Epic Double standards

Anyone who chants "From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free," is apparently in denial about their antisemitism because the 'free' bit is taken to mean being in favour of genociding other people rather than wanting to be free from oppression. I guess there is an argument there that this can be interpreted a different way but - honestly - it's a stretch and often used in bad faith.

Meanwhile, Netanyahu explicitly rejects a two-state solution and says that he wants an Israeli state "from the river to the sea."

https://newrepublic.com/post/178243/benjamin-netanyahu-literally-says-from-the-river-to-the-sea

He is also leading a military campaign which is in the process of carrying out an actual genocide and actual ethnic cleansing, which is something that they all claim the famous chant is a hypothetical call for.

Hypocicy in CAPITAL LETTERS.

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calicuz · 51-55, M

First I'd like your opinion: Can a Semite be an Antisemite?

flipper1966 · M

@calicuz Arabs are semites. So, I guess so.

flipper1966 · M

@calicuz Can matter be antimatter? Ask a physicist.

calicuz · 51-55, M

@flipper1966

This article doesn't truly address my question. This article focuses on Antisemitism against Jews as though Arabs are not Semites. The article, to me, sounds as though it's leading the reader to believe that Arabs are not Semites since the article doesn't mention that Arabs are Semites.

flipper1966 · M

@calicuz But we know that Arabs are Semites whether the Wiki article acknowledges it or not. If we add to that fact that there are Arabs (Semites) who hate Jews (Semites), logically, then, a Semite can be an anti-Semite.

Word of explanation. The term anti-Semite refers to a person who hates Jews -- not Arabs, despite the fact that Arabs are Semites. The term anti-Semitism was coined in 1879 by the German agitator Wilhelm Marr to designate the anti-Jewish campaigns underway in central Europe at that time. Marr coined the term anti-Semite as a replacement for the then-prevalent term, Jew hater. Arabs have nothing to do with the term anti-Semitism. Marr wasn't thinking about people who hate Arabs (Semites) -- only people who hate Jews.

flipper1966 · M

@calicuz Here's a 1900 dictionary definition of anti-Semitism.

calicuz · 51-55, M

@flipper1966

Ok, which dictionary, Merriam Webster?

flipper1966 · M

@calicuz No. As I said, the 1900 edition of The Century Dictionary.

calicuz · 51-55, M

@flipper1966

Ok, then they need to explain why their research didn't lead them to understand that Arabs are Semites as well, and should have been included in the definition of what Antisemitism is.

flipper1966 · M

@calicuz In the late 19th century I don't think Europeans gave much thought to Arabs. They were a negligible presence in Europe at that time. As I say the word anti-Semitism was coined in Germany as a more scientific sounding word than Jew hater. At that time Europeans had no concern for Arab haters. I think the term you're looking for is anti-Arab.