France's Jews Flee As Rioters Burn Paris Shops, Attack Synagogue

[JDPriestly]

5. It is. Anti-semitism is driving the hatred of Israel in certain quarters. Not all.

Some naive, historically illiterate people don't understand what is going on. But anti-semitism has been alive and well for many, many, many centuries. At least since, and probably well before the Inquisition.

I lived in Europe including in France and understand very well why Israel exists. Palestinians also deserve good lives, but Jewish people for absolutely no reason draw so much hatred that they have to have a homeland. It's hard for people who have not seen the ugly face of anti-Jewish sentiment to understand, but that is the reality.

Religious and cultural intolerance is a terrible thing for all of its victims. The Jews are not the only victims of it. But Israel exists for a reason. Many who do not understand this may be about to find out.

I was studying in France in 1965, and the anti-Jewish comments I heard were my first inkling of what anti-Jewish fanaticism is about. It woke me up but I still did not understand until I went back and lived in various parts of Europe at a later time.

I am not Jewish so people were very open with me. I was horrified. I do not feel like that about nay people of any race or religion.

People who hate Jewish people will give any excuse for their feelings. There are a couple of other ethnicities that also face a lot of prejudice. And in the US, Jewish people are normally not hated although a small minority is full of hate, but in Europe and perhaps in parts of Asia I have heard, the hatred is very strong. I don't understand why people feel that way, but I have heard it and seen it. So that is why I support Israel's right to exist.