Why do Jews Keep Calling Me Antisemitic (If I’m Not)?
Hint: Policing Intent is Exhausting
One of the most frequently repeated things I’ve heard from people is: “criticism of Israel is not antisemitism”.
I don’t pretend to speak for all Jews, but most of the Jews I know agree with that sentiment on its face. However, anti-Israel views have been used as a direct and indirect cudgel in antisemitic attacks sufficient times that we are — by definition — wary of any non-Jew who says “I’m a friend to Jews but I hate/dislike Israel or its policies”.
Thus, every time someone non-Jewish brings up Israel, we have to figure out whether what they said (this not that) is true, or if it fits the fact pattern we expect (this and that). Perhaps it’s a bit paranoid, but you know…there’s reason to be.
To facilitate this inquiry, we often ask questions, such as about an anti-Israel person’s perspective on other countries (say, China, Myanmar, Zimbabwe, Turkey, the US). This is done so we can understand whether they have the same views on minority oppression of all kinds, or if they are singling out the Jewish State in an unusual way. We also have a series of other questions we like to ask or points we make, not always as a defense of Israel’s actions, but more to suss out the situation. It does however, leave us seeming…
