Coming back from my recent suspension for "coded antisemitic" comments, i.e., paraphrasing the anti-Zionist protests of Naomi Klein, I am struck by a Shocking Diversity of Opinion on Zionism.
But the diversity is not on Dkos, which is under the control of editors and self-appointed subscribers who HR and bitch about diarists until they get the sack. On Dkos there is a party line: "Criticism of Israel is not technically antisemitic, but G-d help you if you question Zionism." A handful of anti-anti-semites are always prowling around looking for Nazis under the bed.
If you want real diversity of opinion on Zionism, and how the American taxpayer has been implicated in its crimes against the natives, see the Huffington Post. In fact Ariana is in Israel right now, asking questions. She asked for queries from her readers, to direct at President Peres. The responses were of a type that would get the likes of Ambrose Burn Butt and Democratic Putz to instantly HR them to oblivion.
One of my faves was here:
If Israel is serious about the two state solution, why have you built and why do you continue to build settlements in occupied territories? Do you believe that any Palestinian state can be viable? Aren't Israel's actions driving the possible two-state solution domain toward the one-state solution? If so, what would that do to the Jewish nature of such a state? Could Palestinians ever be equal citizens in such a state? Do you believe that the main obstacle to lasting peace lies primarily on the Palestinian or the Israeli side? Isn't Israel really dragging the problem into the future while building settlements in hope that in the long run the world will just accept the new reality, whatever that may be and regardless how that affects Palestinian people? What can the US realistically do to help get the meaningful peace process rolling?
How is that for an honest inquiry? Sorry, it is antisemitic: he questioned the ethnic purity of Israel "...what would that do to the Jewish nature of such a state?" Coded antisemtism, clearly.
And this wise query:
Will he acknowledge, that it has been Israel, that hasn't recognized Palestine; not the other way around; as the Israeli government keeps saying?
I can suggest a Zionist talking point on that one: Because the so-called Palestinians don't exist, and the Arabs who used to live in what is now called Israel have twenty-two Arab countries to live in. No need for them to hang around ruining the Zionist dream/experiment. But since they don't leave (funny thing, that sense of homeland), and because the Zionists have failed to make them leave with 60 years of daily humiliations, the Arabs are being immured behind concrete walls and barbed wire.