George Jonas On Antisemetism Vs Legitimate Criticism

George Jonas puts it eloquently:

Judging by the volume of correspondence last week on the question of whether Israel’s critics are anti-Semites or not, the subject exercises National Post readers a great deal. To me, the answer seems uncomplicated and self-evident. I’ve been offering it for years and will probably continue in years to come. Watch my lips: Some are and some are not.

These six words contain everything one can usefully say about the subject, at least until the art of mindreading becomes more reliable. Some critics of Israel are anti-Semites and some aren’t, and no one can tell in advance which one is and which one isn’t, although one can often make a shrewd guess. No, the mere fact that a critic is Jewish doesn’t preclude him being anti-Semitic

More importantly, knowing the answer still doesn’t tell us whether the critic is right or wrong. The fact that a critic isn’t anti-Semitic doesn’t prove that his criticism is right; the fact that he is anti-Semitic doesn’t prove that his criticism is wrong. I wish it would but it doesn’t.

I personally cringe whenever anyone defending Israel uses the "Antisemitism" argument. I don't doubt in the least that much of the criticism against Israel display a deeper antisemitism, but it is only God (and the shadow) who knows what thoughts lie in the hearts of men. One should only ever accuse another of such a harsh label as an antisemite when you are sure beyond any reasonable doubt.