Durban II: Is Calling Israel Racist Antisemitic?

The Durban II conference on racism and xenophobia is coming up soon (April 20-25). The last one made a big splash: Israel, Palestine, Zionism and antisemitism took center stage, nearly drowning out all the other worthy agendas that were 'supposed' to be addressed. Why did this happen? Supporters of Israel - and some critics - argue that it was antisemitism.

Ramzy Baroud explains what happened, and what probably will happen again:

The conference, then, was not meant to only address the issue of Palestine and Israel. However, the strong American resistance to any criticism of the racially motivated practices of the Israeli state – the extreme violence, the land theft, the Wall, the settlements, the protracted military occupation, etc - pushed the issue to center stage.

In other words, the community of peoples fighting for a more just world are naturally attracted to this unique example of an American backed garrison state sitting on top of a 3rd world people. It's like a red flag waving in their faces, and other problems - urgent as they are - fail to generate the same level of interest and excitement.

The Palestinian struggle is not meant to overshadow the struggles of oppressed nations around the world, but it rather compliments the calls for rights, freedom and liberation that continue to echo around the globe. However, the fact that the illegal and violent mass oppression of Palestinians, as practiced openly by the Israeli state continue unabated – and is rather defended and justified by the United States and other European powers - highlights the historical legacy championed by former colonial powers throughout the so-called third world for so many years.

Translation: Israel's occupation of the Palestinians reminds people from states that were once ruled by colonial powers of their former struggle. Fighting Israel is a proxy almost for re-enacting the glories of one's own liberation struggle against a white former colonial master.

I won't deny that some of the attention and criticism of Israel can come from antisemitism. But this explanation makes sense. Just for the sake of argument, let's say that this analysis is correct and explains the situation correctly. What could Israel do to stop being the whipping boy of anti-colonialist nostalgia buffs?

My suggestion: end the occupation. All of it, right now, without any delay or excluses. The long term damage to Israel from maintaining it is greater than the security threat that would exist following such a withdrawal.

Israel: as long as you seem willing to accept long term 'conflict management' instead of peace, why not do it without an occupation, instead of with one?