Anti Semitism in Labour Party and Universities.

Venus, Nobody is denying that Israel is a modern nation, which has contributed to modern technology, but you don't seem to know what that contribution is. It's ludicrous to claim that there would be no laptops, mobiles, etc without Israel. I'm still not sure what your comment about Zuckerman (sic) was supposed to mean. Mark Zuckerberg is American, was born and educated in America and is an atheist, so what's he got to do with anything?

You would have a far stronger case, if you stuck to facts and real cases of anti-Semiticism rather than parroting memes from the internet.

You may have seen a recent article in the Guardian by Nick Cohen. Despite his surname, he's not Jewish, although people assume he is and he suffers anti-Semitic abuse. The anti-Semitic comments about his article were so bad that the Guardian's editor turned the comments off and wrote an article about them. Apparently the Telegraph is going to abolish readers' comments for a similar reason. THAT's real anti-Semiticism. I don't know who was behind it, but it exists and must not be tolerated.

Forget the stuff from 3000 years ago. People feel less guilty about that than you obviously do about Israeli Jews' actions in modern Palestine. Forget the stuff about Israelis inventing (helping!?) most modern technology. They didn't and it makes you look ridiculous.

There are two separate issues:
1) Stamping on anti-Semitism
2) Working constructively to solve the 'impasse' in Israel/Palestine.

On a positive note, I read an article very recently that the Israeli government has finally started allowing Gazan farmers to export their goods to the West Bank. Unless Gaza can rebuild itself legally, it will continue to look to aggression and Hamas' extremism. What else do they have to lose?

ab, presumably you approve of Hammas using women and children as human shields particularly in hospitals and schools? Instead of protecting the vulnerable, they were often in the frontline of any hostility, obviously for maximum propaganda, are you seriously saying this is acceptable?! It does seem odd to me that other, powerful Arab States don't do more to assist in the overthrow of Israel?! Lots of rhetoric, but curiously no action!! Could it be that, for whatever reason a well run powerful all be it tiny Israel is an asset in this unstable region?! There's a thought!!!

In 2005, Israel completed withdrawal of all its troops and settlers from the Gaza strip, a huge chunk of land, compared with the rest of Israel.

The Islamist Hamas movement, which runs Gaza, explicitly rejects Oslo and its Charter calls for Israel's 'nullification.'

We all know there is a problem. Nobody denies it, and the sooner an agreement can be reach on both sides, the better. But Israel, a democratic country, will continue to protect its borders and people until she is assured that it's recognised by the Arab countries and is not under threat of annilation.

As I've mentioned before, there is a very thin line between antisemitism and hatred of Israel.

Pity Israel ignored the many warnings of the children and women who had sought sancutary in the MSF hospital last year

And the systematic destruction of Palestine is happening now.

I am sure that there have been many developments for the benefit of mankind that have come from Israel. That has nothing to do with me or others boycotting fruit grown on stolen land. To be honest I am torn about boycotting speakers etc. as I do believe communication and challenge of ideology is key in moving thinking . However if it is a one way conversation or rhetoric it is not valuable.

No, not hysterical, just providing factual evidence that Israel helps many people the world over. Do you deny that Israel has contributed towards medical research and technology and you are not against using it yourself, if it serves your purpose. You are using a computer/laptop right now. Surely if you oppose Israel's policies, you should go the whole hog?

It doesn't use it's own people to to blow themselves up. It doesn't secrete weapons in their own hospitals and schools for innocent people to get injured. Israel always sends warnings first.

I'm not using pogroms, genocide as an excuse for anything. It happened.

Venus what are you on about? I have never and never would deny the suffering and pain of Jewish people. I am pointing out that as the situation is ongoing for Palestinians it is less easy to "move on". Palestinian homes and land are being taken today by the Israeli government. My small gesture of protest in boycotting Israeli fruit is done in support of the underdog minority: the Palestinians.

On the anniversary of the 1916 Easter Rising in Ireland I wish Israel would just learn the lessons of history. Robbed of their land, their language, with many dead and many exiled the Irish rose up when the British least expected it. The treatment of Palestinians is not only unacceptable it is unlikely to succeed. Venus, of course doesn't even accept there is a problem. Attitudes such as this mean others are driven to take more definite actions. If Israel were just to admit there is a problem and offer to talk about it the proposal to boycott Israeli goods would find much less support

Venus, have you ever researched for yourself (not copied and pasted) the history of mobile technology? Maybe you'd like to highlight Israeli involvement.

You're undermining your own arguments by posting inaccuracies.

In any case, are these goods being manufactured in the occupied West Bank? If so, is their place of manufacture labelled properly?

You really are very confused between anti-Semiticism and criticism of the Israeli government.

Interesting and sometimes amusing article by Shane Cashman, "I'm a bad Jew".

Tricia, no I would not get frustrated if my country was treating another country as Israel is treating the people in the West Bank , I would be filled with shame . Venus is defending persecution and at the same time condemning persecution. No regret for blowing up a MSF hospital which had given shelter to women or children , how can anyone defend actions such as this

Annie wouldn't you get frustrated if you were one of a small number arguing against a large number?
BTW - which is exactly the position that tiny Israel is in, surrounded by mostly hostile Arab states.

And your claims that Israel is the great inventor of all things makes you sound hysterical Venus. Israel's treatment of the Palastinians is disgrace , they are causing people to starve , this is what makes people angry , nothing to do with anti semitism but you use pogroms in other countries and the haulicaust as an excuse for persecution of others and a failed attempt to make people feel guilty , the treatment of the Palestinians in the West Bank should cause you shame, sorry but this is how many people feel , not racism but against persecution of any race or faith .

Thanks for quoting my source. There's a lot more there, but I didn't have the time to write it. I expect, now you know, you will be avoiding all the advances that you should be very grateful to Israel for. You were the one who brought up the post concerning your boycott of Israeli fruit. I don't consider your opinion Zionist, political or anything else. It's just completely off the wall!

You bang on, Perstemmon, about your relatives lost of land; my relatives lost their lives, never mind their livlihood. They had homes and businessess in Russia and Poland . . . all gone! The lucky few managed to escape to America, England, Argentina, and, yes, Israel, before war broke out. A lot didn't. They perished in the gas chambers of the death camps. No, they didn't get compensation after the war. No, they didn't get their goods, homes, land that the Germans occupied, their shops back. They had to start all over again, crowded into the East End of London, working for very little in sweat shops. No, it's not thousands of year's ago' either.

Our family have forgiven, not forgotten. I don't hold modern Germany responsible. I drive a German car, went to Germany for medical treatment. I don't boycott German goods. I have German goods in my home.

So don't presume to tell me that Jews should forgive and forget their losses at the hands of the Nazis. It was a terrrible time, but to fill your heart with bitterness over all those years does no good either. We must move on. War is war. Get over it!

And Annibach, don't tell me that you have't got a mobile phone, computer, laptop or availed yourself of any treatment that Israelis have developed? Yes, a tiny country like Israel surrounded by hostile Arabs to develop the technology and advances that they have, isnt' far short of a miracle! Your attitude does you no favours and makes you sound ridiculous.

No one told be Israel kept the world healthy, wealthy and wise. What miracles and all in under 100 years

And how shall my Palestinian family make a living? This is not thousands of years ago it was in the late 1940s. If your family had their home and land taken just after the war would you have forgiven and forgotten?? My aunt and uncle are still alive..it still hurts them and their generstion. No compensation, no income no alternative. If would suit the Israeli government for a forgive & forget approach. Do you also think Jews should forgive and forget their losses in Europe at the hands of Nazis?? No of course they should not.

I would like to bang the heads together of the leaders of Isreal and Palestine and say, forget old grievences and move forward. Butt I suspect I'd be told it's impossible to forgive and forget.......and that's the problem.

What's done is done. Forget stolen orange groves, forget the past or it will continue to poison the future.

I am not being provocative. I am putting forward my values and opinions. I am part Palestinian. Does that mean I am not allowed a voice or an opinion because Zionists say I do not really exist? It seems double standards. I am not allowed to criticise a political philosophy because it is mainly supported by Jews but Zionists can deny and demean my family history because it is an inconvenient truth to them. I try hard not to support any organisation or business whose policies I find abhorrent. I choose fruit because much is grown on land that is rightly Palestinian and was taken by Israeli settlers. Like the Jaffa orange groves that belonged to my grandmother's cousin. I am off for my traditional Palestinian Easter breakfast of boiled eggs and kaak (date pastries)

Venus. Just ignore them, these comments are just not worth replying to. These people know they're being provocative particularly towards you and should be ashamed of themselves. Hopefully this thread will die a death, lack of oxygen should do the trick!

I knew your post was familiar

int.icej.org/news/special-reports/consumer-madness
davidsoakell.com/boycott-israel-if-you-wish-but-please-do-it-properly/
www.linkedin.com/pulse/20140806080715-9854712-if-you-absolutely-must-boycott-israel-you-better-read-this-first?forceNoSplash=true
www.jpost.com/Blogs/Guest/Boycotting-Israel-Just-Do-It-Part-2-367143
www.boycottisrael.org.uk/mothers-of-all-palestinians-must-be-killed-israeli-mp/

There's more, if anybody's interested.

Once again, you're conflating anti-Semitism with politics.

By the way, if you're going to cut and paste, it's a good idea to acknowledge your source
www.facebook.com/notes/jesus-love-is-so-great/so-you-want-to-boycott-israel-heres-a-list-of-products-and-services-you-need-to-/820698877940154/

Did you mean Mark Zuckerberg? He's American and describes himself as an atheist.

I just had to answer this one! Why stop at a piece of fruit!

First remove Intel and Celeron computer processor chips from personal computers, laptops & notebooks. All either developed or manufactured in Israel. Turn off anti virus software & personal firewalls as technology originated in Israel. Discard all mobile phones as technology was developed in Israel. Texting forbidden as this facility was developed in Israel, also voice mail and recorded messages, Israeli companies invented the voice mail systems. No Facebook, as many inbuilt and addon applications are Israeli developed. Oh, and Zuckerman started it, don't forget!

Destroy all personal medication. Israel's Teva Pharmaceuticals, the largest generic drugs company in the world will have manufactured many of your medicines. Cancer - don't take any form of medication/treatment. Israeli scientist have been working in the forefront of oncology for decades. Diabetes - don't measure/inject insulin using devices developed by Israel scientists. Muliple Sclerosis - stop taking Copaxone, one of the most efficient medicines & the only non-interferon agent ,as Teva developed it. Don't touch Laquinimod either. Parkinsons - remove the Israeli pioneered brain pacemaker to stop tremours. Discontinue Levodopa, which reduces motor disturbances. Cease sessions that involve magnetic cortex stimulations. People with family history of heart disease & arteriosclererosis must not use the Israeli device for early detection of these. Wait until onset of the disease instead. Age related Mascular Degeneraton - remove Israeli implants that arrest the disease. Liver disease - abandon Israeli developed antibody immunotherapy treatments. Do not protect babies from Sudden Infant Death Syndrome with the Babysense system from Israel. Check all vaccines as many of these have been developed in Israel. Ensure that all X rays do a carry a radiation risk, as the only radiation-free system is Israeli. Treatments derived from Stem Cell research must be avoided as most of these are Israeli developed.

And your precious fruit? Much fruit & veg (including organic) imported into the UK has been enhanced using Israeli technology. This may save millions of people from starving around the world, but is not a good reason for you to eat it. Be safe, only eat fruit & veg that you have grown yourself using seeds that have been in your family for generations.

Oh, and chuck away your diamond engagement ring. It was probably cut in Israel by, horror of horrors - an ISRAELI!

Same for me Penstemmon, I met and made lovely white SA friends, but apartheid was evil . I will not buy anything from Israel just as I would not buy anything from SA, I wouldn't have a wedding band - the usual ones- I chose a ring made from Welsh gold , it has carving on it