On top of his other ‘‘baggage’’ Bartle showed his true colours by throwing ‘‘Netanyahu/Israel is an apartheid state’’ into the, by now so boring, Folau debate. Presumably to be an Israel hater, ie an anti-Semite, adds gravitas to any comments on any subject whatsover. – Mark Propper, Bondi (28/6)
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Mark Propper, to be anti-Israel is not to be anti-Semite, if one takes anti-Semitism to mean a hatred of the Jewish people. I am anti-discrimination, and admire so many of the Jewish people, including so many citizens of Israel, who oppose vehemently the vile discriminatory conduct of the current Israeli government. Similarly, I love Australia, but will never accept the equally vile discriminatory conduct of the current government, or the Labor Party, regarding the treatment of asylum seekers. Condemnation of a government or other political group does not necessarily indicate condemnation of the people bearing the excesses of said government, indeed it often shows solidarity with them. – Ian Usman Lewis, Kentucky (29/6)
No, Mark Propper, to be concerned about Israel’s human rights abuses does not put one in the camp of “Israel hater, ie an anti-Semite”. Many people, including a significant number of Israelis, are justifiably opposed to abuses of international law as perpetrated by the current Israeli government. – Martin Frohlich, Adamstown Heights (29/6)
Mark Propper repeats the furphy that disagreement with Israel equates to anti-Semitism. It’s not anti-Semitic to disagree with the policies and actions of the state of Israel, or its leaders. Nor is it anti-Semitic to accept that the Palestinians have a case and should be listened to. If it were, many Israelis who oppose their government would have to be classed as anti-Semites.
The view that Israel under Netanyahu is morphing into an apartheid state, while perhaps somewhat exaggerated, is certainly arguable and worth considering. Resorting to labelling someone an anti-Semite for putting forward that argument does nothing to counter it and merely exposes prejudice (and the lack of reasoned argument). – Jim Catt, Currimundi (Qld) (29/6)
These letters appeared in The Sydney Morning Herald (28/6 & 29/6).