You Can Believe In Israel & Zionism, Yet Willing To Criticize Netanyahu, While Fearing & Condemning Antisemitism!

While some people have seen the ever-rising increase in antisemitism, and hate crimes, and fear it means we risk returning to a society which openly and overtly seems to be targeting Jews, the unfortunate reality is antisemitism is not simply once again rearing-its ugly head, but never has gone away! We seem to be in a world, as well as a US society, where, too often, oversimplistic labeling dominates behavior, while very little is done to actually address this horrific state of affairs! Ever since the atrocious events of October 7th, when many innocent Israelis were targeted, injured and killed, it seems rather than creating worldwide outrage without partisanship or politics, statistics indicate antisemitism, especially hate crimes has significantly escalated! While the reality is these acts which were certainly crimes against humanity, and clearly targeted specifically, those who state it signifies that Islam and Islamics are all responsible, and focus their anger and outrage and all people who are Muslim, etc., while perhaps one can understand the fears and outrage such an event and anger can create, are behaving similarly to what they claim to be outraged against, especially those exhibiting Islamophobia! Unfortunately, it is nearly impossible to retaliate against the radicals, such as Hamas, who seemed to sponsor these types of violent hate crimes against humanity, without creating a situation where many innocent people, whose only crimes may be living where they are and having certain religious perspectives, creating a degree of collateral damage which brings-about significant world reaction and outrage! Certainly, open-minded observers, which there seems to be too few of, condemn Hamas’ violence and actions, while also feeling grief for the innocent individuals who have become considerable collateral damage! Common sense should tell us, we can believe in Israel’s right to exist safely and securely, and to defend themselves, as well as having an open-mind towards those who are somewhat-zealous in terms of being a Zionist (a person who supports Zionism — the movement and ideology advocating for self-determination and existence of the Jewish state in its ancestral homeland (Israel)), while also recognizing there is a significant difference of opinion throughout Jews, and that the Jewish religion recognizes many different approaches and disciplines (major movements include: Orthodox, of which there are several movements; Traditional as well as Modern Conservative; Reform, which includes various degrees of traditional inclusions; as well as Reconstructionist, which refers to itself as the evolving movement for an evolving world and society; etc.) Not all Jews consider themselves, necessarily, as Zionists, yet all of us should condemn violence, including hate crime, regardless of who commits it against whom! One who condemns Islamics, while demanding an end to antisemitism, as well as those who condemn Jews, etc., but ignore the relevant factors, are little-more than hypocrites, who demand and focus on a hypocritical double standard! With that in mind, this article will attempt to briefly discuss the dangers of labels, generalizing ethnicities, politicization of amoral acts and behaviors, etc., and why, common sense and fairness should tell us, we must be better than that, and the only quality path forward must be to seek a meaningful meeting-of-the-minds for the greater good, universal condemnation of hate groups and hate crimes, open-minded fair perspectives, and far-less convenient generalization/name-calling/labelling, and trying harder to recognize how to better get along, if not with the haters, at least, with those receiving collateral damage, etc.

Just like one can love our country (United States), while criticizing President Trump and what many believe are illegal, anti-humane, poor priorities, it is and must be possible to love and be loyal to Israel and Israelis, and condemn antisemitism, while denouncing Bibi Netanyahu, and some of his apparent actions against people, apparently simply because of their ethnicity, religion, and where they live! In other words, there is blame on both sides, albeit probably often unequal, and any fair-minded person must condemn October 7th and similar atrocities, and while reality shows the initial retribution was warranted, the long-term ongoing actions, at least some of them, have probably gone too-far!

A Biblical student (especially the Old Testament) realizes the 2 religions, Judaism and Islam, were nearly-simultaneously largely influenced by two half-brothers, Ishmael and Isaac, who were sons of Abraham. The Koran and the Torah, unsurprisingly, therefore, have many similarities, yet, for apparently a variety of reasons, there has often been more focus on the differences, etc.! Let there be no equivocation — Antisemitism is wrong for any reason, but so is Islamophobia, and there are far-too many hate crimes, as well as too much lazy, harmful, divisive name-calling, and willingness to proceed with bigotry, prejudice and bias, etc.!

If we are willing to be truly open-minded and fair, we must admit and accept that it’s OK to love, support and believe in Israel’s right-to-exist peacefully, and serve as the Jewish homeland, while admitting its imperfections, flaws, and excesses! There is far-too much politicization and polarization on both sides, in the USA and around the world.

Is some opposition to AIPAC based on overall public sentiment and opposition to the excessive power and influence of PACs, in general? Or is the opposition based on antisemitism, or some hypocritical posturing, etc.? Why do some who consider themselves as progressives seem unwilling to differentiate between opposing certain of Israel’s actions and behaviors, as opposed to trying to proceed, more fairly, and accept one can certainly be a good Jew, and still oppose Israel’s apparent excessed? How can one consider himself to be fair, when he only accepts the scenario occurring in the Middle East, based only on some simplistic, Jewish versus Islam, basis?

It seems, clearly, this is a very complex issue! Both antisemitism and Islamophobia are wrong, and hateful, and must be universally condemned! Radical behaviors, antisocial actions, hate crimes, and other dangerous, polarizing, biased acts and actions, should be condemned, regardless of who commits these atrocities! Stand up for everyone’s rights, whether you agree or not! There used to be an expression which stated, I disagree with your opinion, but will always stand-up for your right to express it, but while everyone has the right to his opinion, they don’t have that right to his own set of preferred facts!

Whether related to the Middle East, Russia/Ukraine, within the USA, or elsewhere, fair people must realizing only when we become ready, willing and able to accept differences, and disagree respectively, and peacefully (without resorting to violence, hate crimes, or hateful labeling, etc.). This is a challenge to all of us, but it starts by each recognizing it is his choice to opt to become part of the solution, rather than part of the problem! We must do better!