Comments on: Antisemitism and Anti-Zionism in Mumbai http://blog.z-word.com/2008/12/antisemitism-and-anti-zionism-in-mumbai/ Commentary about Zionism, anti-Zionism, antisemitism and the conflict in the Middle East Mon, 15 Mar 2010 05:26:57 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5-RC1.1 By: Joanne http://blog.z-word.com/2008/12/antisemitism-and-anti-zionism-in-mumbai/#comment-2359 Joanne Tue, 02 Dec 2008 04:44:12 +0000 http://blog.z-word.com/?p=605#comment-2359 I think that, as Norman Geras mentioned in your podcast, while many anti-Zionism may indeed be anti-Semites, not all are. There are many people who have no intrinsic dislike of Jews per se, but cannot see how Jews have a greater claim to a land than the Palestinians, who are considered the indigenous population. They see the Jews as having emotional ties to the land based on their on folklore or theology, but they don't see this as translating into viable claims in terms of international law. The Jews, they say, were indeed there in ancient times, but the land now belongs to the Arabs, who have mostly populated that region for the 1,700 years since. I don't agree with that view, and I am pro-Zionist, but it is a hard view to argue against. So it can convince a lot of honest people who have little or no prejudice against Jews, especially if their knowledge of the region's history is superficial. I think that, as Norman Geras mentioned in your podcast, while many anti-Zionism may indeed be anti-Semites, not all are. There are many people who have no intrinsic dislike of Jews per se, but cannot see how Jews have a greater claim to a land than the Palestinians, who are considered the indigenous population. They see the Jews as having emotional ties to the land based on their on folklore or theology, but they don’t see this as translating into viable claims in terms of international law. The Jews, they say, were indeed there in ancient times, but the land now belongs to the Arabs, who have mostly populated that region for the 1,700 years since.

I don’t agree with that view, and I am pro-Zionist, but it is a hard view to argue against. So it can convince a lot of honest people who have little or no prejudice against Jews, especially if their knowledge of the region’s history is superficial.

]]> By: MJ http://blog.z-word.com/2008/12/antisemitism-and-anti-zionism-in-mumbai/#comment-2356 MJ Mon, 01 Dec 2008 23:03:47 +0000 http://blog.z-word.com/?p=605#comment-2356 ha! brilliant, as always ha! brilliant, as always

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