The Big Difference

Here is a succinct explanation of what actually constitutes antisemitism, as opposed to legitimate criticism of Israel, according to Dr. Robert Wistrich:

The “new” anti-Semitism often claims to be no more than justified “criticism” of Israel’s policies. There are, however, a number of ways to test this. The “critics” will usually be covert or overt anti-Semites if they engage in any of the following manoeuvres:

a.) They will blame Israel for all the problems of the Middle East and of the contemporary world from the financial crash to global terrorism.

b.) They ignore virtually all infringements of human rights around the globe except for those allegedly perpetrated by Israel against the Palestinians. Naturally Palestinian Jihadism and terror is downplayed.

c.) They firmly believe or assume that there is a Jewish/Israeli Lobby which controls American foreign policy or manipulates the West – especially against the Islamic world and the Palestinians.

d.) They systematically turn Israelis into “Nazis” and Palestinians into “Jews.”

e.) They apply classic antisemitic myths and stereotypes about Jewish greed, rapacity, cruelty, exploitation, bloodthirsty vengefulness and “racial” superiority to the behavior of the Jewish State. The result is to portray Israel as a fusion of Samson, Joshua and Shylock.

Read Dr. Wistrich's full piece here: http://cgis.jpost.com/Blogs/rosner/entry/robert_wistrich_on_the_meaning

Dr. Robert Wistrich is the head of the International Center for the Study of Antisemitism, and is an excellent scholar. I had the pleasure of hearing him speak at the Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs.