Hot Jew-on-Jew actionWe're getting word of a big standoff going on right now at San Francisco's Jewish Community Center on California Street, where 30 Jewish activists protesting Israel's policy toward Palestinians have blockaded the doors during an event celebrating the 60th anniversary of the establishment of the state of Israel. Police have reportedly shown up on the scene of the "No Time to Celebrate" protest, which also includes another 40 or so Jewish and Palestinian supporters, and arrests are expected.
Mayor Gavin Newsom just returned from a trip to Israel, where he told The Jerusalem Post that much of the criticism by Bay Area residents of Israel's mistreatment of Palestinians and its longstanding military occupation of parts of Syria, Lebanon and Egypt was simply anti-Semitism, something these Semitic anti-war activists just might take issue with.
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Comments (5)
Update: There ended up being 20 arrests at the event, according to a statement from the protesters that included this quote: "The dire humanitarian crisis in Gaza is a brutal example of Israel's long history of ethnic cleansing and collective punishment against Palestinians," Sara Kershnar, anti-Zionist Jewish activist arrested. "We are here today to condemn the JCRC's celebration of this history along with unconditional economic and political support for Israeli policy."
Posted by Steven T. Jones | May 9, 2008 11:18 AM
Just as there are blacks who are racist, there are Jews who hold anti-Semitic attitudes. When evaluating the bias in someone's actions, look to the actions and statements rather than the skin color or ethnic origin of the speaker.
Posted by Dan | May 9, 2008 07:46 PM
"much of the criticism by Bay Area residents of Israel's mistreatment of Palestinians and its longstanding military occupation of parts of Syria, Lebanon and Egypt was simply anti-Semitism"
That is not what he said. He was talking about the harsh, demonizing criticism of Israel and rejection of Israel's right to exist. Criticism of Israel crosses into anti-Semitism when it violates one of the 3 "D's"
Demonization
Double Standards
Deligitimization
Mere criticism does not meet that standard, no matter how many times people try to set up that straw man argument.
Please see the European Union Monitoring Commision on Racism and Xenophobia's working definition of anti-Semitism which as been fairly universally adopted.
www.eumc.europa.eu/eumc/material/pub/AS/AS-WorkingDefinition-draft.pdf
No where in there does it say that any criticism of Israel is anti-Semitism. It does say that criticism of Israel crosses the line.
The demonstrators at the SFJCC crossed the line as they were demostrating against the mere existence of the State of Israel.
Posted by Dan | May 9, 2008 08:17 PM
So what exactly was the purpose of this protest? To make other Jews feel guilty for caring about the state of Israel? What was the goal here?
Entering the JCCSF building under guise and then barricading the doorway and creating a noisy disturbance (for two full hours) doesn't promote a positive image for your cause... it mostly makes you look shrill and unconcerned with engaging in more productive dialogue.
A mitzvoth to the Palestinians, this is certainly not. Next time, just hand out some fliers.
Posted by JDB | May 10, 2008 03:20 AM
If a group of people did this to a Muslim event, there would be world outrage and fatwas issued. Heads would role.
The Jews just let it go, as teh protestors knew they would.
Wimpy Jews.
Posted by perry | May 19, 2008 02:54 PM