[Maru]

@#7

We can visit many nations in the world, and it's not hard to find places where there are a specific set of laws meant to promote or protect certain forms of cultural tradition or practice. Most of these practices either don't conflict with popular norms or are so removed from the world stage that not much thought is given to it.

Someone who tends to be anti-Semitic will overlook all that and put Israel on a different pedestal and say that their laws/politics/international policy are all in fact all quite racist, when really they're not doing anything out of the norm. They are a Jewish country, simple...

This is where ideals of multiculturalism often fail to conform with actual reality. The assumption that peoples in other nations and societies that move naturally to embrace more Western-style practices such as relaxing cultural/societal rules on dress, changing business practices to be more accommodating for tourism, that "they" (the local population) are fact moving towards multiculturalism. This may or may not actually be the case at all (not ours to determine), but there are folk who believe if a state or nation wishes to participate on the Western stage, that they must adopt certain principles (including multiculturalism)... Israel is sometimes thought to be a counter-element to this.

Perhaps every nation has to find its mix of traditions and modern practices, but it's usually better for society if they do it that on their own. However, the tendency for foreign folk/media to focus on a nation and impose their own world view often has seeds of ethnocentrism embedded within them. These seeds tends to create safe havens for various elements to come in who diametrically oppose certain cultures/traditions and to cause problems societal. Moreover, Israel is seen as having an important role in maintaining the current world order, so that makes them a bigger target for vitroil...

@#10

I imagine it's quite problematic for Jews as well

Keeping in mind, the list of examples cited in the IHRA from are meant to be exactly that, examples. I don't think it is meant to be portrayed as this dialogue is always anti-Semitic. However, if a person does a good portion of that list, then it's a safer bet. Keeping in mind someone who is anti-Semitic will often employ criticism of the state of Israel as a useful tactic to construct and spread a negative image of the Jewish people in general.