An English synagogue is defaced. Anti-Semitic fools? Islamists? Not quite:
"An Orthodox Jewish synagogue in Stamford Hill in London has been attacked and vandalized - not by anti-Semitic thugs, but by fellow Jews who regard its leaders' outspoken condemnation of Israel as a betrayal.
"Rising tensions over the forced evictions by Israeli troops last month of Jewish settlers from Gaza and parts of the West Bank as part of the Middle East peace process has sparked a backlash among Stamford Hill's Orthodox Jewish community.
"Windows at the synagogue in Alkham Road were smashed after bottles were hurled at them last Thursday evening and the front of the building was covered with red spray paint.
"The synagogue belongs to Neturei Karta, an ultra-Orthodox sect opposed to the Zionist political movement that established the state of Israel as a national homeland for Jews.
"The sect claims that the concept of a sovereign Jewish state is contrary to the teachings of the Torah and has led to the bloodshed in the Middle East.
"In recent years it has staged the public burning of the Israeli flag on street corners in Stamford Hill."
"An Orthodox Jewish synagogue in Stamford Hill in London has been attacked and vandalized - not by anti-Semitic thugs, but by fellow Jews who regard its leaders' outspoken condemnation of Israel as a betrayal.
"Rising tensions over the forced evictions by Israeli troops last month of Jewish settlers from Gaza and parts of the West Bank as part of the Middle East peace process has sparked a backlash among Stamford Hill's Orthodox Jewish community.
"Windows at the synagogue in Alkham Road were smashed after bottles were hurled at them last Thursday evening and the front of the building was covered with red spray paint.
"The synagogue belongs to Neturei Karta, an ultra-Orthodox sect opposed to the Zionist political movement that established the state of Israel as a national homeland for Jews.
"The sect claims that the concept of a sovereign Jewish state is contrary to the teachings of the Torah and has led to the bloodshed in the Middle East.
"In recent years it has staged the public burning of the Israeli flag on street corners in Stamford Hill."
7 Comments:
Is it orthodox, ultra orthodox, or a sect? It can't be all three.
But it is a shame and disgrace that it was attacked.
I do know that one. It is a sect. If it were merely ultra-orthodox, it would still regard israel as a nation and would not assist the PLO nor insist on dismantlement.
There is little attempt of silencing dissent, by Jews, outside of israel. There is just the movement to ensure that the dissent motivated by antisemitism is widely noted.
Ibrahamav, your use of the word 'anti-Semitism' to describe any criticism of Israel gives the word no meaning and allows true anti-Semitism to be either ignored or forgotten. Get some perspective.
As for this: "There is little attempt of silencing dissent, by Jews, outside of israel." Really, you must be kidding? The number of both Jews and non-Jews who are slammed, intimidated, silenced and threatened for speaking out proves that your point is spurious. And that's being kind.
Antony, your attempt to associate the dismay shown concerning certain criticism of Israel with the misuse of the charge of antisemitism gives your attempt no meaning and allows true antisemitism to be either ignored or forgotten.
Good thing that everybody but neo-nazis, white supremists, Holocaust deniers, and islamo-fascists (and their helpers, witting or not) is on to that little canard.
Using the term 'antisemitic' when criticising those charges against israel which are clearly antisemitic in nature, witting or not, is no crime, nor does it dull the legitimate sting, no matter how much you would love it to.
I understand your dilemma. Here's a hint that might help.
Criticising Israel for failure to follow UN resolutions without explaining that the vast majority of such resolutions are passed in knee-jerk fashion, that several of the resolutions require Arab action before Israel can be expected to follow suit, and that similar action by the Arab enemies of Israel are not singled out for resolutions, is merely unfair criticism of Israel and not antisemitic.
Any attempt to equate Zionism to racism, without clarifying that every single nationalistic movement including the Palestinian one is equally as racist, is antisemitic.
But if it is already proven that you are an antisemite, it makes little difference how you term your criticism of israel and zionism as it usually stems from your antisemitic outlook. You don't get brownie points when you accidentally stumble across an actual non-antisemitic critique.
But, of course, I'm not the expert and it is just a ball park explanation
Again, ballpark explanation. But the Rowan's of the world are not about to change their stripes.
It is not up to me to look into their hearts. Their intensions will be read from their posts.
Here's a hint. When someone complains that someone else label all criticism of israel as antisemtitic, that is a post that gives reason to suspect such a fellow's intentions.
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