Language:
German
Year of publication:
2015
Titel der Quelle:
Jahrbuch für Antisemitismusforschung
Angaben zur Quelle:
24 (2015) 293-315
Keywords:
Antisemitism Social aspects
;
Anti-Zionism
;
Arab-Israeli conflict Influence
;
Propaganda, Anti-Israeli
Abstract:
Contends that it is necessary to distinguish between anti-Zionist antisemitism, anti-imperialist hostility towards Israel, and human rights-motivated Israel critique. However, the line between these categories is often fluid. Thus, nearly 60% of Germans who have stated in recent polls that Israel is conducting a "war of extermination" against the Palestinians, can either be viewed as embracing antisemitic anti-Zionist or anti-imperialist Israel-critical views, depending on the bases of their accusations. Furthermore, although the anti-imperialist stance is not antisemitic per se, it provides arguments for antisemitic criticism. Since there is a great potential for antisemitic attitudes toward Israel in Germany, the relevant parties should clearly distance themselves from antisemitism. Those who ascribe primary responsibility for the Israeli-Palestinian conflict to Israel feed a stereotypical and distorted view, which suppresses the problematic positions of Israel's regional enemies. A critical debate, free of pejorative attributions, is needed with those defending the anti-imperialist position, but not with antisemitic anti-Zionists. A clearer distinction could also free the controversial debate from "rhetoric of suspicion", where one side views Israel-critique as a pretext for expressing antisemitism, and the other side uses accusations of antisemitism as a tool for invalidating any critique of Israel.
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