.

According to a report last week from the Anti-Defamation League (ADL), there have been more antisemitic incidents since Oct. 7 than any other two-month period since the ADL started keeping such statistics 45 years ago. (In New York City alone, there’s been a reported 85 percent increase in antisemitic property crime since Oct. 7.).

These episodes will be all too familiar to American Jews, repeated over Shabbat dinners and group texts since Oct. 7: antisemitic vandalism and mass protests outside Jewish-owned businesses across the country, including a falafel shop in Philadelphia; yarmulke-wearing Jews attacked and yelled at in public; swastikas and assaults against Jews outside synagogues and at community centers; and countless pro-Palestinian rallies where protesters voice blatantly antisemitic and even genocidal rhetoric.



https://www.thedailybeast.com/progressive-activism-against-israel-is-helping-to-fuel-antisemitism-among-young-people?ref=wrap

[Sympthsical]

1. "The idea is to appeal to people who know nothing."

That is very much the object of the exercise.

And if you scratch the surface of some of these protests even the tiniest bit, you'll very rapidly observe how obvious that is.

[Eko]

2. I would disagree with the first sentence.

Of all the awful consequences of the Oct. 7 massacre in Israel, one stands out above all else: that the savage murder of more than 1,200 Israelis and the kidnapping of hundreds of others has led to the most significant wave of anti-Jewish hatred in recent American history.
I would say that Israels response to that by killing a lot of civilians is responsible for the majority of the backlash. I oppose antisemitism and think protesting someone because they are Jewish is straight out wrong as well as vandalism and other things like that.

[Earth-shine]

4. I agree with everything you wrote.

It's not the killing of 1200 Israelis causing more anti-semitism. If the public relations info had been better managed, the horrible sequence of events on Oct 7 could have been a rallying cry for world sympathy with Israel.

It's the killing of 20,000 Palestinians that is fueling anti-Israel and antisemitic sentiments, beyond what they already were.

Destroying Gaza will not rid us of Hamas. Like cockroaches, they scatter, reproduce, and will come back.

As a man with a Jewish name, I've been dealing with antisemitism all my life.

[Eko]

7. Thanks, and sorry for having people be shitty and anti-Semitic to you.

Personally I think Biden lost out on a huge chance to make a difference. Love him totally but,,, and this actually could have happened but been dismissed by Israel. We should have formed a coalition with Israel to send in ours and theirs special forces backed up by the more elite troops to take out Hamas. They had Americans and the public opinion in the US would prob have backed that mostly. What would the republicans say, hey, we dont back up Israel? Second thought we should have just done it alone if they didnt want us to do it. There are US citizens on both sides there and we could help them at the same time. I certainly don't want US soldiers to die, but the alternative that has been going on is very bad. Just my thoughts.
Keep on keeponing.
Eko.

[brush]

31. Absolutely not. No American troops to Israel. Bad idea that would...

Last edited Sat Dec 23, 2023, 12:31 PM - Edit history (1)

widen the war and damage Biden's election chances. He's mishandled it already IMO by continuing funding the bombings (2000 lb bombs, please), doing that would be worst.

Why would we send troops to Israel and drew the line against that because it would widen that war also?

[Eko]

33. eh,

I'm not looking at it for Biden's election chances although that is serious. I'm looking at it for what is right and I think the bombing is worse. The special forces would be more targeted and have less collateral damage but with more losses on our side. Just something to think about.
Brush, thanks for the conversations, I without a doubt appreciate it tons. This is a difficult conversation and people get heated and I 100% appreciate being able to have one with you on this without that happening. That is rare on here currently.
Keep on keeponing.
PS, keep replying if you want, not trying to end it. Just giving my appreciation.

[Igel]

45. At the same time, before bombardment even started in Gaza,

there were protests and calls of/for solidarity with the Palestinian "resistance" and statements that it was all entirely Israel's fault--the same kind of argument that those who place the blame for the Gaza situation squarely on Hamas, but without the benefit of any signed and approved international treaties or conventions, just peer-reviewed articles in formerly niche journals.

Those protesting for the "resistance" are now protesting against the "oppressors" ... sort of like asking which side a coin has, obverse pro-resistance or reverse anti-Israel.

[Mossfern]

55. There were already pro Palestinian/ anti"Zionist" marches before Israel retaliated much later.

As a matter of fact, it was stunning that on October 8th there were anti Israel marches and protests.
That's some pretty quick organizing.

[Earth-shine]

64. This situation did not begin with the Oct 7 attack.

You imply that the protesters knew about plans for the attack beforehand. I think not. For example, in the Arab world, similar protests were made against the US the day after 9-11.

There was plenty of anti-Israel sentiment in Palestine before Oct 7, which is why this attack could take place. There was enough support for it.

Nothing justifies the savagery of Hamas on Oct 7, but there are reasons why it happened. Many considered Gaza an open-air prison. Doesn't matter whether you agree.

1200 Israeli killed. 20,000 Gazans killed. This is done. What matters now is what happens next.

More war will create more anti-Israel sentiment now, and more Hamas fighters in the future generations.

[Mossfern]

73. And this justifies

antisemitism in the US?

Gaza is not an "open air prison" using that slogan is just what it is - sloganeering.
Just as the term "apartheid" for Israel is sloganeering. I wish people using that term
understood what it really means.

Just what do you think protesters chanting "from the river to the sea" means?

Understand that Israel is considered a safe haven for Jewish people who are being oppressed.
It's a constant in our history.
Antisemitic actions and demonstrations in the US and other countries will only drive otherwise
complacent Jews to want to support Israel and it's actions even more.

There are so many logical inconsistencies in these threads about antisemitism, it makes my head spin.

[Earth-shine]

80. I previously said nothing justifies the brutality of Oct 7.

And whether you think so or not, the Gazans largely have felt oppressed.

>> "from the river to the sea" means?

It's been noted elsewhere, based on polling, that most of the younger protesters in the US don't even know what it means.

To them, it's just some words of freedom. They don't even know which river or sea.

> Antisemitic actions and demonstrations in the US and other countries will only drive otherwise complacent Jews
> to want to support Israel and it's action

And further destruction of Gaza will produce more antisemitism.

> Understand that Israel is considered a safe haven for Jewish people

... as if I don't???

Then Bibi should have made it so. He ignored info that would have prevented Oct 7.

I was born Jewish. Your condescending tone ends this conversation.

[Mossfern]

84. You don't address antisemitism in the US

That's what the OP is about.
I'm sorry that you took my comments to be condescending, they weren't meant to be.
The fact that you were born Jewish doesn't really address the increasing antisemitism in the US

I still insist that using the same language as the chants of protesters is not a good starting point for productive dialogue and discussion.

American Jews did not elect Netanyahu

[Earth-shine]

89. I most certainly did address it.

The ongoing bombing of Gaza results in more anti-Israel sentiment and antisemitism worldwide.

Hamas must be destroyed, but the continued, often random feats of destruction in Gaza will not produce these results.

Most Gazans do not know the horrible details (like raping, burning, beheading) of the events of Oct 7. Many Gazans only know they are being bombed, killed, and forced to leave their homes by Israel. This will create the next generation of Hamas, Hezbollah, and others. They'll call themselves by other names, but still be a threat to Israel in the future.

[Mossfern]

90. This is the crux of the issue ...

Most American Jews have nothing to do with Israel, nor do they have any say in what the Israeli government does.

I seem to lack the finesse to communicate fully what I am talking about here. The Jewish teacher has nothing to do with what is happening in Gaza, yet some think that that teacher should be a target for hate and harm as well as any Jewish student or any unfortunate Jewish person on the street who happens to be wearing something that identifies them as being Jewish.

[Earth-shine]

91. Yes. Antisemitism is a thing.

And the longer the war goes on, the worse it will be.

[Mossfern]

92. Amazing....

SMH

[Earth-shine]

94. You are well past the point of making a point.

SMH? How insulting. All because, as you admit, you cannot express yourself.

[Mossfern]

95. I admit that some refuse to get an obvious point no matter how

it's presented. To blame the was between Hamas and Israel on all Jewish people in the United States is absurd.
There's another word for that behavior...

Funny, how many members here and elsewhere seem to get the point quite easily.

[Earth-shine]

96. "blame the was [sic] between Hamas and Israel on all Jewish people"

You have some serious reading comprehension problems if you think I'm guilty of that.

I have very Jewish-sounding last name. I've been subject to antisemitism all my life.

I don't need you to tell me what it is by writing nonsequiturs about Jewish teachers and students.

You have said you have problems expressing yourself (your own words). I submit to you that it is because the logical conclusion of your beliefs is that an Israeli life is worth more than a Palestinian's.

You think you are one of God's few chosen people? You think you are better than others?

Such notions are among the many reasons I denounced all religions at an early age.

You really seem want to get the last word. Have at it. I will not respond to anything else you write. You made your point, antisemitism is bad. We all get that and hopefully agree.

[Ace Rothstein]

9. The problem with that is the Pro-Pal / Anti-Israel protests started before the Israeli bodies were cold.

[Eko]

12. Huh. They did?

There were American people protesting within 24 hours of the attack? I'm not saying that's not true but could you provide some links or something of this?
Thanks,
Eko.

[Ace Rothstein]

13. Yes, they absolutely did.

https://www.pbs.org/newshour/nation/demonstrators-rally-across-the-u-s-in-response-to-conflict-between-israel-and-hamas

[Eko]

14. Delete. Just not a discussion I want to have.

[yardwork]

23. That's kind of a lame response, frankly.

It would be gracious to acknowledge that the poster was correct. They provided a link, as you requested.

[Eko]

25. If you say so.

I didn't say they were correct. I think I can actually make the case I was correct but sometimes you can win the argument and come off in a way that you don't want to. Logic may win, but emotion has to be taken into account for everyone involved and knowing where to stop can be important. Sometimes you can win and still lose.

[yardwork]

26. The article is dated October 9 and discusses protests that had been happening "for days."

The HAMAS attack was on October 7.

[Eko]

27. The protest in the article was on the 8th.

I already researched this. I found three protests on the eighth. That being said my answer could be seen as disrespectful while still correct and I choose at this time not to go down that road. Winning the argument is just not worth that. Hopefully you can respect that and I will at this time accept utter defeat in this argument rather than going down that road. Happy?

[edisdead]

46. Wow.

It isn’t about winning or losing. It is about reconsidering your opinion based on information that was provided to you when you didn’t have it.

THAT is what a discussion should provide.

[Eko]

87. Post 86

Done with this.

[yardwork]

47. October 8 was the day after HAMAS attacked Israel.

One day after a brutal attack and there were well-organized pro-Palestinian protests celebrating HAMAS's attack.

As the other poster said, who gives a damn about winning an argument on an anonymous message board? We're pointing out that the anti-Israeli protests began immediately after the HAMAS attack, not weeks later. The protests weren't caused by Israel's campaign in Gaza. They predate it.

[Eko]

86. Here, what day and time is it in Israel?

What day and time did the protests happen in NY?
What did the poster say to me?
Thanks,

[Dorian Gray]

41. It is absolutely 100% true

here in NYC pro-Palestine/Anti-Israel protests popped up on October 8th in Times Square. https://www.nydailynews.com/2023/10/08/pro-palestine-rally-in-times-square/

Article dated October 8th, 2023.

[DemocraticPatriot]

24. Accusations of 'anti-semitism' against those people who were attacking Israelis and Jews

before the Israeli military had even responded, would seem to be arguably quite correct---
and no doubt, some of those who now oppose this war against Gaza are the same people...


But IMHO, the vast majority of those who are now speaking out against the disproportionate Israeli military response are not anti-semetics....

They just oppose war and needless civilian deaths, and especially the young people who are more idealistic than us more jaded seniors---

unfortunately they have fallen into 'bad company'.....


There is no 'moral high ground' in this war which can be based upon religion or heritage,
and it seems to me that those who ought to comport themselves as 'the good guys',
have been rapidly transforming themselves into 'the bad guys' in 'the court of world opinion'...

Yes, there is no 'excuse' for hating Jews because of this war,
any more than there is an 'excuse' for hating Palestinians or Muslims...

Unfortunately, there are too many young people in this country who, while perhaps quite idealistic, have become confused on that particular issue....

I do not excuse them for that, I implore them to use their heads and not surrender to 'emotion without reason'


Hatred of a 'group' is WRONG, no matter what group it is, and no matter what the perceived provocation....

Even President George W. Bush spoke out against group hatred against Muslims in the wake of 9-11
(perhaps his finest moment, there is not much to compete with that in his presidency)

[DemocraticPatriot]

20. Thanks. You took the words right out of my mouth....

I deplored the massacre in Israel---

but I suspected that it would lead to a disproportionate military response by Israel which would result in the deaths of many more Palestinian civilians which would dwarf the casualties in Israel--- because that has been the historical pattern. That is what they have done.

Israel should have, and would have, retained the sympathy of most of the world,
if not for their disproportionate response on Gaza,
i.e. what amounts to the carpet-bombing of densely-packed civilians, mostly women and children,
in order to kill a few terrorists....

I am reminded of John Paul Vann's exhortation early in the Vietnam war---
that 'we should kill the enemy with this, not this' (knives, not big bombs with their unavoidable 'collateral damage', which would only build opposition to us among the survivors)


I sympathize with the young people of the world who take a stand against war and the excessive killing of civilian women and children in Gaza.

I have no sympathy at all for those who are using this sad war to cultivate a hatred of Jews....

There is no excuse for cultivating a hatred of Jews as a group because of what the Israeli military is doing,
nor for targeting American Jews to protest it----

An American Jew who runs a restaurant in New York or wherever, has no more responsibility for this war,
than does a child in Gaza....

Israel should stop the bombing, and use only their ground troops to fight against Hamas in Gaza---

although it seems that those ground troops cannot even avoid killing their own hostages who wave white flags, (????)
there would still be fewer innocent casualties than continuing to drop 1,000 and 2,000 pound bombs upon a densely packed civilian population


I just want the war to stop. I condemn hatred, no matter what the source.

[yardwork]

21. The antisemitic attacks began on October 8, long before the Israelis retaliated.

[Cha]

28. Yes they did.. and I

Don’t think it’s Disproportionate.
HAMAS made sure of that.

[Eko]

32. You are an OG.

And I try to do my best to respect the OG's. So I'll respect your opinion that its not disproportionate. But I would suggest that you should consider that less than 2,000 vs 20,000 is disproportionate. Or at the very lest see how others could see it as such.
Thanks, and with much respect,
Keep on keeponing.
Eko.

[Cha]

34. Hey Eko... I'm not going

to debate this any further than to say that it's Not the number that makes me feel this way.. it's What and the Way HAMAS Sadistically Tortured, Raped, Mutilated, and Murdered the Israelis.. and those Visiting to learn Agriculture for instance..

Link to tweet

Hamas kills bid to revive ceasefire deal, hostage release -WSJ

"Hamas's stance remains: they don't have a desire for humanitarian pauses. Hamas wants a complete end to the Israeli war on Gaza," a Palestinian official said.

https://www.democraticunderground.com/100218542611#top

And there you have it.. So those GD protesters can talk to HAMAS like some of us have Always said and Stop Harassing at times Violently Dems and Jewish Students, Teachers and Businesses.. and anything they've Crashed with their Stupidity.

You're' not changing my mind and I'm not trying to change yours.

[Eko]

88. Not trying to change your mind either.

I wouldn't harass anyone either most especially someone for being Jewish. I respect you and I respect your views. We may disagree but I am glad we can and be civil about it and converse.
Thanks Cha!
Eko.

[Eko]

30. So that was the majority of it?

Remember, I said this. I would say that Israels response to that by killing a lot of civilians is responsible for the majority of the backlash. Did more happen on the 8th or since then?

[Dorian Gray]

42. If the sticking point is the word "majority"

then you are correct. The majority of the backlash is bc of the Israeli response.

Hamas intended to trigger that response with the brutality of their actions.

And the reality is that there were people ready to go, displaying swastikas at pro-Palestinian marches, on October 8th, before Israel had a chance to respond. I think we HAVE to examine that in the protest movements in order to take on a serious dialog about the response to I/P in the USA.

[yardwork]

22. Not true. The antisemitic attacks began on Oct 8, long before Israel retaliated.

There were crowds of people in the U.S. celebrating the HAMAS attack immediately after it occurred.

Google it.

[question everything]

29. You are mistaken. Before Israel started retaliating, many justified the massacre

against “colonialist’ Israel.

[Dorian Gray]

40. What disproves this

is the protests that sprung up on October 8th, before the Israeli's had a chance to respond militarily.

What also disproves this, is the constant attack on Jewish institutions and Jewish neighborhoods in NYC and the USA. Israel's response shouldn't increase attacks on those institutions. They are not Israel. That's just full throated anti-semitism.

[Sky Jewels]

61. Exactly.

Netanyahu ignored all warnings of a pending Hamas attack and then responded to Hamas’ brutal terrorist attacks with genocide and the leveling of Gaza. The world looks on in horror as thousands and thousands of innocents, including countless children and babies, are mercilessly slaughtered.

[Grins]

76. Thought the same thing.

As horrible as Oct. 7th was, what stands out now is the deaths of 20,000+ Palestinians. That’s an 11:1 ratio and it’s going to get even larger as they are facing mass starvation.

All of this is the fault of Netanyahu - and the Likud!! And the neo-conservatives in the Republican Party. (Lookin’ at you Richard Pearl and Doug Feith!)

And, once again, it is screwing with American elections .

[LexVegas]

3. The far left and right bend and meet at antisemitism. nt

[LeftInTX]

5. The progressive Nazis

[Cha]

10. Yes so "progressive "

Or so they say.

[Cha]

6. I can't imagine why.. fucking tik Tok

Last edited Sat Dec 23, 2023, 12:31 AM - Edit history (1)

Fucking violent protesters Are Anti Semitic

[malaise]

39. Or anti- Apartheid n/t

[tritsofme]

82. They might hide behind that label, but we all know they are anti-Semites.

[malaise]

83. My friends and I could quote Anne Frank

and Mandela.
Don’t expect support from young people while Israel treats Palestinians as lesser than. This is the present they are seeing.
It,’s not complicated. Human rights for all.

[Behind the Aegis]

72. How right you are, Cha!

Young Americans are turning against Israel — and you can thank TikTok

If you’re not worried about TikTok yet, you should be.

The conspiracy–superspreading platform is not just wreaking havoc on the self-esteem of young people and dominating hours of their day. There is also increasing evidence that the app, and the country behind it, deliberately funnels young Americans content specifically designed to foment geopolitical instability and anti-Israel sentiment.

A new report out today from the National Contagion Research Institute, which studies the spread of online hate, reveals substantial evidence that content on TikTok is “promoted or muted” depending on “whether it is aligned or opposed to the interests of the Chinese government.”

In other words, as one expert privately put it, China is using TikTok to protect their investments. And those investments include interests in Arab countries antagonistic to the Jewish state.

Journalists at The Wall Street Journal recently conducted an experiment signing up for TikTok accounts as a 13-year-olds and found that within hours, the app began feeding them apocalyptic, conspiratorial and “highly polarized content, reflecting often extreme pro-Palestinian or pro-Israel positions.” A majority of the posts shown “supported the Palestinian view,” the journalists said. Even after they put an account in restricted mode, “the account’s feed was almost entirely dominated by vivid images and descriptions of the conflict.”

more...

BTW, Mahalo nui loa for your active support!

[Cha]

78. A ole pilikia, BtA 🕊️🕯️🇮🇱💙Rec

Mahalo nui loa to you!

[womanofthehills]

79. If you would go on Tic Toc you might see

Thousands of videos of injured & dead babies & children UNLIKE anything American kids have ever seen in their lives.

I’m glad TicToc is showing what is happening in this war - the killing and maiming of innocents. After viewing 100s of babies with no legs or hands - often with burns and horrible wounds- American kids are having nightmares, horrified & becoming anti-war.. It’s not the same as antisemitism and many of the horrified kids are Jewish. Neutanyu’s horrific war crimes are not making the world safer -but way less safe.

Most people on DU are older so they don’t realize the kids of today care less about who is what nationality than any group in the past. Most of them are so mixed race. My 12 yr old great grandson is Anglo, Hispanic and Palestinian. Many of my Jewish girlfriends here in NM are married to Hispanic men so their kids all have Hispanic last names. Many of my friend’s grandkids are half black, half Hispanic and so many kids have brothers & sisters of other races - 2 of my grandkids have half siblings with other mothers of other races. If you go on TicToc - about 3/4 of the family videos are mixed race. It’s the older folk who are still into classifying people.

Nicki Haley - the big pro war monger wants TicToc gone so we can only imagine the horrors of war - not see them esp if they include the babies left to die when drs were ordered to leave hospitals. If there was TicToc during the Viet Nam & Gulf war - our marches would have been way larger than they were. Notice how the news rarely posts peace marches. Huge one coming up Saturday, January 13 at National Mall. I bet this will be bigger than ever - and the news will barely cover it !!

[Behind the Aegis]

85. There is a difference among showing death, propaganda, and anti-Semitic content.

Read the article.

[David__77]

8. Solidarity with people in Gaza, who are facing a war of annihilation, is urgently needed.

[Sympthsical]

11. People should try building that then

I know. It's weird the whole, "Spread every anti-Israel article one can find, true or not, dabble in antisemitic tropes, say nothing about what Jews are going through, and constantly utilize some of the most anti-Israel, anti-Jewish sources in global media" isn't working.

I am as baffled as you at its failure to build consensus.

Shall we ever solve this mystery?

[LeftInTX]

15. So this student group goes around tearing down posters of hostages...real classy...

[Cha]

17. Yeah if classy

Means they’re full of sadistic violent Shit.

[Elessar Zappa]

19. And what do you have to say

about all the vile Jew hatred being spewed at these rallies and the anti-Semitic crimes that have been committed?

[sarisataka]

66. Is harassing and threatening

Jews in the US the way to show that solidarity? Do the US Jews have anything to do with Gaza?

[Happy Hoosier]

97. "War of annihilation"

What hyperbolic nonsense.

Some of you wonder why you are seen as “Antisemitic” by some? It’s crap like this.

[Cha]

16. American Jews being Violently

Harassed and one woman punched in the face Do Not Deserve this!!
I don’t give a shit who tries to justify it.

GD HAMAS just said they won’t do the ceasefire that IDF wanted for An Humanitarian Pause.
Never hear the asshole protesters say a word about that.

[Elessar Zappa]

18. The far left and far right bend toward each other

when it comes to anti-semitism. I don’t consider those people progressive in any way.

[Behind the Aegis]

35. I have mistakenly called it a "toe bar".

However, it is a "heel bar" or "straight bar" which is an attachment used when a horse has a weak hoof. So, if you look at a horseshoe and have one side, far left, and the other, far right, they are connected by the heel bar, or what I call the "triple A heel bar". The Triple A: absolutism, authoritarianism, and, of course, anti-Semitism. Both sides have almost a religious dogma when it comes to Israel, the right definitely does. Of course, when people are that far on the spectrum, everyone is to the right/left of their positions. For fuck's sake, Liz Cheney has been called a "leftist" by the MAGA right! The only big difference is that the right is more upfront and obvious in their anti-Semitism by flat-out using the word "Jew", whereas the left masks it in doublespeak and dog-whistles.

It is true that the majority of criticism of Israel is just that, criticism. However, some is motivated by bigotry, it could be regionalism or anti-Semitism. Of course, some is just plain ole propaganda, and that is usually exaggeration, but it could be motivated by anti-Semitism and/or regionalism. The problem on the left is too many refuse to acknowledge that some criticism is not pure criticism, but tainted with bigotry. Of course, there are those who basically screech "you are making false accusations of anti-Semitism" to anyone who dares not toe the line of the left dogma in regard to Israel.

Frankly, what is happening now is not a mystery. Anyone even remotely familiar with the Holocaust (and, of course, we have seen many a young person don't know shit about it, even deny it happened) will be able to see the parallels. The left in Nazi Germany, also had a problem with Jews. So, some things, never fucking change!

[LeftInTX]

36. This is disturbing. I don't believe this young lady is involved with any Palestinian group.

She says the posters are propaganda. This is disturbing. Someone told her this. I can't picture her protesting etc. It's anti-semitism, but someone taught her this.

Link to tweet

[yardwork]

48. It's extremely disturbing.

This is the same raw hatred and disdain toward the people who were raped, tortured, murdered and kidnapped by HAMAS that we've seen in many other videos.

How can such disdain and ugliness be justified.

I wish everybody would watch this. Please make it an OP.

[yardwork]

49. I googled this and learned it was recorded in early November.

In other words, this woman was motivated to tear down posters of HAMAS's victims and show disdain and contempt for those victims only a few weeks after the HAMAS attacks. She said it was propaganda and indicated that she didn't care at all about the victims.

George Mason University, where this occurred, issued a very lame response.

https://wtop.com/education/2023/11/george-mason-u-responds-to-video-of-woman-tearing-down-posters-of-kidnapped-israeli-children/

I wish someone would interview this student and find out where she learned what she thinks she knows.

[LeftInTX]

56. Yes. Someone influenced her.

[yardwork]

58. We watched this anti-Israeli propaganda go out the day after HAMAS attacked.

[betsuni]

37. K&R

[malaise]

38. Or paying attention

That is all

[yardwork]

50. So you think antisemitism is fine?

[malaise]

52. Not everything is anti-semitism

Some of us are also anti-apartheid. The treatment of Palestinians by the Israeli government is beyond unacceptable.
Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.

[yardwork]

53. Your post is garbled, so I don't understand.

You responded to the OP, which says:

Progressive Activism Against Israel Is Helping to Fuel Antisemitism Among Young People

Your response indicates that "paying attention" is fueling antisemitism among young people. In other words, you seem to be saying that anyone "paying attention" should be antisemitic.

[malaise]

57. Corrected

Israel cannot practice apartheid and expect others to ignore it.
Further settlements are unacceptable as are the ungoing war crimes.
There are lots of victims on this planet. We either believe in rights for all and not just for our preferred folks. It doesn’t work like that.

[yardwork]

59. Sure, but we're talking about antisemitism in this thread.

Real antisemitism, as in the topic at hand. In the OP. The article that views real, actual instances of antisemitism.

[LeftInTX]

74. One of the problems in Israel is that 60 percent of the country are Jews expelled from Arab or Muslim countries.

They are known as Mizrahi Jews. With the creation of Israel, they were displaced from Iraq, Iran, Syria, Yemen, Libya, Tunisia, Morocco etc. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mizrahi_Jews_in_Israel#:~:text=Mizrahi%20Jews%20constitute%20one%20of,rule%20during%20the%20Middle%20Ages.

The Mizrahi Jews are the ones which are the most anti-Palestinian. The European Jews, which we associate with the founding of Israel, tend to be more tolerant and liberal, however their population is aging out.

The most rabid right winger in Netanyahu's cabinet is Itamar Ben-Gvir. He's Iraqi and Kurdish Jew. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Itamar_Ben-Gvir
The guy who shot Rabin is a Yemenite Jew. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yigal_Amir


Even the nickname "Bibi" comes from the Arab "Habibi", because Netanyahu has huge support among Arab speaking Jews. It's complicated. I don't support settlements. I do support a two state solution. Both Palestinians and Jews have a right to the region.

However, it's complicated. It doesn't justify killing all the civilians in this war.
Palestinians deserve their own state. However, there is plenty of blame to go around.
Gaza has plenty of money, but so much of it has gone to Hamas. (Hamas has an annual military budget of $600 million)
However, this does not count all the cryptocurrency involved and Hamas has been great with it. Putin and others have been supporting Hamas with cyrpto-currency. When I saw their huge multi-million dollar tunnel, I just about freaked. Hamas is very well funded. Despite the block aid, Hamas was able to get a subway borer into Gaza and created a huge steel reinforced subway like tunnel below the the water table.
Also the small size of Israel/Palestine is big factor in all of this.
It seems that no one wants to compromise. Hamas refuses to compromise and want to eliminate Israel.
Meanwhile, Israel has 60% of the population who were displaced from Muslim countries.

[sarisataka]

65. It is fine to be antiapartheid

And believe Israel is treating Palestinians unacceptably.

How are Jews in the US responsible for any of that? Is there any way to describe harassing and threatening Jews in the US other than antisemitism?

[Zeitghost]

67. You're at least admitting

You're at least admitting that you are anti-semitic and also anti apartheid.

[BannonsLiver]

69. Thought the same thing with the "are also"

[BannonsLiver]

68. Fascinated with the use of "are also" in the response.

[malaise]

70. As usual you miss the point

That is all

[BannonsLiver]

71. On the contrary. The point is pellucidly clear.

Now, THAT is all.

[dembotoz]

43. well nutty yahoo the war criminal makes that rather easy

[yardwork]

51. The behavior of one person justifies antisemitism?

Tell us more.

Does Clarence Thomas's behavior justify racism?

[dembotoz]

98. perhaps it does to many...it sure as hell makes it easy

[Patton French]

44. Antisemitism has been around for decades before Israel's response to Oct 7.

Israel’s response is being used as cover for antisemitism.

[LeftInTX]

63. Some of the anti-war stuff is causing a rise in anti-semitism in young adults.

They're agreeing with old fashioned conspiracy theories. (The medieval ones..like "Jews rule the world" and much worse). These are like the Marjorie Taylor-Greene Jewish space laser theories.

What's weird, I NEVER heard these conspiracy theories growing up.
Never heard them from my friends. I went to an almost white HS near Green Bay, WI (We had a handful of Jewish students, maybe 10 out of 500?)
But, I had been a military brat until I was 13 too. I heard the "N" word and "J" word (in refence to Japanese) alot.

Old fashioned Jewish caricatures are being spread by Arabs on social media. (I see them on twitter in response to Israel)
There is also an "organ harvesting" theory going around. It was spread by American super model Gigi Hadid
https://www.conspiracywatch.info/en/tag/gigi-hadid/

Young people are picking up on this stuff and believing it.

[JohnSJ]

54. There has always been a "Jewish" problem with the far left and far right. It is just that the antisemitism from the

far left is seldom talked about.

[yardwork]

60. I'm talking about it now and I'm not going to shut up.

I'm getting angrier and angrier about it, in fact.

[JohnSJ]

62. It should be.

[betsuni]

75. Thank you.

[AZSkiffyGeek]

77. Jewish friend of mine said he encountered more antisemitism....

Among liberals in Boston than among conservatives in Phoenix.

[reymega life]

81. they should've known that this was gonna happen

[Mossfern]

93. Who is 'they?'