#28: That's a total straw man and the poster said nothing of the sort. Criticizing some actions of the State of Israel does not equal criticizing the Jewish nation. Yes, some do the former while really motivated by the latter but that is not invariably the case. #29: Being a Jew can refer to (a) being a follower of Judaism the religion, and//or (b) being a Jew by ethnicity/descent. The State of Israel is the "Jewish State" by the second definition.

"Thinking people should be able to criticize the policies and actions of both Israel and the USA for their illlegal wars and OPPRESSION of other peoples" Israel's Declaration of Independence called for equal treatment under the law of all its citizens, regardless of their beliefs or national origin. Arab Israelis have had political representation since the state's first parliamentary assembly; currently, thirteen members of the Israeli Parliament are Arab-Israeli, most representing majority Arab political parties. An Arab-Israeli judge also sits on the Supreme Court. No Christian judge, but an ARAB is a Supreme Court judge. During the israeli so called "occupation" per-capita GNP in the West Bank and Gaza expanded tenfold between 1968 and 1991, from $165 to $1,715 (compared with Jordan's $1,050, Egypt's $600, Turkey's $1,630, and Tunisia's $1,440). By 1999, Palestinian per-capita income was nearly double Syria's, more than four times Yemen's, and 10 percent higher than Jordan's. From June 1967 until Israel passed control to the PA in the mid-1990s, life expectancy had risen from 48 to 72 years (compared to 68 years for all the countries of the Middle East and North Africa). Mortality rates fell by more than two-thirds between 1970 and 1990, while Israeli medical programs reduced the infant-mortality rate of 60 per 1,000 live births in 1968 to 15 per 1,000 in 2000 (in Iraq the rate is 64, in Egypt 40, in Jordan 23, in Syria 22). You call this oppression. The accurate word would be PROGRESSION. Arab citizens of Israel are economically better off than arabs in any arab country. "But the USA and Israel are biggest military forces in the area and are the ones that are causing major chaos in the Middle East. " Well isn´t that funny. Because the people, who blow themselves up, are actually not common iranians protesting american occupation. They come from Syria, Lebanon, Yemen, Saudi-Arabia etc and are sent by terror organizations. The disorder in Iraq provides opportunities for terrorists, whose operations foster even greater disorder, drawing in yet more terrorists. Iraq has become a magnet for terrorists. FOREIGN JIHADISTS MAKE UP THE VAST MAJORITY OF SUICIDE BOMBERS-estimated 75% are carried out by saudis. And to that, you add the other foreign suicidebombers. The americans are there to protect innocent civilians and they are BRAVE enough to fight this. The terrorists are using the situation in Iraq in their own advantage, they are trying to prevent Iraq from becoming a democratic state, it is NOT the fault of americans. It must be nice to live in the illusion of being a progressive intellectual.

Dennis Prager in his book "Why the Jews? The Reason for Antisemitism" in one chapter deals with the topic of Non-Jewish Jews and anti-Semitism. This is particularly interesting to me, because leftwing diaspora Jews who hate Israel, are a major source of anger and disgust for me. Prager is also vexed by the question of explaining Jews who devote their lives to hurting Jews. He points out that "Among no group in the world are there so many individuals who so single-mindedly attempt to damage the group into which they were born". He gives as examples the loathsome Noam Chomsky who has dedicated much of his life to defending those who wish to destroy Israel, and to demonize Israel and her people, frequently comparing Israelis to the Nazis; and Norman Finkelstein who lectures throughout the world , calling Israel a Nazi State and demanding it's destruction. Indeed many Jewish ultra-Leftists lead the "Get Israel" movement, sponsoring pro-Palestinian hate rallies, leading campaigns for divestment from Israel, and demonizing Israel and her people in the media and universities. The reason for this phenomenon must be understood as being that Jewish radicals, like other radicals, lack roots, and hate Jews (such as the Jews of Israel) who do have roots and a national identity. "The Ubermensch, which is how they see themselves, rises above such parochial indentities." as Prager puts it. Also they likely believe that if they side with those who hate Jews, they will not be hated by them. Because anti-Zionism's goal would lead to a second holocaust against five million Jews, it cannot be distinguished from anti-Semitism. Furthermore there is only one posible reason why people isolate Israel of all the countries of the world to deny it's right to existence. Because Israel is a Jewish State. Anti-Zionism is anti-Semitism.

The enemies of Israel want the physical elimination of the Jewish people from the Land of Israel. This constitutes anti-Semitism. The point is that they want a Judenreihn "Palestine" the same way that Hitler wanted a Judenreihn Europe. The anti-Zionists claim that they are not anti-Semites but that think the only country on the earth that must be annihilated is Israel. The anti-Zionists claim that they are not anti-Semites but that think the only country on the earth that must be annihilated is Israel. The anti-Zionists claim that they are not anti-Semites but that the only children on earth whose being blown up is okay if it serves a good cause are Jewish children. As regards the so-called 1 state solution favoured by so many sophisticated leftwing intellectuals today, we can discuss this all day and all night , but dismembering Israel into a single Arab dominated state means a second holocaust. It means methodical massacre of millions of Jews , of hundreds of thousands of Jewish children. Anyone who pushes for this '1 state solution' is actually pushing for a second holocaust. Denying a nation's right to exist is genocidal racism, akin to Nazism, hence in my opinion , anti-Zionism is Nazism. Only the hard-hearted, hate-filled and cowardly will deny Israel the right to exist and defend herself

And people such as "critical thinker" prove it. They aren't "criticizing the policies and actions" of Israel. They are choosing to ignore facts, both here and in the rest of the world, in order to treat the only Jewish majority State differently than they do all other nations. That is clearly antisemitism.

Lets bee realistic: hundreds of milions of people throughout the world suck antisemitism from an early age: a joke about a nasty Jew here, mum said "dont behave like a jew " there...., slowly slowly the stereotype is created. No other people has received such a great treatment from the others in the history of humankind. In Catholic countries the situation is even worse: milions of people are taught - in church - that we are G_D killers and we LOVE drinking their blood. Now we have a nice addition: hatred and dehumanisation of the Jew in muslimm countries, where we are been used as scapegoats. In conclusion: MOST people in the world are at a HIGH RISK of developing into antisemites. Having said that, I am full of admiration to many milions of non-Jewish friends that managed to escape the trap.

Since Mecca is a city in the non-Muslim Country of Saudi Arabia, can I, a Jewish Believer, move there? Can you assist me with making the arrangements? I would greatly appreciate it! I'll even bring my family, my wife, and our 10 very, very Orthodox children. We'll set up a Yeshiva there, as well, as well as a mikveh.

It's pathetic really. While I agree that most antizionism is just politically correct antisemitism, this article does not deploy any evidence or employ any valid arguments to establish its conclusion.

9 Because of people like you ,suicide bombers get into populated areas to blow up. Good thing you weren't protesting at the checkpoints yesterday. And another Arab was cought with his bomb to#1 people who protest against Israel and it's policies, are also antisemites. Israel measures in ME are meant anly for survival, and even so, many, too many attacks on Jews occur. We are not talking about critisism on economy, culture ect, we are talking on political-security issues. We have a saying in Jewish tradition that there is no bigger antisemite than a Jew himself, if he proposes to become one. Look at Steiner and get your picture. Good luck

Anti-Zionism is opposing the right of the jews to live peacefully in our homeland. In other words, opposing our right to exist. Opposing the policies of the Israeli government is in NO WAY Anti-Zionism (which IS obviously a thin veil for Anti-Semitism). Noah Kleiger is an idiot and Michael Steiner is correct! Let's stop crying wolf everytime someone in the world says something against Israel's policies, and lets call a spade a spade.

You mention a saying in your post from Jewish tradition. What is the source? Is it from religious tradition? Regarding your point that israeli policy towards arab and muslim nations is beyond criticism and necessary. I beg to differ. Take the author's approach here to european anti-semitism. The european anti-semitism that he records has no rational basis. There is no conflict between Israel and europe, there is no disputed territory between israel and europe and israel is not soverign over any unwilling european popusltion. and yet they (the europeans) display anti-semitism. Note the authors approach to these "irrational" anti-semites is to use reason and debate. No threats! In a word appeasement. Now what is the author's approach to muslim or arab anti-semitism, which is not independent (to say the least) from the conflict between Israel and the muslim world, the disputed territory between israel and the muslim world and israel's soverign over an unwilling muslim popusltion? Are there any attempts at appeasement or reason to the muslim world here in order to combat muslim anti-semtism, even though this has a a more rational basis (as outlined above)? Perhaps the same “reasoned” efforts being made with europeans should be made with arabs and muslims. Rather threats, reason and economic cooperation. The arab and muslim world is obviously more important when seeking secure coexistence in the middle-east. Why do I care so much? It isn't b'cos I'm arab or muslim. In spite of my "כנוי", I am NEITHER. It may be the idealism of youth or simply b’cos I and my family are Jewish and some are even Israeli. I was born in a muslim dominated country and relations weren't always good and it was really an unjust place and violent place. So I simply would like israel to be a more just country to live in, b'cos Jewish tradition teaches that where there is justice and where there is equality under the law (no bigotry) there is peace. Israel is in control and therefore has the responsibilty to be the just ruler of everyone under its control.

no one can kill the god ,but god can kill all the people .but sure god will to kill people becouse of their doing // but the human kill the other becose he antagonise his will . so jews are humans like jul .they may be killed // and they may kill the others ..it is the life

Gabriela, if you're going to throw cheap pseudo-insults at people, at least learn what they mean first. "Abu" is an Arabic word, which means "father." As far as the rest of your tripe, I do not dispute the necessity for checkpoints but ONLY until the separation barrier is completed and ONLY where they are really necessary. What I DO dispute, and most vehemently so, is the "necessity" of humiliating Palestinians who have to pass those checkpoints: confiscating their food, throwing their sandwiches to dogs, tossing their belongings to them, aiming weapons at children, calling them names, pointing at them and laughing. and insulting, humiliating and degrading them in other ways. You will NEVER convince any decent, reasonable person anywhere in the world that such behavior is necessary. And yet, it is what goes on there as a rule, rather than a regrettable exception. "Because of people like you ,suicide bombers get into populated areas to blow up"?! You need serious help, Gabriela...

If you deny the nation a right to self-determination, you deny the nation's right to exist. The term anti-Zionism is just another way to say we can possibly tolerate Jews if they're a defenseless minority and we have a power to do with them as we please, including killing them, as we have all done, Christian and Muslims throughout history. Actually, Abdullah, you're not silent at all about your anti-Semitism, at all and yes, everything indicate that you're an anti-Semite (which means anti-Jew.)

in another blog, so he felt the need to retaliate. Why isn´t Michael so worried about those little children, whom Hamas and Jihad give weapons, whom they put marching in front rows in violent demonstrations. Why isn´t he worried about those young boys from poor families, who are used by Hamas and Jihad for their own purposes, paying money to their families and sending them to Israel to kill themselves. Why isn´t he worried about making young children wear explosive belts. He doesn´t care about the fact that many families have to live in poverty so Hamas and Jihad can spend more money on Russian and Iranian weaponry. It doesn´t concern him that Hamas and Jihad leaders get more money as violence escalates. The welfare of Palestinian children is the very least of this person´s concerns. Israeli soldiers protect these children the best they can. They try to get these kids out of the streets and give them shelter. They have integrity, unlike this spineless whining creature.

Read the REAL history of the USA. They haven't been bringing peace and democracy around the world. They've been protecting their FINANCIAL, ECONOMIC interests. When the CIA ousted the democratically elected premier Mossadeq in Iran in 1953 it was about OIL. The USA has been destablizing the world and supporting ruthless dictators whenever convenient. It's about self-interest. It's about building a global military empire. And Israel is a partner in that empire. Israel's treatment of the indigenous Palestinians is CRIMINAL. And to call attention to such vile human rights violations is the duty of any human being who believes in human rights and social justice. There are elections in Finland next month. Any recommendations who to vote for?

There is nothing like those bi-annual blood- lettings on Easter and Corpus Christi. You must feel really nostalgic either for the above or the Muslim mob rampages, like in Hebron or Baghdad. I guess walking upright, without getting off the sidewalk out of the way of a gentile is too much for you to handle -- better to wait for Messiah to solve your life's problems. By the way, how do you know Zionists have not divinely inspired and directed? Judging by all those israel's wins against overwhelming odd, divine intervention seems quite likely.

anti-semitism = anti-jewish=anti-jews+anti-jewish tradition+anti-jewish religion. It is a package deal. And I'm most certainly not anti-jewish, not b'cos I'm jewish but b'cos it is absurd to hate my own heritage and traditions in deferrence to the heritage and traditions of others. Or to imagine that the foreign ideologies of others on self-determination is superior to the self-determination taught by the jewish traditions of my jewish ancestors. To call me anti-semitic precisely b'cos I think israel's current policies hurts jewish self-determination, jewish tradition and jewish religion, is unreasonable, to ay the least. You need to revise your criteria of judgement. Respectfully

when they whopped Arabs, and hard during the 6-day war. Israel squandered it, you are right, but their constant admissions of guilt, thus becoming the old-shtettle/dhimmi Jews again, instead of heroes of 1967. As Bin Laden wisely said: People prefer and will follow a strong horse. So, Michael, was it you and your mates that pulled out all those trees Israeli kids planted recently? You finally identified yourself a bit – terrorist- human- shield-international; sort of explains your different incarnations.

then how come you have a:s with dots in your keyboard

You, Shir, are so full of hot air that I'm amazed all the snow in Finland hasn't melted yet. I've answered your question three times already. I'll try again, keeping it real simple for you. I do care about the welfare of Palestinians children in the same way I care about the welfare of children in Mozambique or Germany. I hate suffering, abuse and injustice, regardless of who is at the receiving end of it. (That is human nature... - well, the nature of some of us humans anyway.) However, while I do care, it is not a priority. Israeli children are the priority. A third of Israeli children go to bed hungry because they cannot afford even one hot meal per day. (And yet, we squander billions on so-called security, i.e. on occupying the Palestinians.) I care about their future: if my generation does not cause the occupation to cease, then they will be one day forced to give the Palestinians the citizenship and will so lose the State of Israel. Why don't you try being less of a smartass and use your head to think?

Putting umlauts on letters using a Macintosh is easy even with a Canadian/American keyboard - you know like to type something like pöllöpää! So do the Finns in general support your views on Palestine and Israel? Or is it just the Zionist Christians about whom I read -- those who were demonstrating in the streets for Israel during the war on Lebanon? Is Finland moving towards a right-wing government -- like Canada with the Conservatives they elected a year ago? Are you familiar with the political philosophy of Leo Strauss? He's the teacher of the American neo-cons. Number one rule is Deception: the elite rule the masses by telling the people what they "need" to know and no more; the masses can't cope with all the truth, after all! So much for democracy, eh (or should it be ei?)! Second Principle is the Power of Religion and the third Aggressive Nationalism. It's a philosophy of DECEPTION. So it's not surprising most people are so conditioned by their society and government so that they live their lives in a consensus trance totally oblivious to the lies told by their leaders in power.

Or to imagine that the foreign ideologies of others on self-determination is superior to the self-determination taught by the jewish traditions of my jewish ancestors. Zionism is not a foreign ideology, certainly not to any Jew. And what exactly do you call Jewish traditions taught to you by your Jewish ancestors? As a Jew you would know that regardless what the Naturei Karta nut-jobs say, Torah is a "Zionist" book clearly spelling out the right of the Jews to live in the place gifted to them by the Almighty, the land of Israel, and the centrality of Jerusalem, as an eternal Jewish capital. Just like the God brought the Jews out of the captivity of Egypt to the land of Israel, just like he brought them out of the captivity in Babylonia back to the land of Israel, so now the God brought them out of the suffering in the Muslim lands and in Europe into the ancient homeland of Israel. That’s Jewish tradition allright. BTW, what king of Jewish name is Abdullah?

They only "like" us when we are weak or are victims (ie, after the shoah or after 9/11), but hate us when we are strong (after Israel wins the Six Dar War, Yom Kippur War, or when the US wins the Cold War). How often have we heard, "I don't hate Americans, only the American government", or, "I'm not anti-Semitic, only anti-Zionist"?

No, akhi; Israel had almost unconditional sympathy until the first war in Levanon (Sabra and Shatila). That's when it started going steadily downhill, only to really accelerate in the past maybe 7-8 years. We are simply not the underdog anymore. What we are doing in the territories has less and less to do with ensuring the security of Israel's citizens in Israel proper and more to do with simply continuing the occupation (whether at the behest of the settlers or in order to keep the land or some other reason is a moot point). The world can see that and this policy is liable to cause us untold damage in the future. As far as uprooted trees, what are you talking about?? I'm not in the tree-uprooting business; that's the settlers' domain. ;-)

"A third of Israeli children go to bed hungry because they cannot afford even one hot meal per day. (And yet, we squander billions on so-called security, i.e. on occupying the Palestinians." That money invested in efficient security system keeps those kids alive. But of cource, people such as yourself don´t care whether those kids are alive or not. My winter break ends tomorror so I won´t be having time to answer your BS for a few days.

Let me try to state 2 simple facts for your consideration, the PRO-Israel guys and ANTI-Israel guys. First, Jew is not a religion - it's a nationality or ethnicity if You prefer, just lika Arab is not = Muslim. Second, Antisemitizm is NOT anti-Sionizm per se. In theory it is not. But in practice it is in 99.99% of the cases. So i n fact if You are anti-Zionist - You most probably are anti-Semitic. It's like Holocost-deniers not neccessarily are antisemitic, but in practice they are. So stop with theoretical arguments - face the facts.

I have followed you for a while, a curious ex-European that I am, and saw you evolve from a Czech Euro, with limited English skills into an Israeli Jew, in full command of the English tongue. You agenda seems to have changed as well; now you seem to be involved in challenging soldiers at the security checkpoints in order to protect 'innocent Palestinians' and somehow bring up Sabra a Shantila, strictly an Arab on Arab thing. This clearly smacks of ISM, or similar organization. As to Leftists with Arabs uprooting Jewish trees read the following: http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/120823 http://www.israelnationalnews.com/Blogs/Message.aspx/1997 Michael, only a silly college coed will buy your 'peace' agenda. A real proponent of a truly liberal values would never keep company, you do. Sorry, but your cause is in direct opposition to true justice, freedom, liberty and human rights.

All I can tell you is: don't give up your day-job (if any) because you're a lousy sleuth and an even lousier psychoanalyst. As far as the I.S.M, they're a bunch of hypocritical anti-Semites and I've no time for their like. If you had any clue about what I stand for, you'd have figured that out twice over by now. Keep guessing, AK. It'll take you a while to figure me out though it's really very simple.