For years, Meta has allowed its 3 billion users around the world to employ the term “Zionist,” which refers to supporters of the historical movement to create a Jewish state in the Middle East, as well as backers of modern-day nationalism in support of that state and its policies.
Meta’s internal rules around the word “Zionist,” first reported by The Intercept in 2021, show that company moderators are only supposed to delete posts using the term if it’s determined to be a proxy for “Jewish” or “Israeli,” both protected classes under company speech rules. The policy change Meta is now considering would enable the platform’s moderators to more aggressively and expansively enforce this rule, a move that could dramatically increase deletions of posts critical of Israeli nationalism.
“We don’t allow people to attack others based on their protected characteristics, such as their nationality or religion. Enforcing this policy requires an understanding of how people use language to reference those characteristics,” Meta spokesperson Corey Chambliss told The Intercept. “While the term Zionist often refers to a person’s ideology, which is not a protected characteristic, it can also be used to refer to Jewish or Israeli people. Given the increase in polarized public discourse due to events in the Middle East, we believe it’s important to assess our guidance for reviewing posts that use the term Zionist.”
Have you ever stopped to think what dumping on Israel means to a Jewish person though? Many love Israel. Do you think just because the two are different that you are going to endear yourself to them by saying essentially that it’s OK to be Jewish, just don’t love Israel? A charge of hatred might be too far, but you really aren’t making the argument you think you are.
Considering I’m Jewish, yes I’ve considered it. And yes, it’s okay to be Jewish and be against Israeli apartheid and genocide.
Why the fuck do you think it isn’t?
And to those who love Israel, you say what? All you did was avoid what I said and turn it around on me. You’re just like everyone else.
I say they love Israel? What exactly do you want me to say about them? It doesn’t change the fact that “Zionist” and “Jew” are not synonyms and anyone who claims they are is perpetuating a bigoted stereotype.
I understand the technical side of this argument to a T. Let me ask you then, as a Jew, you’ve never found a reason to love Israel?! OK. But can’t you see why people would? It’s almost like the two can’t coexist for some people. Israel is very important to the Jewish people. I’ve heard very little defense in the way of Israel, both in present times or anytime. But some people feel the need to keep bringing up these certain points all the time. And the tone is never in favor of Israel. My whole point with all of this is to point out the tone deaf nature of people who think they can just shit all over Israel and that Jews can’t be offended, even when the offender is Jewish. I don’t care solely about what this article is talking about. I’m not speaking solely about Israel’s current military engagements. And I’m not saying that you can’t ever criticize Israel. It’s pretty apparent you can, Lemmy does all the time, and there’s very little push back. Keep that in mind while shitting all over me. Thanks.
Why should I love Israel when they have been oppressing another ethnic group for decades? After my own ancestors were oppressed and kicked off their land? No. Sorry. I don’t have any reason to love Israel.
And I really don’t care what “some people” think about Israel.
You seem to be implying that I have to love Israel to be Jewish.
You’ve made this all about you. Or chosen to only answer in that way. “I really don’t care what some people think.” I guess no one is allowed to love Israel then, according to you. Have you ever been? You brought up your ancestors. Any connection there, and I mean to Israel not slavery? Maybe I’m asking this wrong. Would any form of Israel be allowed to exist, if this current iteration wasn’t to your liking? Israel is important to the Jewish people. I don’t understand your answers.
I’m pretty sure you’re the one making this about me:
Also, when did I say no one is allowed to love Israel? Once again, Zionist does not equal Jew and anyone who says they are the same thing is a bigot. You seem to think that means when someone says “some Jews are Zionist,” it means they’re a bigot. It does not. There is a major difference.
Also also-
I thought this wasn’t about me.
A couple questions I outright asked you a specific question. Half the things you quoted were me asking in general. And the subject of those statements was most definitely not you. If you really want to know, I’m asking for people like my Jewish mother, who is scared, reading the thoughtless comments from people like you with inaccurate things to say about Israel day in day out.
But even when I asked you specific questions you couldn’t answer them. I’ve answered everything posed to me with the best I can, which isn’t great, but it’s what I got. You’ve dodged just about everything I’ve asked. The unfairness is real around here.
This was childish and doesn’t even make sense. In fact you sound more like a hater than if you hadn’t said anything at all. Drawing connections between ISIS and Israel is pathetic. You can turn it around on me if you like, but that’s not what we’re talking about. I think you’ve just avoided what I brought up is all.
Both are violent extremist groups which ignore 99% of their holy book to focus on a few lines ripped out of context that talk about killing infidels/Amaleks.
Anyone that knows anything about those respective religions can tell you in half a second why their credo is based on lies.
I hear you on the vast differences of what one’s religion is or asks of one and what we actually see being carried out. Also, I’m not going to get into it about the atrocities we see today but I agree with some of what is said about that as well.
However, I have a question for you. What can you tell me about Teva pharmaceuticals? Then, tell me how that’s like ISIS.
I have no idea what Teva has to do with this but sure, I can dunk on israeli big pharma scum while we’re at it.
It has to do with you likening Israel to literal terrorists. Terrorists that provide zero good. You may not like Teva, but it has provided me with life saving medication before. ISIS has done nothing at all like that. If you can’t see through your blind hatred I’m not going to get through to you.
Terrorists are too friendly of a word. Israel are akin to Nazi’s
I reject your premise that loving Israel means being unable to tolerate any criticism of Israel’s actions. I’m a citizen of the US; I would argue that I’m critical of the US because I love it, and want to see it improve. That’s why I’m so critical of our military and our foreign policy. We commit a lot of war crimes; it’s a huge problem. I’m also critical of our shitty healthcare system, our lack of social safety nets, our institutional racism, and so forth. As an individual I don’t feel like I have a huge amount of agency to affect those things, but I do try my best, including voting and communicating my views to those around me.
So yeah, I think it’s totally fine to be Jewish, and totally fine to love Israel. What I don’t think is fine is being okay with every aspect of Israel’s current actions in Gaza–in particular, the multiple instances of the killing of journalists, health care workers, and children, and the extreme restrictions on supplies entering the country. Those aspects are all obscene. The level of suffering in Gaza overall right now is unbelievable.
If someone takes offense at my calling those actions by the military obscene, I would argue that’s not a matter of Judaism. That’s a matter of rather extreme nationalism.