Does being anti-Zionist make a person antisemitic? Some, without hesitation, would answer yes to that question. Others, and that number is growing, would answer in the negative. Why? Because being against the State of Israel (anti-Zionism) does not equate to Jew hating (antisemitism) in their minds. Israel supporters say different:In order to support the Jewish people, you must support the State of Israel. For some reason, many Americans believe that we not only should support Israel, but are commanded to do so in the bible. Genesis is the verse most quoted(to me): I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed. Well, that’s it, isn’t it? God spoke this to Abram (Abraham) and we must obey this even today. Or not.

In Genesis 12:3, God is referring to the descendants of Abraham, not a state or country. That’s it. That’s what it means. All anyone has to do is read the text as given, use any english translation you want, to see what God is telling Abraham. Is that antisemitic? Of course not. So why is there a segment of, well, believers that say if a Christian doesn’t support Israel (the state) then they are not truly Christian? There’s a small number of pastors (protestant) that play upon the fact that Jews are gods “chosen people” even though, according to their own holy text, that time is finished. The New Testament isn’t about the struggle of Israel, but the beginning of a new relationship with that same god, through his “son”, Jesus. America itself was not built upon “Judeo-Christian” values. The phrase itself is a mid-twentieth century construct in response to communism.

This, for many people alone, is the reason we should be supporting the state of Israel, no matter. Of course, there’s the ones that believe that because of the horrible purges of Jews throughout modern history, that these people deserve their own homeland. That may be true but if so, doesn’t mean that they are excused from treating their neighbors in the way they themselves had been in the past. cChristians, for one, need to stop thinking of the Jewish state as something special. Note I said state, not people. We can have empathy for. people without justifying their government’s sctions towards others.

If that makes me, or anyone else, antisemitic…