Mark, I appreciate this sentiment, and criticizing Netanyahu or any Israeli policy is obviously not antisemitic. Israel is far from perfect and should be criticized when criticism is warranted.
But there is another form of antisemitism: holding the world’s only Jewish state to a standard applied to no other country.
Where is the comparable sustained outrage over Christians being massacred, kidnapped, and driven from their communities in Nigeria? Over the countless other atrocities and humanitarian catastrophes around the world?
Israel, meanwhile, is a tiny country fighting enemies that have armed and organized themselves around its destruction. Hamas’s founding charter explicitly called for Israel’s destruction, and October 7 demonstrated that this threat is not theoretical.
Criticize Israel. Criticize Netanyahu. Defend Palestinian civilians. I do all three. But apply the same moral standards everywhere. Singling out the Jewish state for unique condemnation while treating vastly worse atrocities elsewhere as peripheral is precisely where legitimate criticism becomes discriminatory.
This is Changchun, Jilin province, China. The 7 dogs (neighbors from one village, incl. a corgi leader + injured German Shepherd) were stolen for the dog meat trade, escaped a moving transport truck on the Changshuang Expressway on Mar 16, and walked ~17km home together over 2 days. Video filmed by local netizen Lu on Douyin; details confirmed by owners, rescuers (via drone), and Chinese outlets like Dahe Daily/Jimu News. It hit 230M+ views there before spreading.
Before I came out as trans I was in boymode at work and this girl came up to me and goes "You're not fooling anyone" I was like "Huh?" she goes "You're one of them girls pretending to be a boy. I can see your tits and they're bigger than mine!" I love accidental validation!
Next week is the 5th in my GMC hearing which is examining my work with three young trans patients. I listen as the GMC continue to present their case against me and fully understand that the outcome is important for many. I am patiently waiting to have my turn to speak. 🏳️⚧️
In a continent ravaged by war the idea was simple: that we should solve common problems together and never again slaughter each other in battle.
I’m proud to have played my small part in its history. Today the idea lives on and will outlive Johnson & co!
Happy #EuropeDay