IS ISRAEL ANTI-SEMITIC ?

Despite caving in to the demands of the pro-Jewish lobby, it seems that the Labour Party's anti-Semitism row is going to continue. One wonders why.

Labour has now agreed to adopt the highly subjective definition of anti-Semitism promulgated by Jewish groups and organisations, with a proviso regarding comments about the state of Israel. While Jewish groups want any criticism of Israel to be considered as anti-Semitic, the Labour Party has given itself a bit of wriggle room in this respect. What is wrong with this ?

Israel is a country founded on discriminatory principles; it has an overriding ethos of promoting and protecting Jews and Judaism to the exclusion of all else. In many ways, the state of Israel is little different to South Africa under the apartheid regime, and yet it seems that to voice such a view is to be considered as anti-Semitic. I fail to see how criticising a state for its actions can be equated with exhibiting hatred or even ill-will towards adherents of a religion which is world-wide.

Israel is a racist state, as are the assorted Islamic states which are criticized daily for their behaviour. Iran, Syria, Israel, and others, all have oppressed minorities which are treated as second class citizens at best and as vermin to be destroyed at worst. In general, the ruling groups espouse one set of religious beliefs and the oppressed espouse something different which is frowned upon. 

In apartheid South Africa, the distinguishing factor was colour, in Israel it is religion - in both cases the result is the same. Laws are made to protect one group while discriminating against the other and, where the law is unclear or doesn't cover a particular issue, the decision invariably goes with the ruling elite. In South Africa, the black native population had no real rights; in Israel, the native Palestinian Arab population has seen its land taken from it and its rights incrementally taken away also. 

Israel, and the Jewish elite generally, have hijacked the word 'Semite' and made it seem that it applies only to Jews; in turn, anti-Semitic then applies only to Jews. In fact, Arabs and assorted others are also Semitic people, logically making the term 'anti-Semitic' far broader in meaning than its current usage. In truth, Israel's own behaviour towards its Arab population could be considered as being anti-Semitic.

Now there's a thought.