I think this illustrates the problem with IP. Mods are right. It's a cess. It's an echo chamber filled with two factions: those who support the Palestinians solely because they hate Jews on the one hand, and those who see antisemitism in anyone who criticizes Israel or supports the Palestinian rights to self determination on the other. In any dispute - each side firmly supports its own come hell or high water. Standards applied to one's own side are not applied to the other. Is there any value at all in discussion here? I don't think so. I think I understand why most have left it.
Shrug.
The mods would do well to have a better understanding of what antisemitism is and how it is different from “criticism of Israel”. I haven’t seen anyone on this board criticize Israel in any detailed legitimate way.
I disagree. It isn’t the mods lack of understanding, it is the crap being leveled by those such as Rylah whenever Israel is criticized. And there HAS been legitimate criticism and discussion (that he labels anti semitic) on such issues as: settlements, inequality, what the new national law means for non Jewish minorities, settler violence on Palestinians and the rights and wrongs of boycotts, Jerusalem. All topics that should be discussable from both sides without the side opposing Israel being labeled anti Semitic. That isn’t to say that too often antisemitism doesn’t enter into it it does, as does equally hateful anti-Muslim rhetoric, which largely goes unchallenged.
[quoteI was involved in another discussion forum before I came to this one, and I assure you it is possible to have deep, nuanced, intelligent conversations on this subject.
Jews and Israelis have spent nearly a hundred years supporting Arab Palestinian self-determination and as far as I have seen in this board no Jew or Israeli rejects that idea in principle. Though there is concern (correctly) that this is not achievable at the present time. (Other than Jordan).[/quote]
I think you are sometimes blind to it from some on your side. Those who call for enforceable expulsions (maybe they are just trolling), those who support a “guest status” citizenship (dhimmi) for non Jews.
Personally, I think most have left it because no one is discussing the conflict and it’s solutions. Every discussion here boils down to whether or not the Jewish people “deserve” what every other people on the planet deserve. We can’t get past that here. There is no one on Team Palestine (you excepted) who fundamentally starts with the position that the Jewish people have every right to self-determination, sovereignty and a state.
I agree that Team Palestine is lacking, but there are those here on Team Israel that do not support the position that Palestinians have those same rights. They may not openly say it but their comments and discussion ultimately reveal it. Much like there are those on Team Palestine who avoid coming right out and saying what they really feel about Jewish rights. Look at Holly or Indeependent for example. Palestinians already have a state, they should go to Jordan, etc etc.
I think that if we could get past that fundamental issue, then Rocco, Sixties, rylah, Hollie, Mindful, ForeverYoung, myself and others could have a real discussion about the actual issues of the conflict.
But who the hell are we supposed to have those discussions with?
You won’t have those discussions with Mindful and Holly. Holly’s main contribution is anti Islamic trolling. She and Mindful are as much a part of the discussion problem as those on the pro Pali side. Rylah? We will have to disagree on that. You, Rocco, FoeverYoung, Sixties are it on Team Israel.