Thread by @Rustinyoureye

When statements of fact are smeared as antisemitic, the only way to avoid accusations of antisemitism is to deny reality: a thread with examples and references. 🧵

Jillian Segal is the Special Envoy to Combat Antisemitism. In an interview yesterday she was asked to define antisemitism and she said she uses the IHRA working definition of antisemitism. The interview is here if you want to watch it:

The IHRA working definition has numerous points and examples. I'll draw your attention to one in particular:

"[It's antisemitic to] claim the existence of a state of Israel is a racist endeavour"

Here's the link if you want to check for yourself: holocaustremembrance.com/resources/work…

In an infinite universe I assume it's possible that some manifestations of "a state of Israel" may not be racist endeavours, but I'm not an infinite being able so I'm going to consider The State of Israel as it exists on our planet.

Israel's Basic Law: Israel as the Nation-State of the Jewish People states:

"The right to exercise national self-determination in the State of Israel is unique to the Jewish people."

.en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Basic_Law…

If a State, in it's fundamental laws, gives or denies rights to citizens based on their race, it is by definition a racist state.

Therefore, regardless of what you think about it, The State of Israel as it exists on our planet in the year 2024 is a racist state. That's a fact.

My understanding is that according to Jillian Segal stating this fact means I'm an antisemite, a kind of person she wants to "drive ... back into the darkest and most disreputable corners of our society from where they emerged". (In my case, Tasmania)

ecaj.org.au/ecaj-president…

I've been called many things by many people, & I don't particularly care if Jillian Segal's personal views involve denial of reality. However, my concern is that her views aren't personal: she's working to have them become law. Laws which would apparently make truth a hate crime.

I grew up in a small fishing village in Tasmania: a very white, very racist, very conservative place: I took my first steps in a bar where women weren't allowed at the time. I've left the lights of Sydney in part due to David Wise's bomb, but I'd rather not be driven back to Tas.

And I don't think that recognising reality and stating fact should be criminalised. I don't think a society where people are scared to say the truth is a good or a safe society: if you've read Watership Down, you might remember the warren where rabbits hid from the truth...

For more information about Jillian Segal's interpretation of antisemitism and how this is being weaponised I strongly recommend you read this article: medium.com/@abrahamedward…

And regarding the effect of this, from the same author: medium.com/@abrahamedward…

Thank you for reading. If you think this should be seen by more people please retweet and comment (which appears to be the best way to counteract the algo. Show me a 🍉)

-end