Commy, I think you misunderstand the argument being made, or aren't quite getting where the emphasis is. The argument is not that all, or even most, criticism of Israel is antisemitic. Rather, the argument is that bigots can no longer just say that they hate Jews; the social costs to themselves from such openly antisemitic statements would be too high. But because criticism of Israel IS LEGITIMATE they (real antisemites) often veil their antisemitism as criticism of Israel. The challenge is then to properly distinguish legitimate criticism from that which masks true bigotry. I would have thought that this would be a priority for those making the legitimate criticisms, not only because opposing bigotry is the right thing to do, but because having antisemites "in your camp," so to speak, tarnishes the legitimate criticisms being voiced.
B, about whether I would consider that statement you quoted antisemitic - I don't know. I have a problem with the fact that it talks about a "Jewish lobby." Not all supporters of Israel are Jewish (AIPAC, for example, has many non-Jewish members), and not all groups that lobby for Israel agree with each other (AIPAC and J Street actually hate each other). When you speak about an "Israel lobby" you're clearly talking about politics, but when you say "Jewish lobby" the waters get murkier. The lobby you're talking about isn't lobbying on behalf of Jews, it's lobbying for Israel, and why should it matter whether the members of this lobby are Jewish? And, it shouldn't have to be said, but talk of a "Jewish lobby" controlling US foreign policy from behind the scenes is uncomfortably reminiscent of talk of cabals of Jews (elders perhaps) secretly controlling world affairs. So I'm not sure how I feel. I'm uncomfortable with the statement, but that doesn't mean it is antisemitic. At the same time, if one was more precise with one's language, there wouldn't be anything to be uncomfortable about to begin with.
As for "the belief among most Jews that they are right" and that this makes us (Jews) irrational - again I'm not sure, but I'm leaning towards a maybe. Everyone thinks they're right. You certainly do. But the statement lumps all Jews into one giant generalization (ignoring the fact that Jews can't agree about anything, including the Middle East) and then seemingly makes the claim that all Jews are wildly irrational and can't be reasoned with, and worst of all, leaves one with the pretty clear implication that this irrationality is the result of one's Jewishness. So...Jews as a group all think the same thing, that thinking is irrational (and by implication wrong and dangerous), and the reason they think these things is because they are Jewish (include the fact that the author also thinks that "the Jews" have a lobby that has the American government, both democrats and republicans, in its "grip," thereby forcing their dangerous, irrational Jew think into U.S. foreign policy, and the statement begins to look pretty ugly).
Look, it's possible the author of those lines just chose his words poorly, and that I'm reading too much into them. It's also possible that the author knew exactly what he was writing, and where the implications he makes ultimately lead. I don't know for sure, but neither do you. I don't think that I'm wrong, though, to be vigilant. And if you care about the moral rectitude of your position (legitimate criticism of Israel), then you should be vigilant also.
you couldn't swing if you were hangin' from a palm tree in a hurricane
Comments
B, about whether I would consider that statement you quoted antisemitic - I don't know. I have a problem with the fact that it talks about a "Jewish lobby." Not all supporters of Israel are Jewish (AIPAC, for example, has many non-Jewish members), and not all groups that lobby for Israel agree with each other (AIPAC and J Street actually hate each other). When you speak about an "Israel lobby" you're clearly talking about politics, but when you say "Jewish lobby" the waters get murkier. The lobby you're talking about isn't lobbying on behalf of Jews, it's lobbying for Israel, and why should it matter whether the members of this lobby are Jewish? And, it shouldn't have to be said, but talk of a "Jewish lobby" controlling US foreign policy from behind the scenes is uncomfortably reminiscent of talk of cabals of Jews (elders perhaps) secretly controlling world affairs. So I'm not sure how I feel. I'm uncomfortable with the statement, but that doesn't mean it is antisemitic. At the same time, if one was more precise with one's language, there wouldn't be anything to be uncomfortable about to begin with.
As for "the belief among most Jews that they are right" and that this makes us (Jews) irrational - again I'm not sure, but I'm leaning towards a maybe. Everyone thinks they're right. You certainly do. But the statement lumps all Jews into one giant generalization (ignoring the fact that Jews can't agree about anything, including the Middle East) and then seemingly makes the claim that all Jews are wildly irrational and can't be reasoned with, and worst of all, leaves one with the pretty clear implication that this irrationality is the result of one's Jewishness. So...Jews as a group all think the same thing, that thinking is irrational (and by implication wrong and dangerous), and the reason they think these things is because they are Jewish (include the fact that the author also thinks that "the Jews" have a lobby that has the American government, both democrats and republicans, in its "grip," thereby forcing their dangerous, irrational Jew think into U.S. foreign policy, and the statement begins to look pretty ugly).
Look, it's possible the author of those lines just chose his words poorly, and that I'm reading too much into them. It's also possible that the author knew exactly what he was writing, and where the implications he makes ultimately lead. I don't know for sure, but neither do you. I don't think that I'm wrong, though, to be vigilant. And if you care about the moral rectitude of your position (legitimate criticism of Israel), then you should be vigilant also.