We're launching a campaign against anti-Semitic Obama'

[azurnoir]

Some 130 protesters gathered in front of the American Consulate in Jerusalem Wednesday afternoon to rally against U.S. President Barack Obama, who had just launched his Middle East tour, during which he is expected to reach out in friendship to the Muslim world.

As more than a dozen local and international journalists looked on, the protesters chanted "No, You Can't" and waved posters saying "20 new 'settlements' by 2010 - Yes We Can!"

"I'm here to tell Obama that Eretz Yisrael belongs to the Jewish people," said Scottish-born Edith Ognall, who drove to the capital from her hometown of Netanya to attend the event. "What right does anybody have to tell us to stop building in the land that was given to us by God? I'm not going to stand by and let Obama, or anybody else, tell me where I can live and where I can't live."

Nadia Matar, the Belgian-born co-chair of Women in Green, which organized the event, made a point of repeatedly mentioning Obama' middle name, Hussein, because "we have to remind ourselves that he received an Islamic education in Indonesia."

http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1090166.html

[kirby]

1. Good...

Maybe for once in a long time, it will be evident to people, that there are right wing extremist (like Likud) on the Israeli side who are just as bad in their opposition to peace and fundamentalism as those on the other side.

[sasquatch]

2. Good lord these people are stupid, but watch them be invited to come on Fox News

[Kalyke]

3. Fine - give us back the several billion you owe us and

give us back the weaponry we gave you and then, maybe, you'll have some ground to stand on - literally.

:eyes:

[Champion Jack]

7. Exactly!

[liberalmuse]

4. When Israel no longer suckles at the US teat...

to the tune of tens of billions per year, they can do what they damn well please, and I wish them well.

[JuniperLea]

44. It's about time that teat dried up, don't you think?

We're broke! Why the hell are we continuing to borrow money from one country only to give it to another? Israel needs to knock on China's door and get their own damn handout! I'm tired of being a pass-through account.

[Hieronymus]

66. Sounds like a good plan to me.

[Hansel]

101. +1

[CTyankee]

109. Well, we have historically had a commitment to the preservation of the Jewish state of Israel.

It is a democracy. It has a strong party that dissents from the RW Netanyahu party's policies with regard to the Palestinians.

Are you saying that we should abandon such a democracy? What would be the consequences of such a move on our part? Tell me how you really feel...I'm listening...

[DebbieCDC]

5. Stupidity -- the most equal opportunity employer

Stupidity welcomes all, regardless of race, religion, gender, sexual orientation, nationality, whatever.

[Howardx]

6. yes please put the biggest kooks in front of cameras

nothing will solve the problem quicker.

[4lbs]

8. Don't they realize that "Semitic" means anyone in the Middle East?

That includes Saudis, Iraqis, Syrians, Palestinians, Kuwaitis, and Jordanians.

All people in those Muslim nations are Semitic as well.

Semitic doesn't mean just Israeli/Jewish, but one who is descended from those in the Middle East.

http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/534157/Semite

<snip>
Semite

people

Main

Person speaking one of a group of related languages, presumably derived from a common language, Semitic (see Semitic languages). The term came to include Arabs, Akkadians, Canaanites, some Ethiopians, and Aramaean tribes including Hebrews. Semitic tribes migrated from the Arabian Peninsula, beginning c. 2500 bc, to the Mediterranean coast, Mesopotamia, and the Nile River delta. In Phoenicia, they became seafarers. In Mesopotamia, they blended with the civilization of Sumer. The Hebrews settled at last with other Semites in Palestine.
<snip>

The only way President Obama can be anti-Semitic is if he was against both Israelis and Arabs.

[Name removed]

10. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[4lbs]

12. Okay. How about this?

From Merriam-Webster, the "gold standard":

http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/semitic



Se·mit·ic
Pronunciation: \sə-ˈmi-tik also -ˈme-\
Function: adjective
Etymology: German semitisch, from Semit, Semite Semite, probably from New Latin Semita, from Late Latin Sem Shem
Date: 1813

1 : of, relating to, or constituting a subfamily of the Afro-Asiatic language family that includes Hebrew, Aramaic, Arabic, and Amharic
2 : of, relating to, or characteristic of the Semites
3 : jewish



What does definition one state? includes Hebrew, AND ** ARABIC **

[Behind the Aegis]

15. You continue to expose your own ignorance...try this....

From Merriam-Webster, the "gold standard":


http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/anti–Semitism

an·ti–Sem·i·tism
Pronunciation: \ˌan-tē-ˈse-mə-ˌti-zəm, ˌan-ˌtī-\
Function: noun
Date: 1882
: hostility toward or discrimination against Jews as a religious, ethnic, or racial group
— an·ti–Se·mit·ic \-sə-ˈmi-tik\ adjective
— an·ti–Sem·ite \-ˈse-ˌmīt\ noun

[4lbs]

16. So, "Semitic" can be used to describe Israelis and Arabs but "Anti-Semitic" is only applicable to

Israelis/Jews?


Does that make sense?

[Behind the Aegis]

18. Very good!

It has something to do with the hisotry of the word "anti-Semitic" not the word "Semitic." The real irony is the word was created by an anti-Semite. PS...Jews and Israelis are NOT interchangable.

[4lbs]

22. It doesn't make sense to me. If Semitic is applicable to pretty much everyone in the Middle East,

then to me, logically, "Anti-Semitic" must apply to everyone in the Middle East.

If the person who is being called "anti-Semitic" is really perceived as mainly Anti-Israel, or Anti-Jewish, I'll say they are "Anti-Israel" or "Anti-Jewish".

You won't like it I'm sure.

[Name removed]

24. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[4lbs]

26. Interesting how nearly every one of your posts in this thread have been nothing but calling people

stupid and ignorant.

Good luck in your life.

[Behind the Aegis]

28. Hey, when you spout ignorance and stupid remarks expect to be called on it!

[4lbs]

30. Okay, you live a happy life now. Hope you get over your bitterness. It's not good for the

physical well-being.

[Behind the Aegis]

34. Pathetic.

Now you're a shrink? Get a life.

[4lbs]

50. You are the one berating six different people in one thread on an Internet forum, and I'm the one

who needs to get a life?

By the way, and slightly off-topic than the OP, one doesn't have to be a shrink to know that negative stress helps cause various physical maladies. You get chest pains, high blood pressure, headaches, upset stomach, greying of the hair, hair loss, etc.

If you go through life being this angry and bitter towards everyone, you likely will wind up with one or more of the above.

[Behind the Aegis]

54. Stick to your day job.

You'd obviously make a shitty shrink.

[Kalyke]

32. No - people have evolved from 1860.

Most people on this board are far more educated than the average citizen and KNOW that Arabs are also Semitic, so they think the usage of this term for ONLY Jews is outdated.

[Behind the Aegis]

35. WOW...you must be an excellent linguist.

:eyes:

Learn the difference between fact and opinion, while learning that, do learn you are entitled to your own opnions, but not your facts.

[Name removed]

40. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Behind the Aegis]

41. I didn't demand anything, nor would I from the likes of you.

[JuniperLea]

52. So, you are equally rude with people who agree with you?

The likes of me? Interesting choice of words from someone the likes of you:)

[Kalyke]

45. And Moritz Steinschneider wasn't entitled to his own facts, either.

Which is why he was wrong to use the term for only Jewish people.

[Behind the Aegis]

55. WOW! You're right...yet here we are.

:eyes:

[LeftishBrit]

89. 'Antisemitic' was coined by antisemites to mean specifically 'racially anti-Jewish'

'Anti-Jewish' people in the sense of religious bigots could accept Jews who convert to another religion. Antisemites were not prepared to accept any Jews.

It's not the best term - but then neither is 'American', as Canada, Mexico, Brazil, etc. are all part of the American continent. All these terms are understood in their common current usage.

I'm prepared to change the term to 'anti-Jewish racists'; but that does mean using three words instead of one.

[Kalyke]

20. The poster to whom your responding doesn't accept the

fact that Arabs, Aramaic people, etc. are Semitic.

Instead, he chooses to follow the term as coined by some Austrian scholar in the 1800s, which deemed to take the word "Semitic," put an "anti" in front of it and then claim that it's NOT the opposite of Semitic and ONLY reserved for those who, sadly, suffer from Judeophobia.

FWIW, I'm married to a Jewish man and he thinks the "scholarly" term of anti-Semitic has worn out whatever welcome it ever had since most educated people now know that Arabs are Semitic, too.

[Behind the Aegis]

21. More ignorance pops into the sub-thread.

I love the "my best friends are" insert. Here is a hint, opinion is not fact. Look it up!

[Kalyke]

27. I have looked it up and I think the term is VERY outdated and STUPID.

Use "anti-Jewish" or "Judeophobic." It actually makes you sound less, you know, bigoted against Arabs.

:eyes:

It is a fact that some Austrian scholar coined the phrase in the 1800s, but it was then and is now INCORRECT in its usage IF it ONLY includes Jews. It should include anyone who is afraid of, well, "brown people from the cradle of civilization," which would include Arabs.

Moritz Steinschneider, who was Jewish, didn't seem to BOTHER to learn that there are other Semites besides Jews. Or likely didn't care. Which would have been just as sad and bigoted if an Arab scholar had coined the phrase and made it mean only Arabs.

Here is a hint - my husband is Jewish, but can realize when something sounds completely STUPID.

[Name removed]

29. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Kalyke]

33. I don't care that it was always used for that.

IT'S A DUMB USE OF THE WORD BECAUSE THE ROOT WORD MEANS MORE THAN JEWISH.

That said, my husband would like to inform you that I'm the worst bigot he's ever met. :eyes:

[Behind the Aegis]

39. Your argument is as pathetic and ignorant as the right-wingers...

...who say "homophobia" is not accurate because it is not accurate and they don't "fear" homosexuals.

I didn't say you were a bigot, try reading comprehension.

[Kalyke]

49. I think you need to try it.

From your post above, "The only bigotry on display is yours."

That's not calling me a bigot? :eyes:

And homophobes do fear homosexuals. They fear them quite a bit for whatever convoluted, polluted and idiotic reason they can come up with.

[Behind the Aegis]

57. Try again.

I was commenting on your actions, not you. I haven't seen enough your posts to determine one way or the other.

[cali]

98. so are you going to lobby vigorously for parkway to be changed to something

that's more accurate? Gonna work on changing the usage of American to represent all of those who are citizens of the Americas? Many words make little sense re their etymological roots. That's just the vagaries of language. The fact is that whether you think it's stupid or I think it's stupid is irrelevant. Words do change meaning over time, and maybe the word anti-semitism will as well, who knows?

[JuniperLea]

31. It's been overused to the point...

Where even younger Jews are begining to let the term roll off their backs...

[Kalyke]

42. Which was the point I was trying to make regarding my husband.

He's in his 30s and is Jewish and thinks the term is idiotic.

Instead, I get called out by the other poster for using a "my best friend is..." line in regards to bigotry.

Although my husband is my best friend, the point I was attempting to make is that I personally know, love and live with a younger Jewish person who thinks the usage of the word for only Jews is stupid, outdated and, frankly, incorrect.

[JuniperLea]

48. I've heard it many times

From younger Jews. It's become an embarrassment, really.

Whatever you do, don't alert on any of the rudeness! That's the game, you see. Be rude and disgusting until people alert so entire threads get locked or sub-thread's deleted.

[cali]

96. sigh. why is it parkway and driveway. You drive on a parkway and you park in a driveway.

The word anti-semitic, like many other words, isn't "true" to its roots, but the word was conceived by one Wilhelm Marr, in Germany, around 150 years ago. to denote hostility toward Jews, and that's what it's represented ever since.

[Fozzledick]

107. Umm, a driveway is the way you drive into a garage or parking space

and a parkway is a highway that's landscaped like a park.

If the term "anti-Semitic" is inaccurate and stupid it's because the anti-Semites who defined it were inaccurate and stupid, but that doesn't change its definition.

[JuniperLea]

17. Don't trip and fall on the way to your own...

Because the poster is correct. Google is your friend, so is Mirriam Webster.

Now what did you call that poster? Stupid?

:rofl:

[Name removed]

19. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[JuniperLea]

23. The poster was correct...

Semite was the word in question.

Not surprised you'd twist it though. You don't seem to care to stay on topic when you can twist something to suit your own opinions.


Edited for your "gold standard":

Main Entry: 1Se·mit·ic
Pronunciation: \sə-ˈmi-tik also -ˈme-\
Function: adjective
Etymology: German semitisch, from Semit, Semite Semite, probably from New Latin Semita, from Late Latin Sem Shem
Date: 1813
1 : of, relating to, or constituting a subfamily of the Afro-Asiatic language family that includes Hebrew, Aramaic, Arabic, and Amharic
2 : of, relating to, or characteristic of the Semites
3 : jewish

[Name removed]

25. Deleted sub-thread

Sub-thread removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[dionysus]

36. what a rude person you are....

:eyes:

[JuniperLea]

37. You can't call him rude...

That would be anti-Semitic in his book.

[dionysus]

38. .

:spray:

[Behind the Aegis]

43. Poor thing.

:eyes:

[dionysus]

46. when nearly every post you make is an insult, you tend to get the reputation of being a d-bag...

:shrug:

[Behind the Aegis]

51. Don't care.

Don't like duplicitous and deceptive mockery of hate against Jews. Though, it tends not to be an issue for more than few here.

[dionysus]

53. there hasn't been a single anti-semitic post in this entire thread...

and you're the only one being rude.
:shrug:

[Behind the Aegis]

56. Didn't say there was.

[dionysus]

58. so you're flaming everyone on this thread because?

you obviously have some deap seated anger issues...

[Behind the Aegis]

60. No, I corrected an ignorant view. I was the one flamed. Gets your facts straght.

I got flamed by you and several others because they don't like real facts.

[dionysus]

63. now YOU'RE going to play the victim?!

:rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl:

[Behind the Aegis]

64. And you're going to play as if you were honest?

:rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl:
:rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl:
:rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl:
:rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

[dionysus]

68. are you capable of doing anything other than calling fellow DUers liars and stupid?

because thats the only weak-ass response you seem to have.

[Howardx]

70. im not sure why his continued presence here is tolerated n/t

[JuniperLea]

73. Amazing, isn't it?

Not one civil post. Anywhere. Not a one. And yet, I smell no pizza!

[LeftishBrit]

108. Because even people whom you dislike have a right to be members here

(and judging by my previous experience, I suspect that's quite a lot of people).

[4lbs]

67. Didn't I get flamed by you first for presenting information

that was in both well-known and well-respected sources of reference?

Shouldn't you really have an issue with the Encyclopaedia Brittanica and Webster's Dictionary?

[dionysus]

69. yes, his first post out of the box in this thread was a flame, now he's playing the victim

:rofl:

[4lbs]

61. As he told me, we're all just stupid, ignorant, and pathetic. (n/t)

n/t

[Chulanowa]

79. Because he wants the thread closed, because the truth hurts

It's like exposing mildew to sunlight. It burns and stings!

[Name removed]

71. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[ecstatic]

76. You seem to be extremely offended at the idea of sharing the term

"semitic" with Arabs. Your true colors are showing. :eyes:

[Behind the Aegis]

78. Seems you don't have a clue.

It is your colors which are showing.

[JuniperLea]

87. I know you are but what am I?

What are you in third grade?

[LeftishBrit]

91. The real point here...

is that - suppose we agree that 'antisemitism' isn't the correct term for 'racial/ethnic bigotry against Jews'. Does that make racial/ethnic bigotry against Jews not exist?

I am quite happy to recommend that the WORD be changed; but changing the WORD doesn't change the existence of the FACT.

It is ridiculous to call *Obama* an antisemite (or anti-Jewish bigot); and the people who did so here are a bunch of right-wing extremists. But antisemitism nevertheless exists, whether one chooses that word for it or not.


Perhaps that makes me anti-SEMANTIC!

[IntravenousDemilo]

9. So they don't care that the President has a first name that's the surname of a recent Israeli PM?

When our Allied forces liberated the death camps at the end of the Second World War, exposing to the world the depths and horrors of systematized, institutionalized racism, I believe we were all longing for a better world without racism. When the rest of the world, through the UN, established the state of Israel, we did not do so with the intent of creating another country based on systematized, institutionalized racism.

I guess those were just silly, impractical pipe dreams.

[Hell Hath No Fury]

11. "..given to us by God" ....

Well, jeez, who can argue with that? :shrug: :eyes:

[Name removed]

13. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[JuniperLea]

14. But MY God says it belongs to me!

And my ancient texts supercede your ancient texts... and my God can beat the crap out of your God!

Here we have it folks, a perfect example of why it is so freaking important to keep a seperation of church and state!

[Cass]

47. Labeling someone an anti-semite for criticizing the actions of the Israeli government

or leadership is pretty offensive. And basing foreign policy decisions on religious texts is nuts.

[JuniperLea]

59. That is a perfect summation of the situation here...

It is offensive, no question. And you're right about the other nuttiness as well.

[Cass]

83. It is too bad that tactic is often overlooked or ignored.

OT - I love the artwork in your sig line, it reminds me of a beautiful stained glass window.

[JuniperLea]

86. Thanks!

www.purplemoon.com


Not my site, or my art, but since I pinched that beauty some time ago, I feel the obligation to give credit where credit is due!


I need to order the window clingy in that design.

[WeDidIt]

62. This just pushed me back the other way

I had been pretty supportive of Israel, but my support is about dried up.

[Aristus]

65. Mr. President, it's time to dock Israel's allowance.

:grr:

When Palestinians say that this land was given to us by God, people call them terrorists. Israelis get tagged as "protestors".

[Douglas Carpenter]

72. kick and recommended

[azurnoir]

75. Thankyou n/t

[rvablue]

74. "Scottish-born" Edith Ognall.... says it all right there. My great grandfather was Scottish, so I

guess according to Ms. Ognalls protestations that if I can prove my grandfather once lived on her acestral land 100+ years ago, it would be A-OK for be to bulldoze her parent's house and claim it as my own.

Then I could just say to her, "I'm not going to stand by and let Ognall, or anybody else, tell me where I can live and where I can't live."

But, see I would never do that because it would be irrational, immoral and totally cruel.

[UndertheOcean]

77. Arabs are semites too ...

I think Anti-Semitic is outdated , therefore I always use the phrases "Anti-Arab" and "Anti-Jewish" or "Anti-Zionist", and if someone here does not like it , well tough luck. Nobody has a monopoly on language.

[Name removed]

80. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[cali]

99. uh, we're talking about Israelis and you should identify them as such

Jews and Israelis are not interchangable.

[Name removed]

100. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Name removed]

103. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[chrisa]

81. Idiots

Nadia Matar, the Belgian-born co-chair of Women in Green, which organized the event, made a point of repeatedly mentioning Obama' middle name, Hussein, because "we have to remind ourselves that he received an Islamic education in Indonesia."

Scoring a point against racism with racism. Absolute idiocy.

[FarrenH]

82. What blows me away is that some of my vehemently pro-Israel friends

have repeatedly denied that the settler movement is driven by racist ethnic nationalism. Not just deny it is a primary motivation, but deny it even plays a significant role in Israel's behaviour.

The South African (where I live) Institute of Race Relations published a big, fat study recently that concluded that, examining the UN definition of the "Crime of Apartheid" as well as a variety of historical sources, Israel is unquivocally practising both Apartheid AND colonialism, for reasons of ethnic nationalism.

This is fundamentally racist. If being opposed to racism makes one a bigot then black is white and up is down. And, notwithstanding Behind the Aegis' predictable reaction (sometimes I suspect he or she is a propaganda plant on this site), the word antisemite does have a connotation not mentioned in the above dictionary cite. It is almost universally seen as connoting bigotry, as in "a generalised _indefensible and unreasonable_ fear or hatred of a group", NOT: disagreeing with or even hating PARTICULAR MEMBERS of that group for their political and social positions.

I'm fucking sick of supporters of Israeli Apartheid implying its opponents are all bigots, especially since a Jewish friend of many years basically pulled that stunt on me earlier this year in an argument about Israel. Despite the fact that he backpedalled and said he was misunderstood after realising how pissed off I was, it was perfectly obvious that (a) he knew far LESS about what was going on in Israel than I did (also a reason for his backpedalling after I exposed his ignorance on a bunch of issues) and (b) he sincerely believed that some there was a thread of un-acknowledged bigotry informing the views of many of his leftist friends.

In South Africa, the Jewish community is far less divided on the issue of Israel than I've observed is the case in England or from online dialog and reading about the US Jewish community. Even many Jews who were at the forefront of the struggle against Apartheid have tacitly or overtly endorsed the most right-wing, racist Israeli policies. The most recent being one of my lifelong heroes, Helen Suzman, who has since passed away. I cannot understand how a woman that spent her life trying to dismantle Apartheid and at the grand old age of 80 was advocating legalisation of marijuana could deny any similarity between Apartheid and the situation in the occupied territories.

Ronnie Kasrils, prominent Jewish ANC member and former minister, founded an anti-Israeli-Apartheid group called "Not in Our Name", but polls suggested that South African Jews who aligned themselves with its cause represented a vanishingly small percentage of SA Jews.

So on account of having a relatively high number of Jewish friends, former lovers and employers, as well as converts in the family, I've been exposed to this particular ethnic blind spot more than many non-Jews (I'm a former Catholic atheist) and I can say that beyond a shadow of a doubt that there is a significant thread of dialog within the international Jewish community that both wittingly and unwittingly sees Jews as eternal victims unable to be on the wrong side of history where bigotry is concerned, and exploits lingering guilt about the Holocaust to shut down discussion of Israel's Apartheid crimes.

That real, indefensible antisemitism exists, especially in the Arab community, does not obviate this.

There is no God, Jews are not God's chosen people and the whole of "Eretz Israel" was not given to them by God. Most leftists, myself included, feel the need to constantly add boiler-plate disclaimers to every other comment to indicate that they recognise the distinction between "Jew" and "Israeli". But in the process we often lose sight of the fact that Jewish religious belief is, in central to the equation. The idiot right-wingers referenced in the OP are racists, nationalists and RELIGIOUS BIGOTS. Their religious beliefs inform them that God gave them the land currently occupied by Palestinians and they are prepared to see Palestinian men, woman and children die brutally to fulfil that promise*.

And many foreign Jews support Israel's most onerous practices BECAUSE IT IS A JEWISH COUNTRY, even where they do not necessarily subscribe to the whole "God gave us this land" idea. To me this is no different from moderate Muslims remaining silent on or even tacitly endorsing groups like the Taliban, or Christians saying they abhor the murder of abortion doctors but he reaped what he sowed. It is racism-by-proxy, pure and simple. I've said that to, and will continue to say that to, Jewish friends, despite the fact that it pains me and has placed a strain on at least one friendship.

"But what about foreign non-Jews who support Israel?" you may ask. "Where do they fit into your view?"

Well, a sizeable percentage of them are motivated by outright Islamophobia/Arabophobia, rather than any serious appraisal of what Israel is actually doing. Many more are simply victims of the "et tu" fallacy, lumping all Arabs together and seeing the Palestinians as deserving of oppression because woman are not free in Saudi Arabia, or even simply seeing the fundamentalist streak in the Palestinian community that elevated Hamas as justification enough for the mass imprisonment without representation and collective punishment that Israel has subjected Palestinians to for 30 years. Others, of course, are batshit insane fundamentalist Christians who just want to see an apocolyptic prophecy fulfilled. None of the non-Jewish supportive positions I've encountered are particularly reasonable or well-informed. The only close-to-defensible arguments I've heard are structured around cynical "realpolitik" arguments, rather than ethical considerations.

But at least when I encounter a non-Jewish Israel-right-or-wronger there is no implied subtext that my views on Israel are informed by bigotry, that I cannot even say "Jewish" (as opposed to "Israeli") EVEN WHERE ITS AN ESSENTIAL PART OF UNDERSTANDING THE SITUATION, without "antisemite" tripping off someone's tongue or being implied. That particular subtext (and sometimes overt text) drives me crazy. Sometimes I just want to scream "LOOK, YOU F*CKING RACIST C*NT, YOU'RE SUPPORTING APARTHEID. HOW DARE YOU CALL ME A BIGOT"

*Here's a quote from rabbi Manis Friedman (hat tip to PZ Myers blog Pharyngula) answering the question "How should Jews treat their Arab neighbours":

"I don't believe in western morality, i.e. don't kill civilians or children, don't destroy holy sites, don't fight during holiday seasons, don't bomb cemeteries, don't shoot until they shoot first because it is immoral The only way to fight a moral war is the Jewish way: Destroy their holy sites. Kill men, women and children (and cattle)."

His views were not shared by other Rabbis asked the same question, but certainly reflect the mentality of many in the settler movement and their enablers and supporters around the world.

[IndianaGreen]

94. K&R to your most excellent post!

:fistbump:

[Arkana]

84. They're just as bad as wingnuts here.

[jenmito]

85. K&R. I'm GLAD this is happening. I hope al Jazeera gets wind of this. It's about time our govt.

isn't so lopsidedly pro-Israel.

[GeorgeGist]

88. Bereshit education ...

promotes hatred of non-Jews.

[LeftishBrit]

90. What a bunch of right-wing nutcases.

[BlooInBloo]

92. Always good to know that America doesn't have a monopoly on jackassery.

[IndianaGreen]

93. Many of these rightwingers were born in the USA

They were Freepers here, and now they are Freepers there.

[BlooInBloo]

95. Stop bursting my bubble, man.

:P

[Jackeens]

106. ROFL!!!!!!!

[Scurrilous]

97. Rightists to circulate doctored photos of kaffiyah-clad Obama

200 right-wing activists demonstrate outside American Consulate in Jerusalem in protest of growing pressure to halt settlement construction; extremists to circulate doctored photos of US president in Arab headdress and shaking Ahmadinejad's hand

http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3725938,00.html

<snip>

"Doctored photos of US President Barack Obama wearing a kaffiyah (traditional Arab headdress) with a caption reading "Jew-hating anti-Semite" will be circulated in the coming days by Israeli right-wing activists in protest of the growing US pressure on Israel to halt settlement activity, even that which is attributed to "natural growth."

The activists, Ynet has learned, plan to circulate another doctored photo showing Obama shaking hands with Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad against the backdrop of a nuclear explosion. The heading reads "Yes, We Can."

The photos may be distributed in the US as well."

[Blue_Tires]

102. "....land given to us by God?"

entitlement complex much??

[UndertheOcean]

104. Well, that's for taking the Torah literary

[RollWithIt]

105. 120 people caused thousands of DU'ers to erupt in random blah

Yeehaw!