I recently read another post from a friend describing how they and their family feel unsafe because they are Jewish and have been subject to antisemitism. I am sad and tired to have to keep reading such comments. To be 100% clear I’m not tired or wearied by the people sharing the posts. Unfortunately another common theme is that so many of them fear that they will be seen to be moaning or sharing sob stories. No, I am sad and tired that friends are having to go through this and still the issue does not seem to be important or matter to those who should.
I do not agree with every action of the Israeli government, though nor do I think that a lot of the criticism is fair/based on fact. There’s a lot of hearsay, confirmation bias and lack of understanding of the complexities of the situation in the Middle East, a lot of ignorance of history too. The important points though are
1. That disagreeing with specific actions of the current Israeli government can never amount to the basis for arguing that a nation/people have no right to exist.
2. That it is ridiculous to assume that all Israelis agree with all that their government say and do and therefore are somehow complicit in any wrong done.
3. That it is equally ridiculous, thoughtless and ignorant to suggest that all Jews are either in agreement with or complicit with the actions of the Israeli government (the later is at the heart of the definition of antisemitism.
It is no joke that anyone in our country, should have to live in fear because of the thoughtless and dangerous prejudices of others. It saddens me that people I consider friends are made to feel unsafe.
I stand with m Jewish friends against antisemitism? Will you?
Faithroots 