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great question. i'm hoping to host a conversation between Dylan and one of the critics of that piece in the coming weeks, to explore the very concerns you raise

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Once again, straight from the ivory tower it's Peter Beinart! From the top mind that brought you the one-state solution comes the idea that marginalized groups aren't even allowed to decide what they consider bigotry against them!

Beinart, head back to Washington Square Park. Get up on that stage and declare your belief that women don't get to decide what is sexist and what isn't. Get up there and say that black organizations aren't allowed to determine what's anti-black racism. Instead, express your belief that there should be a liberal debate! A rational argument! As a white man, it's obviously very important for you to get your white, male views included in these conversations. God forbid we let the black community and the women decide these things for themselves. Peter Beinart needs to weigh in.

As for your complaining that Jews determining anti-Semitism "erases identity claims of Palestinians," try this on for size. If you want a "rational debate" over what constitutes bigotry and racism, that's one thing. It's a whole other kettle of fish if you want to include in that debate the viewpoints of a community that absolutely loathes the marginalized group. Since you seem to respect polls, how about the one that said 94% of Palestinians held anti-Semitic views and the study that anti-Israel beliefs corollate to anti-Semitic beliefs? Would you complain about David Duke's "erasure" if he isn't included in debates about what's anti-black racism? Matt Walsh's "erasure" if he doesn't have a seat at the table to determine transphobia?

It's completely absurd that with the amount of obvious, blatant anti-Semitism and Jew hatred that pours out of Palestine and its supporters on a daily basis that their views should be given the slightest consideration when determining anti-Semitism. It's ridiculous. It's entitled. It's classic Peter Beinart.

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May 30, 2023·edited May 30, 2023

Peter, there's no contradiction or "impasse" here.

The vast majority of Jews think anti-Zionism is anti-Semitism for a whole variety of reasons but mostly because Zionism is the extension of the Jewish people's rights. The Palestinians (according to you, you didn't bother to cite any polls) think Zionism is bigotry for a whole variety of reasons but mostly because Zionism exists at the expense of what they feel they're entitled to.

What constitutes bigotry, misogeny, homophobia, has always been a matter of opinion. Some black people think affirmative action is racist. Some gay people were opposed to gay marriage legislation. So, let the majority of each group decide for themselves what they think is bigotry against them, and let each individual person or government administration decide for themselves whether that group's argument is valid. Clearly the Biden administration think the Jews' argument is valid and the Palestinian argument is not. Probably because I daresay the Jewish argument is based on human rights while the Palestinian argument is based on temper tantrums.

You're assuming that the Biden administration adopted this definition of anti-Semitism solely because that's what the vast majority of Jews believe and because they think minority groups should decide what constitutes bigotry so the Biden administration repeats what those groups tell them unthinkingly. I think the Biden administration DID have a rational argument and a liberal debate in the public square, they just came to a different conclusion than you because they aren't willing to hold contradictory worldviews like "Ukrainians can have their own nation state but Jews can't." Your entire argument hinges on this one point that you haven't proven.

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You took one poll from the "Jewish Electoral Institute," whatever that is, which surveyed 800 AMERICAN Jews and based on the viewpoints of 200 of those Jews, decided that "there is not a Jewish consensus" worldwide on the definition of antisemitism and whether anti-Zionism is anti-Semitism. You have declared there's not a consensus based on 0.00125% of worldwide Jews.

If that's what you consider to be "not a consensus", I don't know what could be one. You're allegedly a Jew, so you might be familiar with the expression "two Jews three opinions." But when it comes to Israel, Jews in general are more united on the subject than really any other issue. "95% of Jews have favorable views of Israel.”

https://www.pewresearch.org/religion/2021/05/11/u-s-jews-connections-with-and-attitudes-toward-israel/

https://news.gallup.com/opinion/polling-matters/247937/americans-views-israel-remain-tied-religious-beliefs.aspx

https://www.pewforum.org/2013/10/01/chapter-5-connection-with-and-attitudes-towards-israel/

Meanwhile, you declare with no citations whatsoever that the "vast majority" of Palestinians think Zionism is bigotry and that among Palestinians there's a "real consensus." I'm willing to bet that I can find 200 Palestinians who don't think Zionism is bigotry. I'll start with Bassam Eid and Khaled Abu Toameh and take it from there.

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Thank you for this Peter!

This is how the conflict manifests itself in America. Growing Palestinian American presence in the conversation about the reality of the conflict, it’s history and American policy will be a big and necessary change to the ways we are having this debate in America and the American Jewish community. It’s about to get harder than it already is.

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This is exactly why Palestine and their allies like Peter keep trying to join the left, but they can’t do it. Because the pieces don’t exactly fit.

The left cares about human rights. Palestine doesn’t, except when it benefits them.

The left cares about minority rights. Palestine doesn’t, except when it benefits them.

The left cares about democracy. Palestine doesn’t, except when it benefits them.

And in this case, the left believes that minorities must be protected and listened to and respected. Palestine doesn’t….except when it benefits them. And that just isn’t going to wash in the real world. Among pro-Palestinians, it’s taken as gospel truth that Jews/“Zionists” are always playing the race card to silence criticism and or gain something. That’s not a left wing belief, Peter, that’s a RIGHT wing belief. No wonder Palestine can only find friends among the most radical leftists.

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Thanks for this

Kathy

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We need to look at the big picture and see we must join together in every way possible

Thanks for all you do

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May 31, 2023·edited May 31, 2023

“ Antisemitism is part of the machinery of division and fear politicians and pundits use to hold onto or expand their power — the same machinery that is used to target people of color, Muslims, Palestinians, and other minority communities. At a time when the dangers of white nationalism, including racism, antisemitism and Islamophobia, are all too apparent, the need to build safety for all people has never been greater.

However, the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance’s (IHRA) controversial working definition of antisemitism is fundamentally not the answer. The IHRA definition was originally drafted as a possible way for European governmental bodies to monitor antisemitism in Europe; as one of its authors points out, it was never intended for use in policy or legislation.

As a definition, it does nothing to make Jewish people safer. It fails to capture or identify the true nature of antisemitism or its root causes, and is of no use in identifying the different forms that racism and antisemitism often take. In essence, it is not fit for purpose. Moreover, when applied in policy or legislation, it violates our Constitutional right to free speech.”

https://www.jewishvoiceforpeace.org/2021/02/ihra/

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Israel’s One-State Reality It’s Time to Give Up on the Two-State Solution By Michael Barnett, Nathan Brown, Marc Lynch, and Shibley Telhami

https://www.foreignaffairs.com/middle-east/israel-palestine-one-state-solution

“It is past time to grapple with what a one-state reality means for policy, politics, and analysis. Palestine is not a state in waiting, and Israel is not a democratic state incidentally occupying Palestinian territory. All the territory west of the Jordan River has long constituted a single state under Israeli rule, where the land and the people are subject to radically different legal regimes, and Palestinians are permanently treated as a lower caste. Policymakers and analysts who ignore this one-state reality will be condemned to failure and irrelevance, doing little beyond providing a smokescreen for the entrenchment of the status quo.”

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I agree with Peter but think some things need clarification.

If we are to believe the claim that all Jews trace their roots in Palestine, are they not brothers to the Palestinians who are also semites?

Is Jew (ish) a race or a religion? Can a black, asian etc be a real Jew? I know some Americans who identify as Jewish American vs White American. Is a secular Jew in Tel Aviv a real Jew? Is a convert a real Jew?

So what's antisemitism? Peter, who's a Jew??

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You're leaving out the only thing that matters, especially in this country...

FOLLOW THE MONEY! PERIOD!

WHO/WHAT big money controls the mainstream narrative?

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“Why Jews should alone..”

“Why Palestinians alone…”

“Why women alone should not define misogyny”

You pretend politics is like philosophy for the same reason others pretend philosophy is like physics.

The more Zionists-not Jews-continue to cheapen the definition of anti-Semitism the less those charges will stick. That’s not rocket science. And you’re still a Zionist, right? So you have a problem.

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We are facing serious problems on many levels so working together is very important

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