Nick Cohen, who is not Jewish, discusses anti-Semitism. The debate that follows is interesting, even though it is hijacked by some fruitcake anti-Zionist Jews, apparently well known in Britain.

The best comments by far are those made by Linda Grant.

Israel is inhabited by Israelis, not the ‘Zionist movement’. They came there for all kinds of reasons, some from Crown Heights with messianic ideas about the Promised Land, some from post-war DP camps after suffering an attempt at total genocide, determined never again to be without self-determination. The overwhelming majority have no other citizenship and are unlikely in the foreseeable future to accept the status of tolerated (or not) minority in a single state. Nor are the Palestinians likely give up their own national dreams, whatever the settlers might wish.

[…]

I’ve just finished writing a book about what ordinary Israelis think and feel, based on listening to what they have to say themselves. You really would be amazed at the diversity of their views (and experiences) yet there is almost no take up at all for anti-Zionism. And I pressed this point, with them.

Israel does not exist because the poor oppressed Jews are forced into Zionism, or because they are hell-bent on a sinister Western colonial project, but because they have a wealth of complex life experiences. And this is why movements such as yours are doomed to failure - they are incapable of connecting with ordinary people in the places inside them that they feel, themselves, are significant.

There are just no known cases where people with a long history of persecution and genocide give up their perceived safety in exchange for abstract notions of justice imposed externally by those with nothing to lose.

I’ve said all I have to say about anti-Zionism, I think. You can read some of it on the right sidebar.

BTW, this is not a comeback. I’m off work for Succot and I’ve finished reading all my books. Well, not all my books, only the books with big print and pictures and happy endings.