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Namibian President Hage G. Geingob blasted Germany on Saturday for defending Israel at the International Court of Justice in The Hague, pointing to the genocide Germany itself perpetrated on Namibians in the early 1900s.

  • nichtsowichtig@feddit.de
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    11 months ago

    anti-semitism nowadays is usually expressed throught the pretext of “anti-zionism”. While I agree German authorities didn’t do a good job at managing the protetsts, there is no denial that some prostestors have expressed anti-semitic ideas during some protests

    • tryptaminev 🇵🇸 🇺🇦 🇪🇺@feddit.de
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      11 months ago

      The claim that anti-semitism is hidden under anti-zionism is used extensively in Germany, often to muddy the water and not deal with legitimate anti-zionism on a factual basis. This is done deliberately, both instrumentalising jewish people, that might want nothing to do with Israel and attacking jewish people that voice criticism of Israel. Both dimensions of this are anti-semitic as they deny jewish people a position and voice outside of the context of Israel.

      If you read the analysis on the antisemtism officers in Germany you will see, that this is not a pattern that only came into existence with the current protests, but a systemic issue in Germany, which is deliberately caused. The article in the jewish currents was published in July, almost three month before the Hamas attacks of 07. October.

      It is true that some use anti-zionism as a platform to promote anti-semitism, but it is impossible to have a proper debate about it and differentiate these two in Germany. Also mixing them up like this prevents the possibility from identifying anti-semitism that could be prevented by honestly educating people about the differences and lines to it. But if for instance demonstrations in Germany are banned by default, students in schools are punished for bringing Palestinian flags and similiar persecutions occur, it is difficult to challenge anti-semitic prejudice like jews secretely exerting power on other countries. By blaming all anti-zionist positions to be anti-semitic, it also creates a reaction of defiance, where people feel inclined to take on anti-semitic positions, as they are labeled anti-semitic either way, even if voicing legitimate criticism of Israel.

      • nichtsowichtig@feddit.de
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        11 months ago

        The claim that anti-semitism is hidden under anti-zionism

        both is true: Anti-semitism under the pretext of anti-zionism and legitimate critizism labeled as anti-semitism. Jewish people are instrumentalized by both supporters of the Israeli governent and anti-zionists.

        but it is impossible to have a proper debate about it and differentiate these two in Germany

        not impossible, but people don’t pay attention to those who have nuance opinions. If you speak German, a good example would be this podcast by Jung und Naiv.

        By blaming all anti-zionist positions to be anti-semitic, it also creates a reaction of defiance

        I agree with that. In the same way, denying that anti-zionism and anti-semitism interconnected is equally unhelpful