The US-Israel relationship is finally facing a reckoning. It doesn't need to slide into antisemitism | Joel Swanson
9h 6m ago by lemmy.ml/u/pete_link in politics from www.theguardian.com
cross-posted from: https://lemmy.ml/post/44121708
Joel Swanson March 5, 2026
Too many Jewish organizations, such as the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) and American Jewish Committee (AJC) have suggested that this is the time to get behind the war effort and not to ask questions. But to say that Americans should not ask questions about the relationship between Israel and the United States because it might raise antisemitic conspiracy theories means handing over the tools of democratic accountability. That is too high a price.
And yet. The questions are not being asked only by sober foreign policy analysts. They are being asked, in far cruder form, by people who have never needed a pretext to believe that Jewish power secretly governs American foreign policy. In the days since the strikes, social media has been awash in the language of “puppet masters”, “dual loyalties” and insinuations that Jewish money bought American blood. The phrase “Israel first” – often wielded as an insinuation that US politicians are controlled by Jews – has surged across platforms. Far-right influencers have recycled rat imagery in ways that consciously echo Nazi propaganda.
I don't hate Jews. But I don't want Israel controlling US foreign policy, either. Israel is not a part of the US. It's not a US State or territory. Israel is an independent nation, if they want to bomb Iran that's their business. I don't agree with it, but it's not my country. But Israel wants to have the US on a leash, like we're their own personal attack dog. That does affect me. That's MY fucking government they're controlling. That fucking pisses me off. I don't fucking care that they're Jews. It would piss me off if they were Muslim or any other religion or ethnicity. Israel needs to stay the fuck out of my government. They have their own government. Go back to your own government and get the hell out of mine.
Is it actually “sliding” into antisemitism? That’s been Israel’s go-to retort to any criticism whatsoever since basically their inception. Why even bring that term up? Outside of creating doubt about the validity of anyone speaking out against Israel’s actions.
That's exactly it. It's another piece to conflate Israel with Jews so that Israel can dodge accountability by claiming antisemitism when people push back.
Unless the American People themselves remove this regime we are going to be following Israel directly into hell. Don't expect those trillions of dollars to falter anytime soon. Those in power want this more than anything.
When antisemitism is now legally defined as being against the actions of the state pf Israel, I dont know why antisemitism is a price I should care about at all.
I don't have a problem with Jews just as I don't have a problem with Christians or Muslims or whatever faith. So long as their faith isn't imposing itself upon me or those around me and using force to maintain itself or its delusional goals.
I think the state of Israel has radicalized its people. I don't know what else to say, but they are basically just a religious military cult... When all you produce are hammers everything around them are nails.