I take your point. Thanks!! The question is how anti-semitism is defined. On many a university campus in the US where there have been many protests regarding Israel's military conduct in Gaza, the White House has deemed to describe that as anti-semitic, whereas here it would be seen as targetting Jewish people and institutions. Two different things to my mind.
The cost wouldn’t plummet, because the product would be taxed; and hopefully a significant proportion of that tax revenue would be used for education, support for families, rehabilitation programs for addicts, etc.
Hopefully not. But there’s a lot of anti Israel sentiment everywhere at the moment, and that can quickly spill over into anti-Semitism. I know they’re not the same thing, but there’s always the potential for unconscious overlap. It can’t be easy being a Jew in the U.K. right now for all sorts of reasons; it’s worth bearing that in mind, even when condemning the Israeli government for their brutality.
Anti-semitism is an easy shout out to avoid tackling criticism of Israel. Just as racist has been an easy deflection for criticism of migration policies.
Which is exactly the point. It becomes an unconscious/accepted bias, which is what I do think we can see here on occasion.
Simple definition? I think not. This is a totally disproportionate response to the Hamas atrocities of Oct. 7th. Many consider it Genocide, The UN and a number of Western nations have said that they will only consider a ruling by a court that genocide is taking place with the ICJ expected to rule in January. https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cde3eyzdr63o "The world's leading association of genocide scholars has declared that Israel is committing genocide in Gaza. A resolution passed by the International Association of Genocide Scholars (IAGS) states that Israel's conduct meets the legal definition as laid out in the UN convention on genocide. Across a three-page resolution, the IAGS presents a litany of actions undertaken by Israel throughout the 22-month-long war that it recognises as constituting genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity. In a summary of Israeli policies and actions, the declaration notes the widespread attacks on both the personnel and facilities needed for survival, including in the healthcare, aid, and educational sectors. Among many other elements, it notes the 50,000 children killed or injured by Israel, as highlighted by UN aid organisation Unicef, which impacts the ability of Palestinians in Gaza to survive as a group and regenerate. The resolution also highlights the support among Israeli leaders for the forced expulsion of all Palestinians from Gaza, alongside Israel's near-total demolition of housing in the territory. The IAGS notes the statements by Israeli leaders dehumanising Palestinians in Gaza, characterising them all as the enemy, alongside promises to "flatten Gaza" and turn it into hell." The 1948 UN Genocide Convention, which was adopted following the mass murder of Jews by Nazi Germany, defines genocide as crimes committed "with intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a national, ethnical, racial or religious group".
When I had young kids, I never agreed with legalisation but now I’m older & wiser I’ve flipped & see the benefits including taxation, control, a reduction in crime, to name a few. Definitely difficult tho but other countries have done to some degree & the world hasn’t t ended.
Starmer is taking a big gamble getting involved in this Maccabi Tel Aviv issue. If he forces the decision to be overturned against the better judgement of the police and either a Maccabi fan gets hurt by a local or a Brummy or a Policeman/woman gets hurt by a Maccabi fan, he will be directly responsible for it.
I wanted to say that everyone has a degree of racism, even if it’s 0.0001% but writing that, is probably very incendiary & I suppose better worded is everyone is prejudiced to some degree.
I was going to make that point and add as a first step safe places, needle exchange, testing facilities and help not condemnation.
“The IAGS is the world's largest professional association of genocide scholars and includes a number of Holocaust experts. Out of its 500 members, 28% took part in the vote and 86% of those who voted supported the resolution.” Only a quarter of them voted, which suggests 3/4s thought the accusation was not worth the time of day. The Genocide accusations which occurred very quickly into the war have been very insidious. What better accusation to make against the Jews than to suggest they are no better than the Nazis. People in organisations which should be better have then tried to find evidence to fit the crime. The report doesn’t ask that if Israel was the murderous genocidal regime it’s reported to be, why have they only managed to kill 70,000 Gazans in a densely populated area of over 2million in two years, with all their additional military might. No doubt war crimes have taken place and like all wars there will be individuals in the IDF who would have carried out sickening acts and this needs to be ended and those bought to justice, but the genocidal claims are clearly political in their motivations and nothing to do with justice or international law.
On your second last point, then genocide really wouldn't be a thing then as you are just saying that they could have killed more of they wanted to. Could say that about any genocide if we are being honest. Even if you believe a genocide hasn't taken place why have Israel been treated with kid gloves over the whole thing by major Western nations?
In your opinion. It's the avowed intention of many in power in Israel along with the ultra zionists to clear Gaza and the West Bank. The same intention exists within the Arab world in removing Israelis from the river to the sea. Intractable on the face of it but there are moderates on both sides that give some hope. I have friends who's opposition to the settlers has led to violent attacks, they now are armed. There is considerable opposition to the current leadership and serious questions about ignored warnings. "The 1948 UN Genocide Convention, which was adopted following the mass murder of Jews by Nazi Germany, defines genocide as crimes committed "with intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a national, ethnical, racial or religious group".
Jokes about the Irish are racist , or people could think they are .I find them funny and some I pass on or tell , others find them funny as well ( It’s the way I tell em * Thank you Frank Carson ) . So I suppose I’m racist in that regard . Im agreeing with you Garysfc .
You are totally correct though. Human nature does not allow for zero discrimnation. That is not to say that someone is a racist because that smidgeon of natural unconcious bias is there in the back of the mind but it is there. The key for society is to keep it there as a smidgeon and not something that builds and spreads to something that then becomes much larger and obvious.
Its probably (rightly or wrongly) because Israel is attacked constantly from all sides by its neighbours whereas other pariahs like Russia and China are not!
