Glenn I continue to be surprised that you have come to a position where you criticize how Israel is conducting war against Hamas without ever pointing out that the war was started by Hamas massacre, rapes and hostage taking of Israeli civilians.
Are you criticizing Israel because in your opinion and others you disagree with the response to the Hamas attack? Is your criticism that it will not be effective? Or as your hosts seem to be stating that Israel has no right to defend itself because as they state and the student protests agree—the state of Israel has no right to exist because it is a settler colonial state?
In general with few exceptions ethno-states are the norm— not the exception. What does it mean to be French or Italian or Danish? It is to embrace the national identity of being French, Italian or Danish. Would you now argue that these nations are not democracies? As a non Jew I’m becoming increasingly uncomfortable that arguments are being used against Israel that are not used against any other democracy or even other authoritarian ruled nations.
I also note that your hosts and you accepted the critique that Israel has escaped criticism this is objectively false—the criticism of Israel began even before the IDF entered Gaza. The campus protests stand in sharp contrast to university enforced rules that do not allow even mild criticism of certain favored identity groups but that have allowed the most obnoxious racist comments and behavior directed at Jews with no or little consequence.
Indeed I think your hosts speculation that Israel escapes criticism because they buy support and silence can only be understood as anti Jewish—particularly since the charge that Israel is not criticized for their supposedly murderous response to October 7 is objectively false.
One final point how can anyone in good faith criticize Israel without mentioning that Hamas continues to hold over 100 Israeli civilians as hostages?
Glenn I continue to be surprised that you have come to a position where you criticize how Israel is conducting war against Hamas without ever pointing out that the war was started by Hamas massacre, rapes and hostage taking of Israeli civilians.
Are you criticizing Israel because in your opinion and others you disagree with the response to the Hamas attack? Is your criticism that it will not be effective? Or as your hosts seem to be stating that Israel has no right to defend itself because as they state and the student protests agree—the state of Israel has no right to exist because it is a settler colonial state?
In general with few exceptions ethno-states are the norm— not the exception. What does it mean to be French or Italian or Danish? It is to embrace the national identity of being French, Italian or Danish. Would you now argue that these nations are not democracies? As a non Jew I’m becoming increasingly uncomfortable that arguments are being used against Israel that are not used against any other democracy or even other authoritarian ruled nations.
I also note that your hosts and you accepted the critique that Israel has escaped criticism this is objectively false—the criticism of Israel began even before the IDF entered Gaza. The campus protests stand in sharp contrast to university enforced rules that do not allow even mild criticism of certain favored identity groups but that have allowed the most obnoxious racist comments and behavior directed at Jews with no or little consequence.
Indeed I think your hosts speculation that Israel escapes criticism because they buy support and silence can only be understood as anti Jewish—particularly since the charge that Israel is not criticized for their supposedly murderous response to October 7 is objectively false.
One final point how can anyone in good faith criticize Israel without mentioning that Hamas continues to hold over 100 Israeli civilians as hostages?