First, being an ‘apologist’ means that you defend every position, often rewriting history and putting forth incredible double standards. I don’t do this.
Second, the first post you linked does not give credence to your original OP.
What is Zionism? Originally - the idea that Jews have a right to their own statehood - and it stems from a need for Jews to have their own protection. It derives from socialist and natural rights philosophies. Most modern-day Diaspora Zionists believe that Israel has a right to exist, either as a Jewish nation or one that protects Jews from persecution.
The early settlers of Eretz Yisrael were not right-wing Orthodox parties. The Haredi Jews did not build Israel and they will not fight for it, but they wish to rule it. :rolleyes:
If you agree that Zionism is a belief that Israel has a right (if not a duty to the 9 million other Jews) to exist, then sure, I’m a Zionist. I’m O.K. with that.
What you said, The claim is that islamic anti-semitism has always existed and that what we see today is not really distinguishable from what we might have seen in the past, is false. Of course Islamic anti-Semitism has changed and expanded. But antisemitism doesn’t change, and Islamic anti-Semitism still holds that Jews are inferior to Muslims.
Jews have rejected the two (newer) major religions of the world. Makes sense there would be some resentment. Why do you think that Arab nations and leaders were largely sympathetic, if not outright supportive, of Nazi Germany’s persecution of Jews?
Islamic anti-semitism has been in existence since the creation of Islam. Not surprisingly, anti-Islamic and anti-Christian sentiment and distrust has been in existence within Jewry since their creations as well. The question is not a matter of which group is ‘better’ or ‘more moral’ than the other two: the question is what happens when another group has power. While Israel aimed to be a pluralistic and wholly democratic liberal society that could be a beacon of the Jewish people and protect other persecuted groups, it has fallen a little short of said goal.
The major difference I see is that the PA is OK with honor killings, murders of suspected ‘Israeli spies’, and teachings of sheer anti-Jew hatred in their schools while putting on a pretty face for the rest of the world. Other Arab countries aren’t shy about it. Iran, while not Arab but Muslim, is perfectly happy with its reputation.
In Israel, if there some anti-Muslim sentiment, everyone is in uproar - including most Israelis. But what concerns me is when Arab or Muslim countries do the same thing and you write it off as, "Well, if the Jews hadn’t settled there…" as an excuse.
THAT smacks of anti-semtisim to me.