Comments on A mathematician at risk: When criticizing Israel is anti-semitism

Maybe it'll inspire you to blog more if I let ...

2009-12-16T12:39:32.928-08:00

Maybe it'll inspire you to blog more if I let you know that I'm still not sure I agree with you on this one, Steve.
It seems to me that Zionism is a political philosophy, and as such absolutely must be just as vulnerable to criticism as any other.
And so we have a choice: build a "firewall" between Semitism and Zionism; or build one between criticism and discrimination - and I am of the opinion that the latter firewall is even more difficult to construct than the former.
I recognize the somewhat unique connection between Jewish peoples and Zionism, and I realize that if I were Jewish it would be hard for me not to take criticism of Zionism personally. But I really do think that it is in everyone's best interest that we try hard to make a clear distinction.

Thanks for the comment Nathan. While there is cer...

2009-11-22T07:35:52.780-08:00

Thanks for the comment Nathan. While there is certainly value and meaning in realizing that the two concepts aren't interchangable, it is also worth recognizing that there is no way to build a firewall between the two. In particular hate is just too powerful of a concept to try to narrowly apply it with out it passing through any artificial barriers. Hatred and violence is received as an attack on the whole.

"When you call Zionists thieves you are calli...

2009-11-21T13:35:02.251-08:00

"When you call Zionists thieves you are calling me and my family criminals."

Some good points, great post. But you seem to be implying that because the majority of Jews are Zionists, anti-Zionism is therefore anti-semitism.

I wonder if instead, insisting on a distinction between Zionists and Jews (both Israeli and of the diaspora) might be the better route to addressing your concerns?