What is antisemitism?

Agree Galaxy

MerylStreep

TerriBull

It's pretty self evident, blatant attacks on the Jewish community whether physical or in the form of daubed hate messages, or placards bearing "Hitler was right" or "Rid the world of Jews" Lets not blur the lines by stating, as we know, many Jewish people support the Palestinian case, or pretend that actual hate crimes against them are a figment of paranoia, they are out there and they are increasing across Europe.

This is why borders are going up again in Europe.

home-affairs.ec.europa.eu/policies/schengen-borders-and-visa/schengen-area/temporary-reintroduction-border-control_en

I'm a tad confused. There has always been provision within the Schengen Agreement for countries to impose temporary border controls.

Looking at the link, the main reasons given are the conflict in Ukraine and the threat of infiltration from eastern Europe, including Russia. Additionally, some countries cite the strain caused by the asylum system in the Schengen area.

It's ridiculous to assume that all asylum seekers support Palestine and are anti-semitic. The majority of asylum seekers to the Schengen area come from Syria, Afghanistan and Iraq (and recently Ukraine). I'm not denying that some asylum seekers sympathise with Palestinians, but quite honestly they have their own problems to worry about.

Much of the world is very unstable at the moment, so it makes sense for countries to protect themselves, but I don't accept it's to protect themselves from anti-semitism.

Galaxy

What has happened in the last few weeks has completely shaken my view of society, in particular the way antisemitism has been minimised and excused. I am not sure I will ever view people in the same way again.

Yes, I find it very sad that the huge numbers of anti semitic behaviour are being given little air time and therefore seem to be being minimised.

I wish I understood it better

Jackiest

Am I right in thinking antisemitism is racism towards Jews being given a specific name or is it more than racism?

I think you're right, it's racism in the extreme because it incites violence and murder.
I've sometimes heard people telling black people or immigrants to go back where they came from, that they aren't wanted, but I've never heard so many vile slogans chanted against Jewish people and hateful images depicted as in the past few weeks. It's beyond belief.

I'm inclined to agree with Maddyone and Galaxy, it's almost as if anti semetism is an inevitable by product of Netanyahu's Israel, why would so many high profile Jewish individuals say so, and attest as in David Baddiel's book, "Jews Don't Count" that it is the one form of racism that isn't taken seriously. In some ways I find it hard to know why the OP was posed, to not know that anti semetism exists and that culminated in the murder of 6,000,000 of the people of that ethnicity and religion well you must have been living under a stone!

TerriBull

I'm inclined to agree with Maddyone and Galaxy, it's almost as if anti semetism is an inevitable by product of Netanyahu's Israel, why would so many high profile Jewish individuals say so, and attest as in David Baddiel's book, "Jews Don't Count" that it is the one form of racism that isn't taken seriously. In some ways I find it hard to know why the OP was posed, to not know that anti semetism exists and that culminated in the murder of 6,000,000 of the people of that ethnicity and religion well you must have been living under a stone!

is it anti semitic to criticise Israel

Criticising Netanyahu’s government is of course not anti semitic.

Is it anti semitic to criticise the state of Israel? Denying the right of the State of Israel to exist is considered by the Ann Frank house charity to be anti semitic. Other Jewish organisations support this view. The Jewish Federation identifies 3 D’s
*Demonisation - eg comparisons between Israelis and Nazis and between Palestinian refugee camps and Auschwitz - anti semitism, not legitimate criticism of Israel]

*double standards, eg Israel singled out , accused of human rights violations when major abusers china, Iran, Cuba, Syria is ignored

*delegitimization - when Israel’s fundamental right to exist is denied

Given some of the banners carried on the so called peace marches the definition of anti semitism seems to need discussing.

Question two- what is Islamophobia or Arabophobia?

Start a different discussion on that subject

The OP writes ‘what is anti-Semitism’?
Well, you’ll know it if you see it, hear it or read it!

Fleurpepper

Question two- what is Islamophobia or Arabophobia?

Are you asking for help in understanding what the 2 words mean?

I think or am beginning to think that antisemitism is the racism of the middle class.

Galaxy

I think or am beginning to think that antisemitism is the racism of the middle class.

I think it has been for some time now.

Iam64

Start a different discussion on that subject

So so closely related- so no need.

TerriBull

I'm inclined to agree with Maddyone and Galaxy, it's almost as if anti semetism is an inevitable by product of Netanyahu's Israel, why would so many high profile Jewish individuals say so, and attest as in David Baddiel's book, "Jews Don't Count" that it is the one form of racism that isn't taken seriously. In some ways I find it hard to know why the OP was posed, to not know that anti semetism exists and that culminated in the murder of 6,000,000 of the people of that ethnicity and religion well you must have been living under a stone!

I understand the OP very well. If you Google "What is antisemitism?", most serious sites will say something along the lines that there is no agreed, single definition and that it has changed over time anyway.

The definitive definition isn't what I think or any other individual. There quite literally dozens of different nuances, which are discussed all the time.

Personally, I don't believe that criticism of the Israeli government is antisemitic, but there are many people who claim that Israel is a Jewish state and that any criticism of the state is, by definition, antisemitic.

Galaxy

I think or am beginning to think that antisemitism is the racism of the middle class.

Please could you clarify that thinking because I don't get it.

Fleurpepper

Question two- what is Islamophobia or Arabophobia?

Perhaps it would be better to start a new thread as that would deflect from the purpose of this one.

Joseann

Jackiest

Am I right in thinking antisemitism is racism towards Jews being given a specific name or is it more than racism?

I think you're right, it's racism in the extreme because it incites violence and murder.
I've sometimes heard people telling black people or immigrants to go back where they came from, that they aren't wanted, but I've never heard so many vile slogans chanted against Jewish people and hateful images depicted as in the past few weeks. It's beyond belief.

If asking someone "where are you from - where are you really from" is the criterion by which we judge racism then certainly, anti-semitism is very much on the rise in the UK and it is frightening.

It is not criticism of Netanyahu and his policies, which is valid.

It is the expressed hatred of the Jewish people for no reason other than that they are Jewish.
It is subscribing to everything our parents fought against. They won that war against fascism and would be sickened to see that it is on the rise again in this country.

I am just trying to think it through growstuff. Quite hard without offending the entire world.
So I think it is frequently a particular group of society who take part in for example Tommy Robinson's nonsense. Whereas I think antisemitism is seen by a different segment of society as acceptable racism, or maybe 'not quite so bad' racism. Swastikas are involved in both but somehow the second group are not quite as bad swastikas.

Personally, I don't believe that criticism of the Israeli government is antisemitic, but there are many people who claim that Israel is a Jewish state and that any criticism of the state is, by definition, antisemitic

Of course governments can be criticised. At your peril in some countries but criticism of Netanyahu and his policies is legitimate and not anti-semitic.

Those who cannot differentiate between the two need to have a serious re-think.

The Jewish schools here employ armed guards to protect the children and staff. That says it all, really, because other schools don’t have that need.

Dislike of Jewish people who live all over the world not just Israel.

Demonisation Double standards Delegitimisation

Thank you Iam64, the three words you suggested certainly sum up antisemitism for me.

Galaxy

I am just trying to think it through growstuff. Quite hard without offending the entire world.
So I think it is frequently a particular group of society who take part in for example Tommy Robinson's nonsense. Whereas I think antisemitism is seen by a different segment of society as acceptable racism, or maybe 'not quite so bad' racism. Swastikas are involved in both but somehow the second group are not quite as bad swastikas.

There is certainly a group of people who recognise that Jews are discriminated against, but seem to think they "ask for it" because they're portrayed as rich, manipulative, sly, etc etc. Jews are associated with world order conspiracy theories and a load of other hogwash. I guess the argument is that they're not "victims" of society, therefore discriminating against them isn't racist.

In case anybody misunderstands, I don't subscribe to those views.

I think antisemitism is more than racism. It's about culture, history, land, tribalism, religion and so much more.

I don't see antisemitism as "middle class", which is why I asked for clarification.

Einstein's nightmare: The fascists polititions wielding power in Israel. By Andrew Feinstein writing in Red Pepper. Feinstein a Jew lost family in the holocaust.