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Reply to Ali Kazac.

Article Excerpt
Palestinian Authority representative Ali Kazak argues that opposition to Israel and Zionism is not anti- Semitic ('In Search of A Just Peace', Arena Magazineno. 75). But the debate about anti-Jewish prejudice vis-a-vis hostility to the Jewish nation state of Israel is arguably less black and white than Kazak suggests.

On the one hand, criticisms of Israel per seare not anti-Semitic, particularly when they involve judgments about real Israeli actions and policies in the Occupied Territories. The worst that can reasonably be said about most such judgments is that they may be unbalanced and reflect a partisan pro-Palestinian view of the conflict. It is arguable that the following concerns fall within the realms of legitimate nonanti-Semitic political debate:

1. questions about the legal and moral legitimacy of Jewish settlements in the Occupied Territories of the West Bank and Gaza Strip;

2. concerns about Israeli military incursions and assassinations within the Territories;

3. concerns about the impact...

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