this post was submitted on 07 Feb 2026
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MeanwhileOnGrad
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The unfortunate is that there is a lot of blame directed towards the Jewish population for what is happening in Gaza. Being Jewish doesn't magically mean that you have control of the Israeli government. The term "anti-zionist" is often used as a cover for people who hate the Jewish people rather than the leaders of the Israeli government.
This sounds like Zionist apologia to the max, and a Zionist strawman too. In fact the majority of anti-Zionists are against conflating the jewish people with Israel and their government. In fact a lot are fucking Jewish themselves. Antisemitism is a real problem and needs to be stood up against, but accusations of antisemitism are being made falsely these days and are being weaponized against criticism of Israel, and against the people criticizing Israel.
And right now, you are doing more of the latter than the former by blanket stating that we shouldn't use "anti-Zionist" or even advocate against Zionism. You know, instead of to call out the anti-Semitic dipshits themselves claiming to be anti-Zionist. You are using a rhetorical tactic to try and claim it is antisemtic to be anti-Zionist and that is Zionist apologia.
And actually I would go as far as to say this rhetoric is directly harmful towards Jewish people, because using terms like "antisemitism" and antisemite" incorrectly, as ways to shut people down or suppress political views, or even unjustly attack people's character makes these terms less meaningful, and ultimately undermines their effectiveness when they are more than justified. If "Antisemite" becomes the thing we call Greta Thunberg and people like her, who are not attacking Jewish people, who are standing up against the atrocities a government has committed (as well as the vile politics of a different government suppressing criticism of it) that ultimately bleaches the word of its meaning, a meaning which is very important and still valid today.
Hate speech is not a political view. It is just plain racism.
I never said it was, I said accusations of it are used as a political tool to silence people. Or do you think being opposed to Israel or their actions is hate speech? If you do that's what I'm talking about when I say Zionist apologia.
Okay, look at it this way.
If you rely on collective guilt, then it is racist, then it is antisemitic. If you hold all or the majority of Israeli citizens or Jews responsible, you're not being anti-zionist, you're being racist.
Yeah and I'm not doing that. Anti-Zionism is not about doing that it's about fighting the injustice that the country of Israel, as in its leaders and military are perpetrating. The people who claim that being against Zionism are being antisemitic for it are ignoring the fact that these people are against it too:
I know and agree that people shouldn't hold Israel's citizens or worse Jews in general responsible. The thing that makes what they said a Zionist strawman is that the majority of anti-Zionists do not think this and they know that Israelis both:
A. Cannot do anything about what their military or government is doing, and
B. Probably don't even know due to lack of information or governmental brainwashing (Yes Israel brainwashes its citizens with propaganda[^1][^2][^3], that isn't surprising or new information).
This is well known by many activists out there, and one of our goals is to help a bit with the second one by putting information out there so people can learn and help in whatever way they can or are able to. Israeli citizens are by and large innocent, and actually are also in many case victims[^4] as well.
[^1]: The new front of war: Inside Israel's digital 'hasbara' offensive [^2]: Israeli media ‘completely ignored’ Gaza starvation – is that finally changing? [^3]: Netanyahu government moves to shut down Israel's Army Radio station [^4]: Two Israeli civilians killed by missile fire from Lebanon as Israel-Hamas war rages for 100th day
As long as you specify the Israeli military and government, then it's cool
People who say shit like "death to Israel" are antisemitic, since it's too ambiguous and gives too much smokescreen for antisemites to hide their racism. Like you could be referring to zionism, the government, jews, or the entire population, it's just too vague. Added onto the historic context of antisemites often using Israel as a dogwhistle to mean Jews just makes things even worse.
Extremists often use terms with legitimate meaning that can allow extremists to identify each other. If challenged, they deny the intent and place the onus of incorrect interpretation on the reader to hide their bigotry. Take Neo-Nazis and the Okay-sign as an example, 'Oh, I'm just using the okay sign you shitlib! I'm not a white supremacist!'
Best err on the side of caution, I reckon. Just specify; it's a few extra words, and it clears any hintsa of antisemitism. Regardless, it's still a call for violence, so it's still extremism.
I made another reply addressing my other point too, if you want to respond to that. I made it as a separate comment since it's not the same but did feel it needed addressing since it's likely the person was talking about those too: https://sh.itjust.works/comment/23673594
I read it, my reply doesn't change much
That's alright, just wanted to make sure you got it since sub replies don't notify.