Jeremy Corbyn 'figurehead for anti-semitism'

[Prodromos]

Can we flip this coin?

Can Arabs be Israeli?

Why can't the Palestinian people be an equal partner in Israel?

That seems like the best solution.

Arabs make up around a fifth of Israelis, so that does appear to be the case.

Arab citizens of Israel are those Arab residents of Mandatory Palestine, who remained within Israel's borders following the 1948 Arab-Israeli War, and the establishment of the state of Israel. It is including those born within the state borders subsequent to this time, as well as those who had left during the establishment of the state (or their descendants), who have since re-entered by means accepted as lawful residence by the Israeli state (primarily family reunifications).

In 2006, the official number of Arab residents in Israel was 1,413,500 people, about 20 percent of Israel’s population. This figure includes 209,000 Arabs (14% of the Israeli Arab population) in East Jerusalem, also counted in the Palestinian statistics, although 98 percent of East Jerusalem Palestinians have either Israeli residency or Israeli citizenship.[28]

Arab Muslims

Most Arab citizens of Israel are Muslim, particularly of the Sunni branch of Islam. A small minority are Ahmadiyya sect and there are also some Alawites (affiliated with Shia Islam) of Ghajar with Israeli citizenship. As of 2008, Arab citizens of Israel comprised just over 20 percent of the country's total population. About 82.6 percent of the Arab population in Israel was Sunni Muslim (with a very small minority of Shia), another 9 percent was Druze, and around 9 percent was Christian (mostly Eastern Orthodox and Catholic denominations).

Bedouin

Main article: Negev Bedouin
The Arab Muslim citizens of Israel include also the Bedouins, who are divided into two main groups: the Bedouin in the north of Israel, who live in villages and towns for the most part, and the Bedouin in the Negev, who include half-nomadic and inhabitants of towns and Unrecognized villages. According to the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs, as of 1999, 110,000 Bedouins live in the Negev, 50,000 in the Galilee and 10,000 in the central region of Israel.[29] The vast majority of Arab Bedouins of Israel practice Sunni Islam.

Ahmadiyya

The Ahmadiyya community was first established in the region in the 1920s, in what was then Mandatory Palestine. Israel is the only country in the Middle East, where Ahmadi Muslims can openly practice their faith, which is not recognized as part of Islam by most Sunni and Shi'a denominations. As such, Kababir, a neighbourhood on Mount Carmel in Haifa, Israel, acts as the Middle East headquarters of the Community.[30][31] It is unknown how many Israeli Ahmadis there are, although it is estimated there are about 2,200 Ahmadis in Kababir alone.[32]

Arab Christians

There is a significant Arab Christian minority from various denominations, numbering 122,000 — a majority of Christians in Israel.

Copts

Some 1,000 Israeli citizens belong to the Coptic community, originated in Egypt.

Druze

Main article: Israeli Druze

The Arab citizens of Israel include also the Druze who were numbered at an estimated 129,800 at the end of 2011.[33] All of the Druze living in what was then British Mandate Palestine became Israeli citizens after the declaration of the State of Israel. Though a few individuals identify themselves as "Palestinian Druze",[34] the vast majority of Druze do not consider themselves to be 'Palestinian', and consider their Israeli identity stronger than their Arab identity. Druze serve prominently in the Israel Defense Forces, and are represented in mainstream Israeli politics and business as well, unlike Muslim Arabs who are not required to and generally choose not to serve in the Israeli army.

[Chukada1]

Arabs make up around a fifth of Israelis, so that does appear to be the case.

Second class citizens living in slums is not what I am referring to, and you know that.

[Aexodus]

Well, have we established that Corbyn being pro-Palestine doesnt come from his virulent anti-semitism? Indeed, what is Corbyn's position on the Palestine question. 2-state, 1 state...

[sumskilz]

Can we flip this coin?

Can Arabs be Israeli?

Why can't the Palestinian people be an equal partner in Israel?

That seems like the best solution.

Can a Russian in Ukraine be Ukrainian? Can Hungarians in Romania be Romanian? Do they want to be? This is a tension in any sort of "Old World" nationalism, not something unique to Jewish nationalism, which supports Legend's argument. If you have a problem with Zionism because you have a problem with nationalism in general, then there's nothing antisemitic about that, but if you only have a problem with Zionism, then it seems something else is going on.

Of course Arabs can be Israeli and are, but the specifics of your question also depends on what is meant by Palestinian. Initially Palestinian simply meant anyone who lived in the region of Palestine, in that sense there are non-Jewish Palestinians who are extremely patriotic Israelis, especially Druze and Baha'is, both of whom were persecuted under Sunni Muslim rule, and see themselves as finally free in Israel. Israeli Arabs who identify as Palestinian today are those who largely do so as an expression of anti-Zionism, in other words, they choose not consider themselves Israeli. There was an incident in northern Israel a while back in which a brawl broke out between some Druze and Muslim Arabs because the Druze were offended by the Arabs wearing Palestinian kufiyas, which the Druze considered to be a symbol of their enemies. You can't get much more nationalist than that. Some Israeli Christians who speak Arabic as their first language have now begun to identify as Aramaeans, since they associate Arab identity with being Muslim. This is similar to the trend of Lebanese Christians considering themselves Phoenician. Although some of the Bedouin groups in Israel are highly patriotic and consider themselves Arabs, but not Palestinians.

For example:

However, certain tribes are particularly patriotic towards Israel, and choose to join the Israel Defence Forces (IDF). About 1,700 Bedouin soldiers are currently enlisted, although there is no obligation on them to do so.

Many Bedouin are recruited as trackers, drawing on their desert heritage to catch terrorists seeking to infiltrate the country along Israel’s borders.

Like almost all the men in his village – which is also called Ka'abiya, the name of his Bedouin tribe – he volunteered, becoming the first one from his clan to join the Air Force, where he served in a helicopter unit.

‘I am proud to be a Bedouin fighter,’ he says. ‘And I am also proud to fight in the Israeli army. I am proud of being Bedouin, Arab, Muslim and Israeli.’

Arabs comprise about 20 per cent of Israel's population. They have equal rights in law but are generally exempt from serving in the army.

To date, 363 Arabs have been killed in action while fighting for Israel. Three of them came from Ka'abiya.

The alliance between Israel and the Bedouin began in the early 20th Century, when Jews and Bedouin joined forces to protect the Jewish communities from their hostile Arab neighbours during the British Mandate.

In 1948, when Israel was established, the Bedouin pledged their allegiance to the Jewish State and were granted full citizenship.

Today, the Bedouin comprise about 2.5 percent of Israel’s population.

Although they are exempt from conscription, up to 10 per cent of eligible Bedouin men continue the tradition by volunteering for the IDF each year.

Arabs who serve in the IDF are viewed as traitors by most Palestinians...

Ka’abiya says that he speaks for the majority of the Bedouin when he dismisses this criticism.

‘I didn't fight against Arab people. I was fighting against terror organisations because I don't want the Arab people to be injured or killed,’ he tells MailOnline.

'Arabs are victims of the terrorist organisations.

‘Some people call us traitors, but Israel is a democracy where all cultures and colours have the same rights. The ones who refuse to serve are the real traitors.’

Second class citizens living in slums is not what I am referring to, and you know that.

This is ignorant for a number of reasons, not the least of which being the fact that Nazareth is as nice as any predominately Jewish Israeli city, while the heavily mixed cities Haifa and Yafo are arguably the most beautiful:

[fkizz]

Honestly plenty of people who lash out at Israel do so because they've been programmed to hate the land-grabbing expansionist past of their country (despite enjoying to the fullest the dividends of it, and living on said "stolen space".

This is something relatively universal to all nations, a period of military strife follow by resettlement of borders, and people have been raised hating it.
People have been raised to find their method of collective conception as immoral and unpure (sounds familiar?), despite having made peace with the method of their individual conception. Plenty of this ideas stemming from the left.

But the temporal situation of the country being expansionist and belligerent has long disappeared into the Past.

Then they see Israel, with militaristic high morale, the natives don't apologize for defending themselves, they don't apologize for their ancestors, and they see something wrong. Nationalism is quite a Taboo on the West (except if you are from the US, and even so it's starting to become "problematic" to hold nationalistic views in the US), and Israel is Nationalist, so an anti-Israel voice is raised from here.

Then there's power contests betweens Jewish groups and WASPs on upper echelons, but that's a tad beyond me.
There's also the fact that plenty of Israel opponents such as Syria and Iran have Russian support, and Russia does not play around in defending them.

[Ludicus]

I missed this thread...

So, Corbyn is the evil antisemite. Discussed ad nauseam on "Antisemitism on the left".

There is a EU's definition of Antisemitism, and "it is for Jews to determine for themselves what anti-Semitism is". Critics say Labour now abides "to a lower standard of anti-racism (read anti-Semitic) than the law demands". Even though there is no working definition of Islamophobia - there can be no double standards - I'm waiting for the Jewish, European and International reaction to...

Far-right leader Wilders plans Prophet Muhammad cartoon contest in the Parliament

Far-right leader Wilders plans Prophet Muhammad cartoon contest in Dutch parliament."Freedom of speech is under attack. We may never accept that".

He added that during the court's lunch break, an anti-Islam clip he has made entitled "Islam is Deadly" would broadcast on national television.

So, what says the Mark Rutte, the Dutch PM? He says: Wilders' Mohammed cartoon contest is about provocation

but..but...

said that he supports free speech.

Ah, Corbyn, the dangerous "anti semite"....

[Kyriakos]

I am pretty sure that anyone who is not partisan can identify with ease that Corbyn is not a racist. Listening to anything he says makes it obvious that he is very toned-down and honest, and not a violent or otherwise vile person.
It is really a charade of great proportions that somehow the media managed to keep pretending Corbyn is racist, let alone when the other party is indeed a hive of racism and various other crude and repulsive elements

And while the following is a meme, you cannot but notice to which extreme the two are closer; else the obvious hyperbole wouldn't work at all ^_^

[Ludicus]

I am pretty sure that anyone who is not partisan can identify with ease that Corbyn is not a racist.

Painfully obvious.

the media managed to keep pretending Corbyn is racist

That's because Corbyn promised..."A Labour government will immediately recognise the state of Palestine".

[Prodromos]

Is it also painfully obvious that when a conservative associates with a racist, that this doesn't necessarily make him a racist? Or do only leftists get the benefit of the doubt?

[mishkin]

Blame the past and present right for having stood out for their racist tendencies.

[Ludicus]

Is it also painfully obvious that when a conservative associates with a racist, that this doesn't necessarily make him a racist?

Well, they are not exactly strange bedfellows. (j/k)

No, you are completely right. That does not necessarily make him a racist. Look at our conservative, right wing President, Cathedratic Professor of Law (the most popular and influential politician in our history),Dois anos de mandato de Marcelo com popularidade nunca vista .
Everybody likes him: the right, the left - and even the communists.Why? he is an wonderful human being.

Caring for homeless people,

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

In the beach. Without comments...
https://youtu.be/HYbEgkCv7gg

In the most important communist political-cultural event in the country.

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

------

Caring for refugees

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

The Muslim community loves him

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

With our Jews in an international event-Jewish Experiences and Legacies in Portugal

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

----
As the Quartz put it, here is a key difference: humanity and empathy.
A photographic comparison of Donald Trump and Portuguese - Quartz

[Love Mountain]

I've also been struggling to figure out how Corbyn is a racist. Regardless, even if he is a closet anti-semite, white-supremacist, racist, his party platform surely doesn't particularly reflect that. So what do I care? When Corbyn starts advocating putting yellow-patches on people's shoulders, give me a call. Until then, you need something much more obvious than a web of coincidences to get me interested.

[Copperknickers II]

Can't for the life of me understand this whole Corbyn anti-Semitism thing. If I lived in England I'd vote for him in a heartbeat. The British mainstream media sink to lower and lower nadirs of journalism with every passing day.

[Kyriakos]

Can't for the life of me understand this whole Corbyn anti-Semitism thing.

I think that the only viable explanation is that it is another form of maintaining the (defeated in 2- or 3) elections attempt of blairism to return & providing a false sense that the tories shouldn't just be kicked out asap.

If I lived in England I'd vote for him in a heartbeat.

Me too.

The British mainstream media sink to lower and lower nadirs of journalism with every passing day.

Yes

[Prodromos]

"It's acceptable to hate Jews, so long as you have the right (Left) political beliefs."

Hard to see why Jews are making a big fuss over this. They must be just Conservative saboteurs.

[mishkin]

"It's acceptable to hate Jews, so long as you have the right (Left) political beliefs."

Who have said this?

[sumskilz]

Can't for the life of me understand this whole Corbyn anti-Semitism thing.

It is kind of surprising when Corbyn even has Jewish friends, like Paul Eisen:

Paul Eisen, the self-professed Holocaust denier, has given Jeremy Corbyn his support in an extraordinary blog post in which he says that he has been close to the Labour leadership contender for more than 15 years.

'One evening 15 years ago I cycled over to see [Corbyn],' he writes. 'I was just beginning to establish Deir Yassin Remembered [a controversial, pro-Palestinian pressure group] in the UK and I wanted him to join.

'I'd hardly begun my feverishly-rehearsed pitch before his cheque book was on the table.

'From that day on, without fuss or bother, whether DYR was flavour-of-the-month or the maggot-at-the-bottom-of-the-food-chain, he attended every single Deir Yassin commemoration.'

The group that Eisen mentions, Deir Yassin Remembered (DYR), focuses on controversial allegations that Jewish soldiers killed about 100 Arab villagers in the run-up to the war of 1948, and seeks to promote its remembrance at annual events...

Many mainstream Palestinian activists view the group as anti-Semitic and in thrall to 'anti-Semitic conspiracy theories'...

The DYR website contains a picture appearing to show Corbyn attending one of the organisation's event in 2013.

Eisen's open Holocaust denial has made him a toxic figure among many pro-Palestinian activists.

'I question that there ever was an official plan on the part of Hitler or any other part of the National Socialist Regime systematically and physically to eliminate every Jew in Europe,' Eisen has written on his blog.

'I question that there ever existed homicidal gas-chambers… Deny the Holocaust! For my money, a child of six can see that something's not right about the Holocaust narrative... For me, "Holocaust Denier" is a label I accept.'

The alleged relationship with Eisen will be particularly embarrassing for the Labour leadership contender as the Holocaust denier believes Corbyn stood by him when he felt ostracised.

On his blog, Eisen recalls a period when he felt 'despised' by mainstream society, and only Corbyn refused to shun him.

'During the time when I felt so marginalised and isolated, when the movement with which he was associated so despised me, Jeremy always said hello,' he wrote.

Eisen is also a supporter of David Duke, the former Ku Klux Klan grand wizard, 9/11 'truther' and notorious conspiracy theorist.

When promoting a Duke video entitled The Zionist Red Army on his website, Eisen wrote: 'Oh, how I wish I could stop posting David Duke (it gets me into no end of trouble). Trouble is, he just will not stop telling the truth.'

The video in question includes an extended anti-Semitic rant by Duke. Towards the end, he says: 'The people of Europe and America, [the Jews are] coming for you… Together we will defeat the true apostles of hate'.

Eisen also promotes articles from a prominent White Supremacist website on his blog. One of these, posted in March, refers to Jews as 'rats' and talks of the 'battle we wage' against 'international Jewry'.

Who have said this?

It's not really something people say, it's more shown by their actions.

[Kyriakos]

I think that it does a very bad service to both jewish people and non-jewish people, to try to silence anti-Israel state speaking. After all, there indeed are very many prominent jews living in Israel, who speak against their own state's actions when bloodbaths happen (eg the recent killings and other violence in the border march).
To argue that this is anti-semitism is not just clearly false; it is very dangerous as well.

[Prodromos]

Well, critics of Israel are often not just criticizing Israel's actions. Their fundamental problem is with Israel itself, for being a Jewish state. That is why when Israel sets up a checkpoint in the West Bank, it's an outrage, but when Lebanon practices full blown apartheid toward their Palestinian population, no one cares. They're advocating not for the Palestinians, but against the Israelis. And of course it's just Jews they have a problem with; I mean, you are not going to hear anti-Israel "critics" condemning Arab, Druze or other Israelis. It's always Jewish colonialists, Jewish immigrants, Jewish thieves, Jewish supremacists, etc.

[Kyriakos]

That is a very poor argument, in my view; given those "actions" of the Israel state are not just some general human rights violation; they are about killing people. Anyway, if this is the kind of discussion one has, it is pretty pointless; if people don't even accept that it is rather criminal to gun down unarmed protesters, the ship has sort of sailed.