By Aidan Maconachy Joe Lanzman has a quiz on the web site Slate (Feb 2 - 2007) to determine if you're anti-semitic. The quiz appears to have been prompted by a study for the American Jewish Committee written by professor Alvin Rosenfeld which points to an increase in "virulent anti-Zionism in many quarters of the left". Some Jews believe that if you are critical of Israel and/or anti-Zionist, you are also anti-Jewish by extension. Well by that measure some orthodox Jews could be included in this category, because a percentage of them are anti-Zionist and in some cases reject the concept of a state. The state of Israel came about after decades of extreme hardship and persecution. Jews of the diaspora were victimized when they were minorities in European countries in the earlier part of the 20th century. The holocaust shamed our common humanity. However this is 2007, and Israel is a powerful state with advanced weapons systems. As a democracy Israel has also taken on the obligation to uphold civil rights. Since it is situated in a flash point area of the Middle East it will of course be subject to intense scrutiny, in part because wars in the Middle East impact on all of us. How does criticism of the democracy of Israel makes a person anti-Jewish? Not every citizen of Israel is Jewish. About one fifth of the population of Israel is Arab, mainly Muslim. There is a small Christian minority. In addition a percentage of Israeli Jews are non-religious and secular in lifestyle, many of them European immigrants. There is also a significant number of orthodox who don't share the Zionist vision. Some American Zionists assume that due to Israel's unique relationship with the US, the military and political challenges it faces etc, allies should turn a blind eye to problems in the name of solidarity. In other words human rights issues and other problems shouldn't be criticized too loudly because such criticism may mark you as a bigot and anti- Jewish. When activists speak about human rights abuses in Israel, they are doing nothing differently from what they do elsewhere. Amnesty International has reports on human rights violations from every corner of the world. So why is it that when similar human rights issues are addressed in the context of Israel, with some justification, there are those in the Jewish community cry anti-semitism? When a country declares itself to be a democracy and signs international agreements, it also assumes responsibilities and liabilities, especially in the area of civil rights. Ongoing conflict and war is no solution to the problems of the region. It's a lose, lose scenario. With the weaponry that is now coming into play it will amount to reciprocal destruction in the end. Israel must defend its territory as any other nation must, but it should strive equally strongly to address internal issues that will help to boost its credibility in the region and abroad. Criticism of Israel on the part of allies should be regarded as a positive, not as a negative. As long as Israel presents itself to the world as democratic, it better prepare to be judged as harshly as America has been judged under George Bush - if and when such criticisms are warranted. Aidan Maconachy is a freelance writer and artist based in Ontario. You can visit his blog at http://aidanmaconachyblog.blogspot.com Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Aidan_Maconachy http://EzineArticles.com/?Does-Criticizing-Israel-Make-a-Person-Anti-Jewish?&id=458094 10000 personal loan bad credit
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