What is Antisemitism?

What does it mean to be antisemitic.  There are various definitions, and there is some controversy afoot these days as to what constitutes antisemitism.

Let’s leave criticism of Israel out of the discussion for now.  This is a bogus addition that has no merit.

One popular definition says that you are antisemitic if you do harm to Jews because they are Jews.

This seems fair at first glance, but is this inclusive enough?

What about those who do harm directly to Jews without intending to do harm?   Is that antisemitic?

I would argue that it is.

What about those who do harm to Jews indirectly by creating or encouraging a climate of hatred toward Jews without intending to specifically harm Jews (judging by their own words)?

This would include people like those Nazis who claim they never gave an order to harm Jews.  Yes, one could argue, but you fostered or encouraged a climate that led to violence against Jews.

This would also include Adolf Hilter for those people who say, “The Fuhrer did not know,” or “The Fuhrer did not intend for things to turn out this way.”

Irrelevant.

So, antisemitism, accepting what I say, is more broad than doing harm to Jews because they are Jews. That definition is more appropriate in defining volitional discrimination.

Antisemitism is when you do harm to Jews.

But wait a minute.  Isn’t Israel Jewish?  So isn’t harm to Israel then antisemitic?

Good point.

First, Israel is only Jewish when it wants to be.  When it wants to promote itself as a multicultural society it proudly points to Arab MKs.  

Second, Israel currently abides by the precepts of Judaism to the same degree that the US abides by the precepts of Christianity which is to say dead zero.

Third, is a nation, a corporate entity of sorts, a person? 

No.

To say more is to say less. 

Given what I have spoken to thus far, is Israel’s current leadership antisemitic?

Yes, and they have been for some time.

The Likud Party and their radical fellow travelers have created a culture of hatred against Palestinians that has engendered horrible living conditions for the inhabitants of Gaza and the West Bank.

This dire situation has resulted in the BDS movement and enmity toward Jews around the world.

It does not matter whether Bibi intended for things to turn out this way.

It has.

And now you know what Israel must do in the Middle East.  It’s as clear as daylight.