I agree completely with the author. The double standard applied to Israel is hard to explain without acknowledging the role of antisemitism. Israel is not unique in how it was formed or in the conflicts it faces, yet it is judged by standards no other country is expected to meet.
Part of the reason Jews have always been such convenient scapegoats is that we fit the profile perfectly. Jews are highly visible and often successful, which breeds resentment. At the same time, especially in the diaspora, we are generally a peaceful and non-confrontational people. That combination — visibility, success, and passivity — has historically made Jews the easiest target for societies looking for someone to blame for their problems.
Israel changed one part of that equation because Israelis are fighters and refuse to remain victims. But the deeper pattern remains. When nations or movements want to explain their failures, Jews — and now Israel — often become the most convenient target.
Don't know any other people who spend their lives with the sole purpose of destroying their neighbour. Take billions of dollars in aid and use it, not for helping their people, not for furthering education, but for building tunnels and acquiring arms, instead of living in peace.
Interesting that you miss the point that the only reason why the Palestinians are stateless is because since 1947 they have repeatedly rejected having their own state if that meant the Jews also having their state.
Israel is treated differently due to antisemitism, full stop. That it is the only country in the entire world whose very existence is openly debated tells us everything we need to know.
I attended a sporting event recently. The woman in the seat in front of me was wearing a T-shirt with a quote printed on the back supposedly from Roman Emperor Caligula (a poor example of decency and humanity, I know, but bear with me). "It is not necessary that they love us, only that they fear us." Sometimes, one must embrace the hatred to survive.
I'm Zionist. The unique aspect of Jewish self determination was to create a critical mass of Jews in the Land of Israel....and to do so we allegedly had to have the acquiescence of the existing Arabic speaking Muslims and the newly birthed and formulated pan Arab identity. And Muslims as a minority population in a Jewish entity was anathema. And it still is. We, the Jews, began creating a self reliant state...the Arabic speakers did no such thing. Now the State of Israel is being judged by Marxist colonial settler theories....the means by which Muslims became a majority are judged as natural... NOT the same for the Jews..." a crime against humanity" And the invention of an "ancient Palestinian people rooted on the soil that predates the Biblical Zionist invasion or the current one. Some of the Arabs are now accepting Israel as a fait accompli.... The Europeans have reverted to racist antisemitism with a touch of religious based antisemitism in post Christian Islamizing contemporary Europe. The Americans seem to be reverting to an isolationism born of defeat in Vietnam, in Iraq, in Afghanistan....and from some quarters we've been defeated by the mullahs.
I shall watch the news tonight if we destroy Iranian infrastructure. Israel is thriving against all the dire threats.... proposals banning it from soccer and worst of all...Eurovision! Imagine that.
The irony is that Zionism, particularly from Herzl on, aimed for " normalization", not exceptionality, for the Jewish people. A people in its country. As "normal", for better or worse, as everyone else.
But...and here is the tender point, as per the Torah, Israel is taxed, or blessed, with being also "a light unto the nations". Exceptional, a model, an example, an enlightenment.
This is where the resentment comes from, including the "chosen" status Israel believed in. Such envy and contempt props Israel to the impossible double standard. The obligation of others to achieve such standard, too difficult in their consideration, creates the cognitive dissonance and the demonization of those still aware of such standards, even as they, the Jews, as always, struggled with their human natures and sought to perfect them.
To be both normal and exceptional will always be an impossible proposition, and thus the unending struggle.
What Jews believe or don't believe does not matter or excuse the obsessive focus. Muslims and Christians believe Allah and Jesus (respectively) make them the true "chosen" and possess the love of God and everyone should convert to their religions (and historically have forced conversions). Jews don't do that and don't go around saying, "we're special, we're chosen" and EVEN IF THEY DID--they are such a small minority and they don't threaten ANY other religion. One Billion Christians in the world, 2 Billion Muslims and only 15 million--million--Jews. Why "resent" such a small population and not other religions that also claim to be "special" and blessed? It's simply irrational--like Jew hate simply IS. A mind-virus.
You are right, of course. Those are hard facts. Israel's usurpation is a case of theft, perpetrated in order to possess the alleged chosenness of the Only One God that Israel insisted on. A murderous case of sibling rivalry and hatred, Cain and Abel. The other element is regression. The Beast clamors for time to continue without a conscience and even create a
moral inversion that will allow a return to savagery. Islam's
regression is the worst and most extreme.It seeks to dominate the women,own their wombs, and explode the world demographically. Israel came too early in evolution , insisting in boundaries the savage pagans didn't care for. Israel indeed never meant to convert the world. But it dreamed of a better future for all. The following psychosis of two parricidal religions was never Israel's fault. Part of the psychosis , the collective madness, is having a scapegoat, a dirty laundry basket or toilet for the filth in their minds. And even then: Ancient Israel sent the scapegoat to " escape", which is where the term comes from. It took away the sins of the people, who had repented on Yom Kippur, and the goat , a symbol of mind renewal and ethical accountability, was free to go. The " daughter" religions , instead, slaughtered their scapegoat. That' s who they are.
“Israel is the Promised land“ and “Jews are/should be a light unto the nations“. For better or for worse, these two religious viewpoints don’t exactly help the case for Israel and Jews to be run-of-the-mill.
This is a great article with a clear view from the 50,000 foot level. Should be required reading by everyone including news media editors and journalists, as well as politicians, regardless of political persuasion.
While I can't find the source, I seem to remember reading Ben-Gurion saying upon the establishment of the modern State of Israel "All we want is to be treated like all other nations." This article puts that wish into perspective.
Israel remains a small democratic state and the world's only Jewish nation, among 57 Muslim-majority states. All Islamic theocracies, dictatorships, absolute monarchies, who have been attacking Israel since 1948 and when Israel fights back cry “genocide”. No sugar coating, Antisemites are upset that Israel and Jews exist.
I also completely agree with the author, Mr. Kaplan. However, Israel is exceptional, beyond exceptional really. Look at all they've given to humanity! Their inventions to help people in so many ways are used by the entire world. In Genesis 12:1-3, part of the unconditional Abrahamic Covenant, the Lord makes it clear that Israel will be a blessing to all the world, and she has. Pray for the peace of Israel!
It all comes down to a very simple truth: They hate the Jews because they didn't convert. First the Christians, then much later, the Muslims. (And the Christians and Muslims hate each other for the same reason). To validate their own religious beliefs and their hate, they demonized the Jews and dehumanized them and the lies have been passed down through hundreds of years. But Jews have never hated another religion or forced conversion or persecuted another religion. Go figure.
Here in Britain, State sponsored Hatred against Jews, which becomes hatred against The Jewish People, has been organised by very high levels of Elements of MI6, which has been partly taken over by Antisemites and AntiSemitism. This has resulted in contradictory but antisemitic ‘dark-side’ uses of State channels and even military broadcast kit to spread hatred. Our monitoring is with you, and with all countries and people threatened by the partly-State-sponsored re-formation of The Nazi Party, from 2013, and which is now taped and Filed and in the record. This was started as a Show, but was in fact instigated by, and then sucked in, Real Nazis. This, amongst other reasons, is why there has been an organised attempt here in Europe to treat Israel ‘exceptionally’, as She is by some European countries.
Now there are lies about the ancient connection of Jews to the land (especially by framing all Israelis as Ashkenazi Jews, which is just not true, and claiming Ashkenazi Jews have no roots in Israel and are in fact European, which is also not true), which was indisputable after WWI. It goes to double standards I've seen several times, about how it's fine the Jews have lost their right to the land when exiled, but that doesn't apply to the Arabs about a war they started, apparently, when the best example of mass displacement and land lost is WWII, and no country can claim back their lost land before the war, or even try to claim such a thing.
From the historical analysis perspective, I do have to disagree with you about the immigration bit, which I feel you gloss over.
Israel's population is disproportionately immigrants, and these immigrants are disproportionately displaced peoples with a shared cultural history. A good resource to *quickly* learn about this is the Jewish Virtual Library, they have short articles about each large immigration wave, known as the First through Fourth Aliyot (Plural of Aliyah). Wikipedia is OK as a source, but honestly everything related to Israel on that site has become a bit of a dumpster fire.
This *is* one of Israel's very unique features, although again in a historical sense I'm sure I can find "one very unique feature" about Pakistan/India, Lebanon, Syria, etc. if I cared to look. Importantly, this isn't an important fact when deciding if the existence of a state is justified or not.
I think the hatred of the Jewish state is much more multifaceted than mere antisemitism, as you imply by your conclusion. (Very) Short version of my opinion: The nation sits at a very unusual spot geopolitically; it's a fantastic wedge issue for America making it a useful target for modern informational warfare. Collateral damage of nations (Russia, Iran, ?China?) that wish to harm America and reduce American influence. This naturally forms a symbiotic relationship with the dark historical pattern of Blaming Jews that's deeply rooted in both Christian & Muslim cultures. Briefly: I'm not sure Jew Hatred itself is central to the modern obsession, but rather a useful amplifier for it, in a very dark sort of feedback loop.
I agree completely with the author. The double standard applied to Israel is hard to explain without acknowledging the role of antisemitism. Israel is not unique in how it was formed or in the conflicts it faces, yet it is judged by standards no other country is expected to meet.
Part of the reason Jews have always been such convenient scapegoats is that we fit the profile perfectly. Jews are highly visible and often successful, which breeds resentment. At the same time, especially in the diaspora, we are generally a peaceful and non-confrontational people. That combination — visibility, success, and passivity — has historically made Jews the easiest target for societies looking for someone to blame for their problems.
Israel changed one part of that equation because Israelis are fighters and refuse to remain victims. But the deeper pattern remains. When nations or movements want to explain their failures, Jews — and now Israel — often become the most convenient target.
100%.
I have always claimed this at the most basic logical level. A nation is entitled to defend herself and to protect their citizens.
Do you know another country that rules over millions of stateless people?
Don't know any other people who spend their lives with the sole purpose of destroying their neighbour. Take billions of dollars in aid and use it, not for helping their people, not for furthering education, but for building tunnels and acquiring arms, instead of living in peace.
Interesting that you miss the point that the only reason why the Palestinians are stateless is because since 1947 they have repeatedly rejected having their own state if that meant the Jews also having their state.
Actually they are almost exclusively Muslim Arabs originating from the 21 Arabic colonies and Saudi Arabia. So chosen stateless!
Israel is treated differently due to antisemitism, full stop. That it is the only country in the entire world whose very existence is openly debated tells us everything we need to know.
I attended a sporting event recently. The woman in the seat in front of me was wearing a T-shirt with a quote printed on the back supposedly from Roman Emperor Caligula (a poor example of decency and humanity, I know, but bear with me). "It is not necessary that they love us, only that they fear us." Sometimes, one must embrace the hatred to survive.
I'm Zionist. The unique aspect of Jewish self determination was to create a critical mass of Jews in the Land of Israel....and to do so we allegedly had to have the acquiescence of the existing Arabic speaking Muslims and the newly birthed and formulated pan Arab identity. And Muslims as a minority population in a Jewish entity was anathema. And it still is. We, the Jews, began creating a self reliant state...the Arabic speakers did no such thing. Now the State of Israel is being judged by Marxist colonial settler theories....the means by which Muslims became a majority are judged as natural... NOT the same for the Jews..." a crime against humanity" And the invention of an "ancient Palestinian people rooted on the soil that predates the Biblical Zionist invasion or the current one. Some of the Arabs are now accepting Israel as a fait accompli.... The Europeans have reverted to racist antisemitism with a touch of religious based antisemitism in post Christian Islamizing contemporary Europe. The Americans seem to be reverting to an isolationism born of defeat in Vietnam, in Iraq, in Afghanistan....and from some quarters we've been defeated by the mullahs.
I shall watch the news tonight if we destroy Iranian infrastructure. Israel is thriving against all the dire threats.... proposals banning it from soccer and worst of all...Eurovision! Imagine that.
The irony is that Zionism, particularly from Herzl on, aimed for " normalization", not exceptionality, for the Jewish people. A people in its country. As "normal", for better or worse, as everyone else.
But...and here is the tender point, as per the Torah, Israel is taxed, or blessed, with being also "a light unto the nations". Exceptional, a model, an example, an enlightenment.
This is where the resentment comes from, including the "chosen" status Israel believed in. Such envy and contempt props Israel to the impossible double standard. The obligation of others to achieve such standard, too difficult in their consideration, creates the cognitive dissonance and the demonization of those still aware of such standards, even as they, the Jews, as always, struggled with their human natures and sought to perfect them.
To be both normal and exceptional will always be an impossible proposition, and thus the unending struggle.
What Jews believe or don't believe does not matter or excuse the obsessive focus. Muslims and Christians believe Allah and Jesus (respectively) make them the true "chosen" and possess the love of God and everyone should convert to their religions (and historically have forced conversions). Jews don't do that and don't go around saying, "we're special, we're chosen" and EVEN IF THEY DID--they are such a small minority and they don't threaten ANY other religion. One Billion Christians in the world, 2 Billion Muslims and only 15 million--million--Jews. Why "resent" such a small population and not other religions that also claim to be "special" and blessed? It's simply irrational--like Jew hate simply IS. A mind-virus.
You are right, of course. Those are hard facts. Israel's usurpation is a case of theft, perpetrated in order to possess the alleged chosenness of the Only One God that Israel insisted on. A murderous case of sibling rivalry and hatred, Cain and Abel. The other element is regression. The Beast clamors for time to continue without a conscience and even create a
moral inversion that will allow a return to savagery. Islam's
regression is the worst and most extreme.It seeks to dominate the women,own their wombs, and explode the world demographically. Israel came too early in evolution , insisting in boundaries the savage pagans didn't care for. Israel indeed never meant to convert the world. But it dreamed of a better future for all. The following psychosis of two parricidal religions was never Israel's fault. Part of the psychosis , the collective madness, is having a scapegoat, a dirty laundry basket or toilet for the filth in their minds. And even then: Ancient Israel sent the scapegoat to " escape", which is where the term comes from. It took away the sins of the people, who had repented on Yom Kippur, and the goat , a symbol of mind renewal and ethical accountability, was free to go. The " daughter" religions , instead, slaughtered their scapegoat. That' s who they are.
Thank you for the article!
“Israel is the Promised land“ and “Jews are/should be a light unto the nations“. For better or for worse, these two religious viewpoints don’t exactly help the case for Israel and Jews to be run-of-the-mill.
This is a great article with a clear view from the 50,000 foot level. Should be required reading by everyone including news media editors and journalists, as well as politicians, regardless of political persuasion.
While I can't find the source, I seem to remember reading Ben-Gurion saying upon the establishment of the modern State of Israel "All we want is to be treated like all other nations." This article puts that wish into perspective.
Israel remains a small democratic state and the world's only Jewish nation, among 57 Muslim-majority states. All Islamic theocracies, dictatorships, absolute monarchies, who have been attacking Israel since 1948 and when Israel fights back cry “genocide”. No sugar coating, Antisemites are upset that Israel and Jews exist.
I also completely agree with the author, Mr. Kaplan. However, Israel is exceptional, beyond exceptional really. Look at all they've given to humanity! Their inventions to help people in so many ways are used by the entire world. In Genesis 12:1-3, part of the unconditional Abrahamic Covenant, the Lord makes it clear that Israel will be a blessing to all the world, and she has. Pray for the peace of Israel!
With exceptional in addition to Jew hatred, is making the Jew pay for his land.
A light to the nations?
Jealousy?
Jews that fight back scares them?
Conspiracy theories are easier to explain to the multitudes.
Seeking justifications to cleans their conscience?
Jewish refusal to convert and accept Christianity and Islam?
It all comes down to a very simple truth: They hate the Jews because they didn't convert. First the Christians, then much later, the Muslims. (And the Christians and Muslims hate each other for the same reason). To validate their own religious beliefs and their hate, they demonized the Jews and dehumanized them and the lies have been passed down through hundreds of years. But Jews have never hated another religion or forced conversion or persecuted another religion. Go figure.
Here in Britain, State sponsored Hatred against Jews, which becomes hatred against The Jewish People, has been organised by very high levels of Elements of MI6, which has been partly taken over by Antisemites and AntiSemitism. This has resulted in contradictory but antisemitic ‘dark-side’ uses of State channels and even military broadcast kit to spread hatred. Our monitoring is with you, and with all countries and people threatened by the partly-State-sponsored re-formation of The Nazi Party, from 2013, and which is now taped and Filed and in the record. This was started as a Show, but was in fact instigated by, and then sucked in, Real Nazis. This, amongst other reasons, is why there has been an organised attempt here in Europe to treat Israel ‘exceptionally’, as She is by some European countries.
You keep doing you. We will catch up one day🙏
Depraved genocidal scum
<mute>
Now there are lies about the ancient connection of Jews to the land (especially by framing all Israelis as Ashkenazi Jews, which is just not true, and claiming Ashkenazi Jews have no roots in Israel and are in fact European, which is also not true), which was indisputable after WWI. It goes to double standards I've seen several times, about how it's fine the Jews have lost their right to the land when exiled, but that doesn't apply to the Arabs about a war they started, apparently, when the best example of mass displacement and land lost is WWII, and no country can claim back their lost land before the war, or even try to claim such a thing.
From the historical analysis perspective, I do have to disagree with you about the immigration bit, which I feel you gloss over.
Israel's population is disproportionately immigrants, and these immigrants are disproportionately displaced peoples with a shared cultural history. A good resource to *quickly* learn about this is the Jewish Virtual Library, they have short articles about each large immigration wave, known as the First through Fourth Aliyot (Plural of Aliyah). Wikipedia is OK as a source, but honestly everything related to Israel on that site has become a bit of a dumpster fire.
This *is* one of Israel's very unique features, although again in a historical sense I'm sure I can find "one very unique feature" about Pakistan/India, Lebanon, Syria, etc. if I cared to look. Importantly, this isn't an important fact when deciding if the existence of a state is justified or not.
I think the hatred of the Jewish state is much more multifaceted than mere antisemitism, as you imply by your conclusion. (Very) Short version of my opinion: The nation sits at a very unusual spot geopolitically; it's a fantastic wedge issue for America making it a useful target for modern informational warfare. Collateral damage of nations (Russia, Iran, ?China?) that wish to harm America and reduce American influence. This naturally forms a symbiotic relationship with the dark historical pattern of Blaming Jews that's deeply rooted in both Christian & Muslim cultures. Briefly: I'm not sure Jew Hatred itself is central to the modern obsession, but rather a useful amplifier for it, in a very dark sort of feedback loop.