Let’s get this straight. Every country deserves scrutiny. But why are ordinary Israelis met with hostility and seen as personally responsible for their government’s actions when citizens of any other country are not held to the same standard? The United Nations General Assembly reflects the public’s obsession with the World’s only Jewish state – the UN adopted 173 resolutions criticising Israel between 2015-24, more than all other countries combined! I’m not arguing that Israel is perfect or that the Israeli government shouldn’t be held accountable like every other government, but as a non-Jewish person, I can see firsthand that Israel is fiercely attacked more than countries like Iran and Afghanistan, which have deeply troubling records on Human Rights.

Why the double standards: When I see across the West the constant attacks on Israelis, I think it’s important to distinguish between criticising the Israeli Government and attacking innocent Israelis and jews. Why Israelis? Why are Israeli-run restaurants in London rebranding to ‘Mediterranean’? Why are Israeli Bakeries being boycotted? Why are Israeli students in Britain finding themselves apologising for actions of a government it has no involvement in, just to be accepted in social circles? Surely we should expect the same standard to be applied to Russian students, blaming them for the brutal attacks that Putin has delivered in Ukraine. The same standards for Chinese students – being held accountable for the actions of the Communist Party. The same treatment for Iranian students, blaming them for the Islamic regime’s barbaric acts of violence and terror. I do not encourage hate toward any such groups, so the question still stands – why is it socially acceptable when it’s directed towards Israelis?

Most people can distinguish between a country’s Government and their people, yet Israelis are not afforded such a distinction. Whether it’s evil campaigns against Israeli academics like Professor Michael Ben- Gad at City, University of London, or the attacks on Israeli tourists in places like Thailand and Greece. It’s plain and simple. It’s racism. I hear the Pro-Palestine activists constantly call for boycotts of Israelis and their businesses, but I very rarely hear them raising concerns about specific government policies. Why is it that this exception doesn’t just exist, but is incredibly prevalent?

China and The Uyghurs – 

Those on our streets shouting slurs against Israel surely cannot call themselves Human Rights activists if they aren’t talking about injustices like China and its treatment of Uyghur muslims. Where are the protests and obsessive headlines? Since 2017, the government in China has imprisoned over a million Uyghurs, predominantly muslim, and placed others under extreme surveillance, enforcing restrictions on their religion, forced labour, and the list continues. In 2021, the US Government even declared that such actions taken by China constitute genocide. Have you seen protests in Chinatown, central London? Have you boycotted your local Chinese? No, and I wouldn’t expect you to.

I haven’t heard a single “end the genocide” chant about........

© The Times of Israel (Blogs)