FBI director warns antisemitism in US reaching 'historic levels'

While the statement itself is true, it ignores the fact that there has been an uptick in violent antisemitism and islamophobia.

This is true, however there are people who don't like Israel and blame all Jews for what Israel does.

I'm an American Jew. I don't like much of what Israel does. Guess what, though. I can't change Israel's actions. I can speak up, but I have the same say as any other American. It's not like Israel is going to say "this random American Jew said to stop so we've got to stop doing this."

Unfortunately, there are people who seem to think that all Jews are valid targets for anti-Israel sentiment. I've seen people spray painting/vandalizing buildings because they are Jewish temples, businesses, or homes. I've seen people online justify this by claiming that every Jew is a representation of Israel and thus a valid target. I've seen people cheering on Hamas' attack and slaughter of innocents and hoping that more Jews get killed worldwide.

And before anyone comments: No, I don't think Israel killing innocent Palestinians is good. That's one of those things I'd change, but have no power to really affect. I could speak up more with the Palestinian Rights folks, but if people in that crowd are calling for Jews to be killed, do you really think I'm comfortable joining that crowd?

So you can criticize Israel and be fine, but if your "criticism of Israel" is "all Jews need to be held responsible for what Israel has done and should be killed," then you're definitely anti-semitic. (I'm using the generic "you" here.)

True, but I’ve been seeing a fair number of people commenting in a way that shows they don’t know that, and are conflating Israel with all Jewish people everywhere.

Amen to that brother.

They are deliberately conflating it so that people stay quiet about the genocide.

You think the FBI doesn't know that?

Really?

Based on what I can tell antizionism might be reaching "historic levels" though. They arrested hundreds of activists from Jewish Voice for Peace out of the thousands that showed up to protest just a day or two ago. 20.000 people protested for Palestine in SF. The streets were filled in NY, Chicago, Washington, etc. I don't know if there's ever been this much pushback against the occupation in the US, so I'd be willing to believe antizionism might be reaching historic levels. Maybe the dude conveniently got his words mixed up.

The highest level in decades is still historic without invalidating a prior, higher peak. If anything, it should be a reminder of how bad we were previously so we don't go all in like we did back then.

Yep. Besides: I'd bet a fiver that this guy counted anybody who criticized Israel as anti semitic. Which is not how this works goddamnit. Or Jehovah damn it? Idk.

He just said “historic,” he didn’t say what part of history.

As an American Jew, I've kind of gotten numb to the anti-semitism on the right. A Republican politician shook hands with Nazis and posed for a photo with a swastika flag? Must be a Thursday.

What I wasn't prepared for was the level of anti-semitism on the left. Now, I'll say right out of the gate that criticizing Israel isn't automatically anti-semitism. Heck, I criticize Israel quite often. I'm not talking about this. I'm talking about progressives declaring that all Jews are responsible for Israel's actions. Progressives attacking Jews, Jewish temples, Jewish businesses, Jewish homes. Progressives celebrating the October 7th attack and wishing that more Jews would be killed. And also progressives saying that anti-semitism isn't happening or that Jews aren't allowed to complain about threats they are getting because other people have it worse. (Would you tell a friend to shut up about how much their broken leg hurts because you saw a guy on the news that had cancer? Does only the group that has it the absolute worst get to complain?)

I consider myself a progressive so this hurt. I was being told that my life and safely doesn't matter by a group that I agreed with in the past. I was told that I was personally responsible for something I have no control over and should be attacked for these "crimes" that I committed (again, despite not living anywhere near Israel).

Being attacked by both sides of the political spectrum is scary and leaves me wondering if anyone would stand up should the words and vandalism turn into something worse.

And, as an additional effect, I do want to speak up for the Palestinians, but don't feel comfortable joining in a group with members calling for violence against me. I just don't feel personally safe doing so. I know this isn't all people who advocate for the Palestinians, but it's a loud enough contingent that I fear for my safety.

It’s not Funkytown is it?

The article is poorly written. Wray's comments were talking about "violent domestic extremists targeting Jewish or Muslim communities, such as..."

He does elsewhere talk about the specific rise in antisemitism and disproportionate recent increase of threats against Jews, including as called for by foreign terrorist organizations.

So the overall article theme isn't incorrect.

But his primary focus was on how events in the Middle East might lead to violence against Americans, and was discussing both Jewish and Muslim Americans in the part of his speech those examples were pulled from.

It was kind of hard finding information on this case as everyone wants to talk about the little boy that died. I didnt do a lot of digging but here is some info I could find..

Shaheen told investigators that when first confronted by Czuba over the violence in the Holy Land, she told him, "Let's pray for peace."

I dont understand how someone could say 'lets pray for peace' that would lead a guy into a murderous rampage. I would say my bullshit detector is going off and she probably insinuated that this guy is a murdererous jew for his name and time in the military/his involvement and it set him off. I am also reading some other stuff trying to debunk him being jewish but i dont know what the altercation was about. I understand its a shitty thing to think but I can see how it might be antisemitism but it might just be good old fashioned Islamophobia. I dont want to judge but he looks like a regular crazy white guy.

Gotcha coach, gonna assassinate a leftie, lets close this out- the CIA

It's unfortunate how the attitude changes when it's a favourable group of people that's being targeted.

I'm not saying you're wrong. You are right and it should be the way, but the number of people who would sarcastically cry "ugh, it's the 'not all Muslims' defence again!", every time anyone tried to say that the vast, vast majority of Muslims do not support and absolutely reject any form of murder, harm or terrorism.

It really sucks, but people like to have a common enemy. Life is tough, and having someone to vent at seems to be how we cope. It was the Blacks then the Irish, then Muslims, then Chinese, then mask-wearers(!?), and now Jews. It should not be this way, and despite supporting Palestine in their right not not be massacred, I can't help feeling sad that Jews everywhere, no matter their stance on the matter, will face the blind judgement of uneducated, trigger happy self-appointed, miguided vigilantes.

It wants to keep us infighting so we don't notice how bad things are becoming and go after the real problem, probably.

White supremacy