Sometimes, I receive responses - some critical, some complimentary - to my blogs. There is one that has been particularly interesting, so I thought I'd share it with you. Rachel is not her real name, but I would invite you to consider my arguments, learn more about UJS and discover more about the arguments at the heart of Zionism and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. I will add more responses in the coming week...

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Dear Mark,

Re: http://www.ujs.org.uk/news/blog/mark-s-opinion-erasing-the-line-antisemitism-and-anti-zionism/

I'm a non-Zionist Jew who believes that Israeli policies towards the Palestinians are criminal, and that boycott is a legitimate, non-violent means of forcing Israel to comply with international law.

Does this make me an antisemite???

Regards, 

Rachel

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Dear Rachel,

Thanks for reading my blog. I fear that you maybe missed the point of the blog: Bogdani Masuku has been found guilty of inspiring hatred against Jews. This makes him an antisemite.

UJS is a democratic organisation. Our members support the right to Jewish national self-determination in our historic homeland. We do not have specific policy regarding Israeli governmental policy and we encourage our members to develop and act upon their own views regarding Israel and Judaism.

Furthermore I feel that it is important to note that holding Israel to different rules compared to other countries is what is called 'double standards'; why the Jewish state is the only one held to such rules in my opinion is grounded in a deep rejectionism, hatred, delegitimisation and by extension of its exclusivity: antisemitism.

I find it profoundly disturbing that you would read what Masuku said and ignore the explicit incitement against Jews. By all means, work to ameliorate the situation of Palestinians (as many of our activists do), but call antisemitism out for what it is.

Shabbat shalom,

Mark