When is criticism of Israel anti-semitic?

Photo by Taylor Brandon on Unsplash

Let me start off by stating that I do not believe that criticizing Israel automatically makes anyone an anti-semite or a Jew-hater.  I criticize some of their actions myself, as do many citizens. That’s only natural, if we want better. No government is ever perfect—and consensus on policies or actions is rarely if ever achieved. Criticism, especially by a country’s own population, is essential to a healthy democracy. Outsiders can’t help but develop their opinions too on occasion. This applies not only to Israel, but to America, or Canada, or any other country.

But when I was recently watching a video of someone sharing their experiences as a Jewish person, I noticed that immediately one of the viewers had begun to sneak in comments about Israel—something completely irrelevant to the conversation. This happens frequently—followed by the defense: “Criticism of Israel is not anti-semitism…”

Well, it’s all about context, isn’t it? I’d argue that bringing…