Thread by @__jacker__

I've had a massive (and destructive) argument with a friend over whether this is antisemitism. I see a lot of people have trouble understanding this. So let me try to explain:

What you see here is not a criticism of Israel or Zionism. I can pretty much guarantee that Ed has little idea what Zionism is, or what goes on in Israel. Or, for that matter even, what Judaism is (not to mention it's long relationship with Zionism)

A rational critique might go: "I think the excesses of the IDF against Palestinians is a direct outcome of Zionism and even a manifestation of it". This is a rational argument (albeit completely untrue - and falsifiable as well).

But what you see in this post is different: it is unbridled hatred that goes far beyond normal hatred. Notice the language that is used, and in the 2nd shot, the insinuation that Labour are controlled by Israel.

This is the vocabulary of antisemites:
Evil, vile, creatures (non human), poison the world (jews were traditionally accused of poisoning the wells and other things), deserve no mercy, etc.
You can tell when language goes far beyond ordinary accusations of political wrongdoing.

It is clear to me (and should be clear to you by now) that Ed is not talking about Zionism or Israel. It is an outburst of hatred that has welled up from the deepest darkest reserves of the human psyche, and draws on hundreds of years of antisemitic tropes.

It is beyond frustrating to have to explain this over and over again, and especially upsetting when it causes a rift between old friends. I know I'm not the only one in this predicament.

Nowadays I easily lose my temper over this. I get very emotional about it. We've had too fight to have this sort of thing recognised as antisemitism, & had to fight to have them expelled from the "anti-racist" party. It shouldn't have to be like this.

After several exchanges my friend has finally said he recognizes the antisemitism in these posts...