Anthony Lerman on the Oliphant cartoon – “Antisemitic, or just offensive?”
Anthony Lerman says that it is possible to criticize Israel without being anti-semitic. He goes further to say that too-loose usage of anti-semiticism weakens more justifiable accusations, by dilution. Like crying wolf, I suppose.
I question the title, though, which is “Antisemitic, or just offensive?” The snag occurs at “just offensive?”
Lerman examines the anti-semiticism aspect, and finds in Oliphant’s favor. No anti-semiticism there, more-or-less, says Lerman.
So why “just offensive?” in the title? With no explanation offered as to why it would be considered offensive, my view is that it represents an intended slight of hand – an unsupportable charge of antisemitism in order to distract us.