Sure; I disagree entirely. It's not a matter of holding Israel to a higher standard; any socialist worthy of the name detests oppression and lack of democracy wherever they are found - such as here in the UK or in apartheid Israel's allied states such as Saudi Arabia or Bahrain. We demand freedom from poverty, racist abuse, police killin…
Sure; I disagree entirely. It's not a matter of holding Israel to a higher standard; any socialist worthy of the name detests oppression and lack of democracy wherever they are found - such as here in the UK or in apartheid Israel's allied states such as Saudi Arabia or Bahrain. We demand freedom from poverty, racist abuse, police killings and unfair restrictions for everyone, not just as Zionists do for white Jewish people in Israel. The Palestinian Authority is a stooge of apartheid Israel and it does not work in the interests of Palestinian people any more than the Israeli government does. Israel/Palestine needs to be a single, democratic state with full civil, political and human rights for all, not a racist ethno-state as at present.
Again, you're missing the point. This article is about America Jews' response to anti-Semitic tropes disseminated by certain politicians (Trump and Omar). You did read it right?
Yes, I did. You are claiming that it is anti-Semitic to demand that Israel and its Zionist supporters in the USA or elsewhere behave in democratic ways. I don't agree. If you can point to which tropes you believe to be anti-Semitic, we can discuss those; you didn't provide any.
I have never claimed that, and if this is the kind of intellectually dishonest discourse one can expect below Peter's articles, then that speaks volumes about his fanbase.
If you go and read the article and my response to it at the top of this thread, you will find the anti-Semitic trope under discussion is the insinuation that Jews (not "Zionists") control America. Both Trump and Omar have disseminated it. Now do you have anything to say about it, or are you going to try and change the subject again?
AIPAC's influence in the USA is certainly about money. Why else do you imagine it exists? "Israel has been the most significant recipient of U.S. security assistance, with more than $3B allocated annually in recent years. Since FY2001, Israel has received over $63B in security assistance, with over 90% funded by the State Department's Foreign Military Financing program, a grant program that provides money to purchase U.S. armaments. " (Factsheet: US Arms Sales and Security Assistance to Israel, CIP Security Assistance Monitor)
Ms Omar had no reason to apologise for her clear and true statement. Apartheid Israel would be forced to democratise if it were not for this gigantic flow of funds and weapons. So obviously, money is the main focus for the AIPAC lobby group.
Apparently most of the Democratic party, including American Jews, disagree with you. And made their voices heard accordingly. And I notice once again you have failed to back up Peter's accusations that there's an unfair double standard. Good day to you, it is clear nothing more will be gained from further conversation.
It is clear from your statements that you refuse to look at the facts. Thankfully, a large and growing proportion of American Jewish people fundamentally disagree with you.
"Among respondents to the survey commissioned by the Jewish Electorate Institute, a group led by prominent Jewish Democrats, 34 percent agreed that “Israel’s treatment of Palestinians is similar to racism in the United States,” 25 percent agreed that “Israel is an apartheid state” and 22 percent agreed that “Israel is committing genocide against the Palestinians.”
Among younger voters included in the survey released Tuesday, agreement with those statements was higher, though still in the minority."
Oh, OK, so you agree with Donald Trump's and Omar's anti-Semitic statements. Interesting. Mr. Beinart, any thoughts on one of your subscribers spreading anti-Semitism in the comments of your substack?
I made no comment about Mr Trump. I agreed with Ms Omar that AIPAC's work in the USA is mainly about obtaining funds. It is also about ensuring a steady and huge flow of weapons to apartheid Israel so that it can slaughter Palestinian men, women and children and keep Israel solely for white, Jewish people (see https://www.liberationnews.org/israels-long-history-of-anti-black-racism/)
As for your other question:
"So what does Zionism mean today, and how many American Jews reject Zionism? It isn’t an easy question to answer, since Zionism itself is such contested territory. But if we accept the current definition advanced by the state of Israel itself, that Zionism demands a state in which Jews hold a voting majority, then fully twenty percent of American Jews are not Zionists.
We know this because we know that one in five American Jews think it is more important for Israel to be a democracy than for it to remain a Jewish state, thanks to an AJC poll of American Jews are not Zionists). When asked if Israel can be both a Jewish state and a democracy, and if not, which should it be, fully 20% of American Jews answered “No, it should be a democracy.”"
I know. That's why I'm asking you if you agree with his view that Israel controls the US government. The fact that you keep dodging the question is illuminating. Peter, I think we got another one over here!
Apartheid Israel's government - composed of Zionists, allied to extremist Islamic states and friendly with the anti-Semitic far Right around the world - has a great deal of influence in the US government via AIPAC. How else do you explain the continuing vast amounts of money and weapons that the USA funnels to keep Israel from having to become a free democracy?
You might explain how what I wrote is anti-Semitic rather than anti-Zionist and anti-racist. You entirely failed to engage with my arguments or provide any counter-evidence. As for anti-Semitism, you might explain why Zionists and the apartheid government of Israel are so friendly with the anti-Semitic far Right.
"Fascistic President of Brazil Jair Bolsonaro visited the state of Israel over March and April this year, where he was warmly welcomed.
His tour is just the latest in a series of visits building connections and links between far-right anti-Semitic political figures and the Israeli government. In December last year, the Italian Interior Minister and leader of the racist anti-immigrant Lega Party, Matteo Salvini, visited Israel where he declared his unconditional support for the regime in Tel Aviv.
It is no exaggeration to say that Israel has actively courted the friendship and connections of ultra-right and anti-immigrant parties and ideologues from around the world. In turn, the latter have expressed their ideological support for the ethnocratic Zionist project, while holding explicitly anti-Semitic viewpoints.
Why is there an open and burgeoning alliance between the far-right fascistic parties and the Zionist state of Israel?"
Sure; I disagree entirely. It's not a matter of holding Israel to a higher standard; any socialist worthy of the name detests oppression and lack of democracy wherever they are found - such as here in the UK or in apartheid Israel's allied states such as Saudi Arabia or Bahrain. We demand freedom from poverty, racist abuse, police killings and unfair restrictions for everyone, not just as Zionists do for white Jewish people in Israel. The Palestinian Authority is a stooge of apartheid Israel and it does not work in the interests of Palestinian people any more than the Israeli government does. Israel/Palestine needs to be a single, democratic state with full civil, political and human rights for all, not a racist ethno-state as at present.
Again, you're missing the point. This article is about America Jews' response to anti-Semitic tropes disseminated by certain politicians (Trump and Omar). You did read it right?
Yes, I did. You are claiming that it is anti-Semitic to demand that Israel and its Zionist supporters in the USA or elsewhere behave in democratic ways. I don't agree. If you can point to which tropes you believe to be anti-Semitic, we can discuss those; you didn't provide any.
I have never claimed that, and if this is the kind of intellectually dishonest discourse one can expect below Peter's articles, then that speaks volumes about his fanbase.
If you go and read the article and my response to it at the top of this thread, you will find the anti-Semitic trope under discussion is the insinuation that Jews (not "Zionists") control America. Both Trump and Omar have disseminated it. Now do you have anything to say about it, or are you going to try and change the subject again?
AIPAC's influence in the USA is certainly about money. Why else do you imagine it exists? "Israel has been the most significant recipient of U.S. security assistance, with more than $3B allocated annually in recent years. Since FY2001, Israel has received over $63B in security assistance, with over 90% funded by the State Department's Foreign Military Financing program, a grant program that provides money to purchase U.S. armaments. " (Factsheet: US Arms Sales and Security Assistance to Israel, CIP Security Assistance Monitor)
Ms Omar had no reason to apologise for her clear and true statement. Apartheid Israel would be forced to democratise if it were not for this gigantic flow of funds and weapons. So obviously, money is the main focus for the AIPAC lobby group.
Apparently most of the Democratic party, including American Jews, disagree with you. And made their voices heard accordingly. And I notice once again you have failed to back up Peter's accusations that there's an unfair double standard. Good day to you, it is clear nothing more will be gained from further conversation.
It is clear from your statements that you refuse to look at the facts. Thankfully, a large and growing proportion of American Jewish people fundamentally disagree with you.
How large a proportion? Let's see some numbers of American Jews who think Israel is apartheid and a racist ethnostate.
https://www.haaretz.com/us-news/a-quarter-of-u-s-jews-agree-that-israel-is-an-apartheid-state-in-new-survey-1.9995986
"Among respondents to the survey commissioned by the Jewish Electorate Institute, a group led by prominent Jewish Democrats, 34 percent agreed that “Israel’s treatment of Palestinians is similar to racism in the United States,” 25 percent agreed that “Israel is an apartheid state” and 22 percent agreed that “Israel is committing genocide against the Palestinians.”
Among younger voters included in the survey released Tuesday, agreement with those statements was higher, though still in the minority."
I've never heard of this group and this one poll, but even if we take it at face value, the overwhelming majority of US Jews reject James' smears.
Oh, OK, so you agree with Donald Trump's and Omar's anti-Semitic statements. Interesting. Mr. Beinart, any thoughts on one of your subscribers spreading anti-Semitism in the comments of your substack?
I made no comment about Mr Trump. I agreed with Ms Omar that AIPAC's work in the USA is mainly about obtaining funds. It is also about ensuring a steady and huge flow of weapons to apartheid Israel so that it can slaughter Palestinian men, women and children and keep Israel solely for white, Jewish people (see https://www.liberationnews.org/israels-long-history-of-anti-black-racism/)
As for your other question:
"So what does Zionism mean today, and how many American Jews reject Zionism? It isn’t an easy question to answer, since Zionism itself is such contested territory. But if we accept the current definition advanced by the state of Israel itself, that Zionism demands a state in which Jews hold a voting majority, then fully twenty percent of American Jews are not Zionists.
We know this because we know that one in five American Jews think it is more important for Israel to be a democracy than for it to remain a Jewish state, thanks to an AJC poll of American Jews are not Zionists). When asked if Israel can be both a Jewish state and a democracy, and if not, which should it be, fully 20% of American Jews answered “No, it should be a democracy.”"
https://forward.com/opinion/430535/a-lot-more-jews-are-anti-zionists-than-you-think/
"I made no comment about Mr Trump. "
I know. That's why I'm asking you if you agree with his view that Israel controls the US government. The fact that you keep dodging the question is illuminating. Peter, I think we got another one over here!
Apartheid Israel's government - composed of Zionists, allied to extremist Islamic states and friendly with the anti-Semitic far Right around the world - has a great deal of influence in the US government via AIPAC. How else do you explain the continuing vast amounts of money and weapons that the USA funnels to keep Israel from having to become a free democracy?
So, yes, you agree with Mr. Trump. Peter, any thoughts on this anti-Semite in the comments section of your Substack?
You might explain how what I wrote is anti-Semitic rather than anti-Zionist and anti-racist. You entirely failed to engage with my arguments or provide any counter-evidence. As for anti-Semitism, you might explain why Zionists and the apartheid government of Israel are so friendly with the anti-Semitic far Right.
"Fascistic President of Brazil Jair Bolsonaro visited the state of Israel over March and April this year, where he was warmly welcomed.
His tour is just the latest in a series of visits building connections and links between far-right anti-Semitic political figures and the Israeli government. In December last year, the Italian Interior Minister and leader of the racist anti-immigrant Lega Party, Matteo Salvini, visited Israel where he declared his unconditional support for the regime in Tel Aviv.
It is no exaggeration to say that Israel has actively courted the friendship and connections of ultra-right and anti-immigrant parties and ideologues from around the world. In turn, the latter have expressed their ideological support for the ethnocratic Zionist project, while holding explicitly anti-Semitic viewpoints.
Why is there an open and burgeoning alliance between the far-right fascistic parties and the Zionist state of Israel?"
https://www.greenleft.org.au/content/zionism-and-ultra-right-%E2%80%93-warm-embrace-political-brethren