Israeli Minister to Swedish Jews: Anti-Zionism is anti-Semitism

so it follows that being anti-zionist doesn't necessarily mean one is anti-jew

I happened on this site when surfing to find info. on my granfathers point of origin in Sweden. As both a devout and dedicated Christian and a protector of all Jewish ideals from attacks of Zionist groups, I would like to participate in any way I can be of service. Please feel free to contat me on email provde. Arvid (William) Sandsjo

Thank you, my friend, for so eloquently having exposed the true colours of these hypocrites.

I was reading the comments of most of the readers and as an Arab I have to admit my admiration for your courage to stand up for this nonsense argument of the Israeli prime minister. The prime minister should simply stop the occupation, define the borders and live in peace

is just anti Zionism.? The Arafat kissing fringe group who are on your side are just that.

Zionism is what caused the problems for the Jewish population in the first place. This idea that we must locate to an area and control it by force and whoever dares to insult or defend themselves from that idea is blown away is just nuts. That's what Zionism is, it's an idea that got out of hand. Nationalism doesn't come from being all the same skin colour or shape etc and being in the same area (well false nationalism that is), it comes from living with each other no matter what ethnicity we are - and respecting those differences which is what makes us eg Australians/New Zealanders/British.

anti-Semitic as well as usurpers of Judaism and the Holocaust.

You don't read responses, do you? Let me repeat for you: the word "Jewish" means ethnicity much more than it means religion. Israel, Judaism and anti-semites - everybody consider ethnicity to be the main factor in determining who is Jewish and who is not.

I noticed when ultra-nationalists, whether in Turkey, Armenia, Iran speak about Israel, they demonize the Jews with old anti-semitism about conspiracy theories and blaming the Jews for all their troubles. They may wish to retain or regain their new or old lands, of which Israel btw is a part of the Greater Syria before WWII, colonization and partition. However, their rhetoric against Israel still contains anti-semitism, some of which came from Nazis and some from Russian czars, and other sources.

..because Judaism's foundational raisond'etre is exactly the Promise God Made to Abraham of that very LAND...Diaspora Jews who don't get that are hypocrites-you can't believe in a God who lies in his promises -so these "Jews" who deny the co-relation are either hypocrite Jews or delusional. What about secular Jews who don't "practice",attend synagogue,don;t believe in God,don't support Jewish causes or Israel yet claim they are Jews (of the tribe/by ancestry)...anti-Zionism is anti-that promise by god so THEY ARE NOT of the "tribe"which was founded on that hope+promise. What about religious Jewish sects that are anti-Zionist because the Messiah did not come to found the State? They are neither hypocrites or non-believers in the Promise-but they are delusional Jews because GOD never promised a Messiah would do thatanywhere in Jewish holy Scripture (Tanach). JUDAISM must hold to that PROMISE-else it means NOTHING! Even before 1948,Jews prayed for a RETURN TO ZION -it is ESSENTIAL.

I missed any kind of evidence in your post, unless it's the one which is detectable entirely and exclusively with this curious thing you called Jewish "6th sense".

Yet, that doesn't make me anti-christian. So, you can be anti-Zionist and not anti-semite. Good try Eldlestein but you can't make that stretch. So, you'll have to try another ploy to demonize Israeli critics.

If any of us ever needed any evidence that today most anti-Zionist statements are largely veiled(& often not so veiled)anti-Semitism,we need not have to go beyond some of the statements posted here daily by a cadre of hardcore antiSemites masquerading as merely "critics" of Israeli policy & Zionism.Their posts always draw on vicious stereotypes & use every article as an opportunity make their endless hate filled statements.We all know their screen names: Colin Wright,BBS,Swiss Dino,Nattalie Durson,Yacov Sullivan, etc Their bigotry is transparent to anyone with a pulse.Centuries of antisemitism have given most Jews a 6th sense of knowing when they are dealing with bigots & not just fools.These are bigots who find their way here daily to flaunt their hate,so the Minister was all too correct in her assertion.The problem is that some liberal Jews have deluded themselves into believing there really is a difference between antiZionism & antiSemitism.Reality tells us there is not.

Israel has little credibility left in the international community. The world recognises that any report by any agency will be denoucned as anti-zionist, anti-semitic, anti-judaic, whatever. It is the oly card they have left and so they are pulling out all stops in employing it. It is more a comment on the moral bankruptcy of Israel than on the nature of its critics.

Mehmet, there are a lot of people who do not like Turkey, i.e., Armenians, Kurds, Assyrians, Greeks. I think Turkey knows if it does now grant them democratic rights today, Turkey might disintegrate. Iran and Syria, Armenia, and Kurds, I think, would be happy to take a piece of Turkey for themselves, as part of their former empires. Israel too has to be more democratic, plus Palestinians must be (part of the problem is Lebanon, who for God's sake should make Palestinians citizens of Lebanon already). It may take time, but democracy is still possible and a solution to acceptance of Israel. It is today, not the past, that anyone is judged by. Only your actions today count; not anything done in the past.

I have noticed comments from shiites in Lebanon who say they are not antisemitic, only anti-zionist. Why can't they accept the State of Israel as a neighbor. If there was more democracy in the Middle East, peaceful co-existence would be possible. Right now, Turkey is working on its democracy move, granting Kurds and other religious minorities more rights in Turkey. What Israel and its arab neighbors have to do is expand democratic rights to each other; theocracy is a danger, secularism is preferable. Why are you anti-zionist? Jews have always been treated like second class citizens in muslim countries; let them be treated as equals; and vice versa, muslims should be treated as equals in Israel. The State of Israel is always an entity that can be changed to survive. I don't think Swedes are antisemitic or anti-zionists; however, the challenge for Israel is its neighbors in the muslim world. For Turkey and Israel, the democracy movement may be crucial to their survival.

There is a distinction in my mind. "Anti-semites" hates Jews. "Anti-Zionists" merely seek to deny Jews, but ONLY Jews of the natural right of national self determination in their ancestral homeland. One can of course criticize the Israeli government with out being directly anti-semitic, after all we have Meretz Party, but to seek to deny only one group,the Jews, any rights of political expression and national self determination is still wrong and an unconscionable double standard.

"". . . You declare, my friend, that you do not hate the Jews, you are merely 'anti-Zionist.' And I say, let the truth ring forth from the high mountain tops, let it echo through the valleys of God's green earth: When people criticize Zionism, they mean Jews--this is God's own truth...Antisemitism, the hatred of the Jewish people, has been and remains a blot on the soul of mankind. In this we are in full agreement. So know also this: anti-Zionist is inherently antisemitic, and ever will be so." [From M.L. King Jr., "Letter to an Anti-Zionist Friend," Saturday Review_XLVII (Aug. 1967), p. 76. Reprinted in M.L. King Jr., "This I Believe: Selections from the Writings of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr."] Now, go lie to people who might believe your garbage. Don't lie to Jews. They know what you are...anti-semites!

Zionism stands for establishing a homeland for the Jewish people in the land of Israel where they could live without fear of persecution. In 1948 this opportunity was denied to Israel by the Arabs when they attacked Israel to destroy it. They tried it several times again but failed. The other part of your post is a false picture of Zionism that many people who oppose the existence of a Jewish state would like to portray and convince masses that it is true. But the fact is it is a fabrication, a gross lie and it is ill intended.

If you agree with Hanna then you probably don't understand (as well as she is) that word "Jewish" means ethnicity much more than it means religion.

more clear than that impossible, and congratulations to the gov, of Israel, their care a lot for his people, as lacked from the immoral olmerd.

Sine Zionism are nationalist ideals like any other culture linked to their nation, in this case the nation for the jews is Israel.

If anti-zionism and antisemitism are different, then why jews are attacked thru out european countries? So are the synagogs which are just devoted to religion .

Zionism stands for establishing a homeland for the Jewish people in the land of Israel where they could live without fear of persecution. In 1948 this opportunity was denied to Israel by the Arabs when they attacked Israel to destroy it. They tried it several times again but failed. The other part of your post is a false picture of Zionism that many people who oppose the existence of a Jewish state would like to portray and convince masses that it is true. But the fact is it is a fabrication, a gross lie and it is ill intended.

Being a Swedish jew I have to say that you are either badly misinformed or prejudiced. In Sweden the vast majority do not care what religion another person has. You can be christian, jewish, muslem or whatever. It is up to you and you will not be treated differently irrespectively of religion. In Sweden, people are seen as Swedish and whether they are jewish or something elso doesn't matter. This is true for people in general and of course the government. The condemnation of antisemitism is one of the few things that has the support of the whole parliament, there is a special government-backed agency to spread information about the holocaust etc. Of course Sweden like all countries has its problems. But antisemitism although it exists is not a big problem. Being a Swedish jew I find many of the comments in Israeli media (it's worse in another newspaper, guess which one :-)) and in particular in talkback comments to be extremely prejudiced against Sweden and the Swedes.

Israel is a nation state subject to all the temptations of a nation. Hunger for land, natural resources and security blind nations to human rights abuses. Such nations rationalize their greed and criminal actions as justified. Israel is at that point in its evolution. It has forsaken Judaic values in order to sustain this nation state at whatever cost. Criticism of Israel is not anti-semetism nor is it anti-Israel. Israel needs criticism to correct its errant ways.

Equating anti-Zionism with anti-Semitism is a self-serving argument from a country that can best be called a "rogue state".

Mr. Minister, have you taken leave of all your senses? If being Anti Zionist - anti the present form Zionism has taken, an inhuman form, to which the founders of Zionism would certainly disagree and dissociate themselves from - is being an anti-Semite, then I am an Anti-Semite, although I am Jewish, and pro Israeli!

Everyone who has equated "criticising the policies of Israel" with "anti-Zionism" has chosen to mislead readers by ommitting the fact that Zionism is about the Jews having a Nation State in their historic homeland. Criticing the policies of any particular government, or having an outsider's opinion on precisely where borders should be is not in itself the same as being someone who is angered by the idea that Jews should have self-determination under the same principle which sees the majority of other self-determinable peoples supported around the world in their own efforts. To try and suggest so merely reveals your true intentions and ingrained hatred. The Minister is incorrect in that the 2 are not precisely the same. But one is clearly a sub-set of the other.

There is an analogy between being anti British and anti Empire. In the same way there are vast differences between anti semitism and anti Zionism. Once one establishes that Zionism was the product of 3 atheists, then the line becomes clearer. There are many people in the world who do not know the difference between the two. However, it has become a convenience to many Israelis, especially Zionist politicians to interpret both as anti semitic. This deters a lot of people from criticising the Zionist government of Israel in case they are labelled 'anti semitic'. Myself, I have chosen to live and work in England for many years. I love the people of Liverpool. I have no respect for the country at present occupying the north east corner of my country.

Very well stated..the evolution of the term Zionist is well described.

By his definition anyone who opposes Isreal right of occupation is anti sematic. That makes the US,the EU states, the UN, J Street and a host of others who oppose occupation as anti sematic it almost makes one proud to be one with this new fangled definition. What statemanship! Please someone promote this guy to FM he cant be any worse than Liberman, hold on a minute! he acutually is!

Nonsense. Brother Daniel left Judaism when he joined another religion. A person who belongs to a totally different culture and knows nothing about Judaism or its culture is a Jew if he/she discovers his/her mother was Jewish.

Whatever the outcome about the semantics, you and many others use the word Zionist simply as an excuse, justification to hate Israel. Its that simple.

Is Obama an anti-Zionist because he pushes for a setllement freeze? Or must one long for the destruction of Israel to be an anti-Zionist? If the Minister is indeed referring to criticism on Cast Lead, settlements, roadblocks, chsckpoints, racism toward Arab Israeli's, the Gaza blockade, etcetera, then she is walking on very dangerous ground. In that case she risks to ridicule the danger of the evil of anti-Semitism (Jew-hate in plain old speak) and deprive the term of seriousness and meaning.

Zionism is not a "political theory". It is a JEWISH political movement. Do you see this word: "Jewish"?

It reminds me this "left-watch" site I saw some time ago, in which they made a comprehensive table of the American VIPs set in 7-8 vertical columns representing the degree of their "leftiness". The head of the first column read something like "left-to-center", the one after was titled "strong left", etc., while the head of the last column simply read "anti-American". Will find the link one day - a good chuckle is guaranteed even on a murky day.

Fear not for Swedish Jews because Sweden is a good and safe country for Jews with an excellent record on human rights and for now, other than Israel and its blabbering ministers there is no movement that would put them at risk. As to what the Zionists did to "help" the Jews in Nazi Germany, this is another can of worms that should not be opened here. The way the Palestinians have been treated all these years should tell you that you are pointing the finger at the wrong group for being Nazi-like.

I know several Jews who are not Zionists. In fact, a whole gorup of religious Jews (can't recall their name) are against Zionism based on their interpretation of Judaism. Edelstein just knows nothing. I would also remind Edelstein that Palestinians and Arabs are also semite.

Your statement flies in the face of the historical record and modern scholarship. Judaism includes a religion; but one can consider oneself a good Jew without believing in the God of Moses. It is more correct to define Judaism as a national culture.

Dear Mr. Minister, There are many antisemites who are anti-zionists, but it doesn't follow that all anti-zionists are antisemitic. Take me, for instance. I am a self-loving Jew who feels that separation of church and state is essential to democracy. I would not want my country to be a "Christian" country, so I can fully understand why a Palestinian or Bedouin would not want Israel to be a "Jewish" state. I also find the ziono-centric term "diaspora" Jew to be offensive, and if you don't quit using the term, I am going to start referring to you is an irredentist Jew.

Mehmet is right. An Anti zionist is not an anti semith. Zionism is over since Israel must go back into its former borders. Period.

If this would be the year 1948 and the term "Zionism" still have its original meaning, namely to build a home for the Jewish people, where they can live safe from persecution, Mrs. Edelsteins remarks could at least be debated. But unfortunately over the past decades the word "Zionism" has lost its original innocence. What was seen in the past as a just, worthy movement, has unfortunately been hijacked by right-wing Israeli/Diaspora extremists and messianic Christian Zionists, all in the name of a "Greater Israel". The word "Zionism" wll only get back its good name in the world, when a majority of Israelis and Diaspora Jews will reject the expansive part of it. But until that has happened, people like Mrs. Edelstein should better refrain from making cheap accusations....

To say that Anti-Zionism *is* Anti-Semitism is to declare that Zionism is equal to/the sum total of Judaism. In truth Zionism is only *part* of modern Judaism. (And not a very good part at that) It is like saying that anyone who criticizes or objects to American foreign policy is wholly 'Anti-American'. Anyone disagree?

description of Israel immigration policy - it is right of return to State of Israel.Whem West Bank State is formed its immigration policy would probably stipulate the preferential treatment of certain group - quite normal practice.

It is of course perfectly legitimate to be an anti zionist and not an anti semite as indeed many Jews are but it is also the case as I know well that many anti semites conceal their prejudice by using the anti zionist label. There is a world of difference and there are positions between the two ideologies.

One illiterate Israeli top official decided to broader the scapegoat target for deflection of hot domestic WB subjects, and by ignorance pointed his finger at Sweden. Well, as a former club-gate bouncer, he can be excused for not knowing that today Sweden has cleaner record of anti-semitism than Israel proper (and I leave aside the stats of the human rights abuse record, naturally). Now that the wine is open it is the more educated but subordinate politicians that have to drink it by paying visits, making conferences and attenuating thus the blunder of the FM who didn't consult his advisors where and what Sweden really was. I hope the Swedish Jews will do to Y.Tamir the thing the French Jewish leaders did Sharon when he announced them the very same equation of anti-semitism and anti-zionism: show the door very quickly, merci et adieu.

If somebody said that the Jewish people are not allowed a homeland anywhere. That might be anti-semitism. But Zionism ultimately is not about that. It is about creating a Jewish political entity in a land that was for centuries very largely Muslim and Arab, a Jewish political entity in which, inevitably, non-Jews become second-class citizens. Zionism has also become about seizng as much West Bank land as possible while keeping the Palestinian there permanently under the Israeli thumb. It is not anti-semitism to be against human rights abuses carried out by Jews. Personally, I'd be happy to see Israel safe within its 1967 borders as long as it tones down the Jewish ethnocentrism and gives the Pals freedom.

It is this kind of ridiculous argument that has been used for years to close down debate about Israeli policies. My government continues to act illegally and immorally in enacting profoundly racist policies. At the same time we claim to be a member of the democratic nations of the world. The current state of Israel deserves all the criticism it gets, and more.

It follows a mathematical logic. Once you are zionist, by definition you must support the right of return which only applies to jews, not to other people whose ancestors or relatives lived (or still live) in Israel. Being against this form of law of return makes you automatically an anti-zionist but not anti-semite because you are ok with the jews emmigrating to israel but you also stipulate the Palestinians in say Lebanon and Jordan also to have the right to emmigrate. Period.

It is simpler if you tell us what is NOT anti-semitism. Even if we do not really care.

...that not all anti-Zionists are anti-Semites, but it is also reasonable to say that too many anti-Semites hide behind anti-Semitism, and that some of them are involved this shameful chapter in the history of Swedish journalism.

With its incessant ranting about anti-Semitism, Israel is only harming world Jews as people are being overdosed by the excessive use of the word at every opportunity. Israel is going out of its way to keep Jews of the world singled out in their communities as it has now done in Sweden and will be doing in Milan and Budapest and the singling out is what puts Jews in danger. The Swedish FM cancelled his Israel trip because of Israeli accusations thrown at Sweden, not because he is an ant-Semite.

I'm glad we finally got that clarified. Now, what is a word that we can use to refer to prejudice against Jews?

It would be anti-Semitic to equate Judaism with the Zionist just like it is anti-Semitic to equate Islam with the Jihadis.

...if you criticize the occupation, you are an anti - Semite. "Criticism is legitimate as long as it does not border on demonization or denying our right to the land of Israel," What a load of unadulterated idiocy. I guess the whole world is now composed of anti - Semites if anyone who disagrees with the occupation is in that club. The days of intimidation by Israel are over. Get used to your new status as an outcast apartheid state.

If we would still live in the year 1948, and the term "Zionism" would simply stand for establishing a homeland for the Jewish people, where they could live without fear of persecution, Mrs. Edelstein's opinion would at least be worth a debate. Unfortunately (right-wing and part of main- stream) Israels policies over the past decades have totally changed the perception of "Zionism" around the world. What was once seen as a very positive, worthy cause is regarded today by many as an ideology "hijacked" by religious extremists (Jews and Christian Zionists). If the Israeli/Diaspora people ever wanna change that perception, they will have to tranform "Zionism" back to its original ideals, instead of making rather cheap accusations.

Antisemitism has long since been gutted of all meaning by Jewish extremists and criminals using it as a fig leaf to cover their crimes. Especially when it comes to land theft from Israel's neighbours, which is Israel's Settlements Enterprise. The latter is the pinnacle of antisemitism. Its very fount and origin since 1967.

"Criticism is legitimate as long as it does not border on demonization or denying our right to the land of Israel," Israelis can "deamonise" Palestinians, Iranians and Muslims in general but they switch on the "Whine Machine" when anyone criticises (let alone "deamonise" Israelis or Israel or Jews) Add to that the fact that ANYONE who does criticise any of the above, they are tarred as Anti-Semitic. Then we have their "right to the land of Israel". That's fair enough or would be if anyone knew just what they mean by "land of Israel". Could it be the land of pre-1967 Israel or is it the, as yet to be defined (by them), "land of Israel"? Go on, GUESS! More proof of the , "we will define your "reality for you" attitude of the Zionists, be they jewish or not.

Judaism is a religion; Israel is a country. Criticizing a country when it does wrong does not equate with criticizing a religion. Iran and Saudi Arabia are Muslim countries; is it anti-Islam to criticize them? What's the difference?

Thank you very much. I am against the settelements policies of your goverment but am proud and good Jew, the two are not mutually exclusive.

Zionism is a political theory and as such people can refuse to accept it or reject it. Opposition is an integral part of politics. Anti-semitism is something entirely different. The problem is that while an Israeli Minister compares the two and confuses them he damages the fight against anti-semitism by diverting attention on a meaningless debate about semantics. Israel has enough genuine problems, getting involved in trivial issues of political theory does a disservice to the country.

SNEEZE now a days without being labeled anti-semitic

Anti-Zionism is a new form of anti-Semitism, is utterly false assumption.

I am a zionist! But one can certainly be opposed to zionism without being anti-semitic. It is high time we stop throwing around the word "anti-semitic." Words need to be used carefully. For example, are those ultra-orthodox Jews who are not zionist anti-semitic??? I don't think so.

...is Israel really sure that's a good road to go down? Most people know and accept that real antisemitism is wrong. But people will probably get turned off by the thought that antisemitism now includes criticism of the state for its occupations, war crimes, and collective punishment of the Palestinians.

Nonsense. Since Zionism is a political movement and Judaism is a religion, there is no connection. To say otherwise is to demean Judaism because Zionism is simply Manifest Destiny on the Backs of Palestinians. Judaism survived for thousands of years in better shape, ethically, before Herzl was born.

are the same but Israel's enemies try to make them different to justify destroying Israel. I think that the world jews and understanding people from all walks of life better wake up and understand that Jews are the barometer which measure humanities hatred for their fellow man.the Jews need Israel because they will always be victims of genocides and hatreds and they have had the land for over 3000 years and there is no arab connection there. Jews don't understand YET that the world has changed and nazism by arabs or facists are right around the corner.For the first time in my life I realize the importance of Israel for the protection of Jews, christians and all peoples of the earth.Swedish jews better be stronger than german jews were or they will wind up regretting it.Sweden considers them jewish not swedish and once Sweden becomes completely islamocized and loses its freedoms of press and speech,swedish jews will have to leave sweden or submit!1