It's too easy to fault any critic of Israel

[Violet_Crumble]

Columnist Leonard Stern is very adept at describing all that is good about Israel and all that is bad about Arab countries -- the implication being that if Arab countries are bad enough, Israel should be forgiven for mistreating Arab Palestinians under its control.

As usual, organizers and supporters of Israeli Apartheid Week -- many of whom are Jews -- are reduced to one-dimensional hating machines while their arguments are pointedly ignored or unmentioned.

Furthermore, their intentions are even assumed for them: accusing Israel of apartheid is equated to advocating Israel's destruction. Quoting Michael Ignatieff did not explain this logical leap.

The word "apartheid" as a legal term denoting an institutionalized form of racial domination isn't employed without justification. Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza have lived under Israeli military administration for more than 40 years whereas Israelis have simultaneously and illegally settled on the same territory while living under their own civilian laws. Even Arab-Israelis who enjoy citizenship do not have access to specific rights formally guaranteed by the Jewish State to those of "Jewish nationality."

Stern wonders "why they do it" -- why single out Israel? One wonders if we should not have accused the original activists against South African apartheid of hypocrisy for not devoting their energies to problems in other African countries instead.

If Israel is frequently criticized, perhaps it is because it markets itself as a peaceful, Western-style democracy open for business.

http://www.ottawacitizen.com/news/easy+fault+critic+Israel/2627059/story.html

[stray cat]

1. Almost as easy as faulting anyone or any country you disagree with

[shira]

2. it's easy to find fault when those 'critics' resort to hyperbole, exaggeration, & antisemitic tropes

If those 'critics' have any interest in effectively influencing Israelis, Zionists, or Jews to make changes for the better, then they should consider 'criticizing' Israel in a somewhat different manner than the way in which far rightwingers and other antisemitic haters 'criticize' Israel. When the rhetoric of these 'critics' sounds no different than the demonizing, biased rhetoric of haters the past 2000 years, it's no wonder Zionists, Israelis, or Jews with influence to make changes go tone-deaf.

The fact is, these 'critics' who find fault aren't trying to influence the vast majority of Zionists, Israelis, or Jews. If that was their intent, their criticism would be rational and balanced. Instead, their intent is to demonize, defame, and dehumanize - which turns off the vast majority of Zionists, Israelis, and Jews and therefore this 'criticism' has zero influence on those it is supposedly aimed at.

[Violet_Crumble]

3. Yeah, coz you'd never resort to hyperbole, exaggeration or bigoted tropes, right?

Is there actually any criticism of Israel that you don't consider to be 'demonisation'?

btw, that spurt of 'hate porn!' posts a day or so back gets my award for the funniest use of hyperbole in a rather dull forum...

[shira]

4. no, I wouldn't. What would be the point? (EDITED)

For examples of rational, legitimate criticism of Israel from posters that can NOT be considered demonization, there are plenty examples of people posting at DU like Pelsar, Shakti, and LB. They criticize without demonizing. Elsewhere there's David Hirsch, Carlo Strenger, and Amos Oz.

Many people think the movie Fitna is 'hate porn'. The videos cited here are no less inflammatory.

[Violet_Crumble]

5. LOL. Now that was funny! n/t

[shira]

6. funny in a good way?

[Violet_Crumble]

7. The LOL felt pretty good to me...

btw, I didn't ask you for a list of pro-Israel posters. I asked if there was any criticism of Israel you don't consider to be demonisation. I woudln't have thought it'd be difficult to provide an example or two....