Resolved: Saying Zionism = racism is equivalent to saying criticism of Israel = anti-Semitism.
I don't deny that one can defend Zionism or Israel in racist ways, and hopefully is equally uncontested that one can attack Israel/Zionism in ways that are anti-Semitic. But likewise, just as I think we ought to affirm that one can criticize Israel without it being anti-Semitic, it must likewise be affirmed that one can defend Israel (and Zionism) without it being racist. The extreme positions are equally poisonous to the discourse. Persons concerned with the former need to be concerned about the latter (and vice versa).
(Inspired by this post)
It makes sense in principle, but it seems one far more often hears Jews accused of thinking all criticism of Israel equals anti-Semitism than hears Jews (or anyone else) actually making this claim. If anything, Jews on the right (in Israel and elsewhere) *are* critical of Israel, it's just that their criticism comes from the right, and so they are not categorized as among 'Israel's critics.' Whereas the Zionism=racism accusation is made all the time.
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