Evil Penevil

1 hour ago, Somjot said:

And yet you are opposing any person who is criticising the mass murder of Palestinians in Gaza and call them antisemitic

I am opposing any person who is falsely accusing Israelis of mass murder in Gaza.  Making false accusations against Israel is indeed antisemitism. In fact, it's a hallmark of antisemitism.

1 hour ago, Somjot said:

Siding with the civilians in Gaza who have been killed, shot, bombed, tortured and raped and asking for those who committed these crimes to be persecuted, does not deny Israel`s right to exist.

3 hours ago, Somjot said:

If the protection of a homeland, no matter from which people, demands the intentional execution of children by shots in the head and the chest, the murdering and burying of help workers, the raping of prisoners, the execution of starving people begging for food, then maybe one day the question might come up if that homeland is really worth it

In medieval times, Jews were accused of poisoning wells, spreading disease and killing Christian children to obtain their blood for use in rituals.  Your list of atrocities Israeli forces are accused of committing in Gaza is simply an updating of an old string of false accusations against Jews..

1 hour ago, Somjot said:

 

And that is another stupid phrase which has somehow become a litmus test

Does Israel have a right to exist?

The answer is no.

No country has the right to exist, because countries do not exist.

Czechoslovakia peacefully turned into Slovakia and the Czech Republic in 1993.

So, did Czechoslovakia not have the right to exist? Are those who caused that separation criminals?

People have a right to exist.

And the people in Gaza have been denied that right for almost 2 years.

You are just playing word games with the phrase "right to exist."    The peaceful dissolution of Czechoslovakia  is an entirely different set of circumstances than the struggle of Jews to create and defend a homeland and Jewish-majority sovereign state.

1 hour ago, Somjot said:

I cannot imagine that any member in here supports the destruction of Israel.

That's optimistic.  Several posters have expressed support for the destruction of Israel, but the mods usually react if the rhetoric becomes too antisemitic.  Here's an example that doesn't go over the top:

On 7/7/2025 at 10:24 AM, Packer said:

Create one big Palestinian state in place of Israel.

Israeli government and armed forces completely disbanded. 

Any Israeli passport holders are offered new lives in Western countries if they so wish.

All Israeli military hardware is sold to fund it.

Democratic elections with UN troops on the ground.

Timeframe: 10 years. 

1 hour ago, Somjot said:

Congratulations

you have just sacrificed 2 million Gazans

because basically you are saying do not criticise or condemn Israel, no matter what it does or which atrocities it commits because by doing so you are aiding Hamas, you are useful to Hamas and supportive to their cause.

I haven't sacrificed anyone.  Hamas' refusal to recognize Israel as a sovereign state and its repeated attacks on Israel led to military action that has cost a lot of Palestinian lives.  If condemning Hamas and hoping it's eliminated entirely from Gaza can somehow be construed as supporting Hamas,  then I guess I'm  guilty.  But in that case, I would gladly lend my support to Hezbollah, the Houthis, the IRGC of Iran, the Muslim Brotherhood, ISIS, Al Qaeda and several others.

1 hour ago, annotator said:

That's the kind of comment that anti-semites use to justify Jew hatred. If a Jewish person wants to consider Israel his homeland, that's his business.  And if he doesn't that's his business, too. Israel doesn't get to speak for world Jewry. Your statement just supports the anti-semitic belief that Jews outside of Israel have dual allegiances.

I'm sure antisemites do indeed hate Israel because it functions as both the homeland for and last refuge of the world's Jews.  Of the 15.8 million Jews in the world, 7.2 million live in Israel.   Another 6.3 million live in the U.S. and the remaining 2.3 million are spread across the globe.  Not all Jews acknowledge a relationship to Israel, but that doesn't change the fact that it is nevertheless the homeland of the world's Jews.  Every Jew has the right of return to Israel if they so choose.  And if antisemites take control of a country, the Jews who live there will be very happy Israel exists as a refuge.

If Israel had existed in 1939, millions of Jewish lives could have been saved.

58 minutes ago, annotator said:

 You a mind reader or something?

I don't need any skills in mind-reading to recognize antisemitism.  The words antisemites use give them away.

@annotator  Do you believe in the literal truth of The Protocols of the Elders of Zion?

https://encyclopedia.ushmm.org/content/en/article/protocols-of-the-elders-of-zion

13 hours ago, annotator said:

Given that only Jewish citizens of Israel are subject to the draft, and that the governmental officials in charge of the campaign in Gaza are Jewish, it happens to be the case that they are mostly Jewish. But the accusations are based on what they are doing, not that they happen to be Jewish.

What the IDF is doing in Gaza is necessary for the defense of Israel as the homeland of the world's Jews.  The IDF is fighting an enemy that has vowed to destroy Israel.  The accusations against the IDF and Israeli government are based  on their defense of their country and its citizens. The distinction between "Jew" and "Zionist" or "Israeli" is often only a semantic illusion to divert attention from underlying antisemitism..

13 hours ago, annotator said:

Bernard Madoff happened to be Jewish. Was denouncing him an act of anti-Semitism?

Madoff was an individual who pled guilty to 11 Federal  criminal charges relating to financial crimes.  Denouncing him for running the world's biggest Ponzi scheme is not in any way antisemitic.  Claiming his crimes supported genocide would have been antisemitic.

Same-same with the IDF.  Criticizing its strategies and  tactics is not inherently antisemitic, but attributing the IDF's actions to genocide is.

12 hours ago, bannork said:

You've got to stop referring to the Holocaust, and indeed mentioning Jews as a race, as a blanket defence against anything Israel does.

Criticism of Israel's current actions in Gaza has nothing to do with the Holocaust or indeed the Jewish race as a whole. 

I am NOT equating criticism of Israel with antisemitism.   In fact, I believe the opposite, as I wrote in an earlier post.

On 6/7/2025 at 10:29 AM, Evil Penevil said:

Criticism of Israel is NOT ALWAYS antisemitic.  Millions of  Jews inside and outside Israel criticize Israel's government and society on a daily basis.  Those Jews certainly aren't antisemitic, nor are many of the tens of millions of non-Jews who criticize Israel.  It's absurd to say anyone who criticizes Israel is automatically labeled as antisemitic.  It's simply not true.

It's the intent of the criticism that determines whether it is antisemitic.  If the goal of the criticism is to persuade listeners or readers Israel has no right to exist as the homeland of the world's Jews,  then it is antisemitic.  If its purpose is only to register disagreement with  the Israeli government's policies and actions or indicate disapproval of some aspects of Israeli society and the lifestyle of its  people, then it isn't.

12 hours ago, bannork said:

It's equally absurd to paint those criticising Israel's action on AN as Hamas supporters, wittingly or not.

It's not at all absurd to criticize those who give direct or indirect support to Hamas.  The terrorist group has said itself it benefits from expressions of support (my bold text).

Hamas Slams US Crackdown on Pro-Palestinian College Protests

"A senior official of the Palestinian Hamas movement at war with Israel has expressed support for protests being staged in solidarity with Gaza at universities across the United States and condemned efforts to crack down on them in comments shared with Newsweek.

'We in the Hamas movement believe that any popular movement demanding an end to the aggression and genocide against our people are useful and supportive activities for our cause,' Hamas spokesperson Bassem Naim told Newsweek."

https://www.newsweek.com/hamas-slams-us-crackdown-pro-palestinian-college-protests-1893962

If a member of AN supports Hamas' stated goal of destroying Israel, then that should be made clear.  If they are unknowingly  aiding Hamas through posts condemning Israel, then I'm right in trying to open their eyes.  Do you want to be "useful"  to Hamas and "supportive" of its cause?  

12 hours ago, bannork said:

What outrages onlookers is the deliberate and methodical application of suffering and repression on the entire Gaza population by the current Israeli government.

For that they deserve the world's condemnation.

This is the crux of our disagreement.  I see the actions taken by the IDF in Gaza as necessary for the defense of the Jewish homeland.  The nature of urban warfare and Hamas' policy of hiding its members and weapons among the civilian population are responsible for civilian deaths.  It's Hamas, not Israel and the IDF, which should be condemned for the suffering of civilians in Gaza.

Some of you may remember the homeless German man who hung around the LK Metro-Soi Diana area in 2010-11.  He was NOT a beggar and mostly refused offers of food or money.

I and numerous others offered to give him food and clothes, but he said he didn't want them.  Once when he was sitting near  the intersection of Soi Diana and 2nd Rd, I said I'd get him a takeaway meal from Kiss Food.  He told me her didn't like the food at Kiss and asked me if I knew of a hotel buffet!  He may not have been a beggar,  but he sure was choosy!

Eventually the foot without the flip-flop got so badly infected and swollen I thought it would turn into gangrene.  In October 2011,  his physical and mental condition deteriorated so far the Immigration Police picked him up and deported him back to Germany.  Unfortunately, no one knows the full story or at least isn't willing to post it on a forum.  

3 hours ago, Somjot said:

Interesting development in this sub-forum.

 

More and more members being able to see through the lies and misinformation we all grew up with and raising their voices.

 

Leading to this echo-chamber of the "Israel is right even when it is wrong" fraction becoming increasingly uncomfortable for them and their double standard.

Believe me, no sudden burst of misinterpretation of the Gaza conflict from a pro-Hamas poster will make me uncomfortable.  In my time I  have elsewhere encountered far worse antisemitic attacks on Israel that anything the AN mods would allow.

What does bother me is that some BMs remain mired in age-old anti-Jewish tropes,  with criticism of Israel merely the latest manifestation of a 2,000-year hatred.  Perhaps even more distressing are the BMs who don't realize that they are expressing antisemitic ideas or how dangerous those ideas are.  The normalization of antisemitic language and opinion in Germany in the 1930s was a crucial step on the road to the Holocaust.  Never again is now!

5 hours ago, annotator said:

It may be that some people are accusing Jews of committing genocide, but most are accusing Israelis of committing genocide.

4 hours ago, Evil Penevil said:

 

Are the Israelis accused of committing genocide Jews?

1 hour ago, annotator said:

What does this mean?

I am asking you if the Israelis who are accused of committing genocide are  Jews or if they belong to a different ethno-religious group.  Not all citizens of Israeli are Jews.  In 2025, about 21% of Israel's citizens are Arabs; roughly 75%  are Jews and about 4% non-Arab Christians, Druze and others.

You might want to check with the vet to make sure your Frenchie isn't suffering from a bacterial infection called pyoderma.  You can read more about it here:  5 Common French Bulldog Skin Problems

The BBC has finally released the internal review of its "documentary."

BBC Gaza documentary breached guidelines, review finds

"A BBC documentary about Gaza breached editorial guidelines on accuracy by failing to disclose the narrator was the son of a Hamas official, the corporation's review has found."

...

"The BBC said the programme should not have been signed off, and it was taking appropriate action on accountability."

Here comes the crucial point:

"The corporation did not name any individuals facing disciplinary action."

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/bbc-gaza-documentary-breached-guidelines-review-finds/ar-AA1IyOBc?ocid=msedgntp&pc=W230&cvid=62ca678ad8d740888b836b77abfe0584&ei=11

Until BBC staffers are fired over pro-Palestinian reporting, the situation won't change in any real way.

In an interview last week with The Times,  UK culture secretary Lisa Nandy said she was "exasperated" with the BBC.

“I have been very clear that people must be held accountable for the decisions that were taken. I have asked the question to the board [of the BBC]. Why has nobody been fired?

“What I want is an explanation as to why not. If it is a sackable offence then obviously that should happen. But if the BBC, which is independent, considers that it is not I think what all parliamentarians want to know is why.”

https://www.thetimes.com/uk/politics/article/bbc-glastonbury-lisa-nandy-jbhv5t6fg

1 hour ago, annotator said:

It may be that some people are accusing Jews of committing genocide, but most are accusing Israelis of committing genocide.

Are the Israelis accused of committing genocide Jews?

3 minutes ago, quake said:

F-me. these people exist.

Just unreal. 

Ten years ago,  Grzegorz Braun was regarded as an eccentric individual on the fringes of Polish rightwing politics.  Since then. he has gathered enough support to win seats in both the European Parliament and the lower chamber of the Polish Parliament.  He has steadily gained political strength.

But the authorities in Poland are taking him as a serious threat. The Polish and European Parliaments have lifted his immunity so a Polish prosecutor can pursue changes against Braun.  He will be indicted for unlawful actions, not his statements about Jews.

www.europeaninterest.eu/european-parliament-consents-to-mep-grzegorz-brauns-prosecution-in-poland/

It's important the Polish government takes action against him.  Otherwise, the risk is high that Braun's hardcore antisemitism will become "normalized" in the minds of Polish voters.   The surge in antisemitism which Europe and the U.S. have seen in recent years is largely down to people accepting antisemitic tropes as valid opinions.

Jews can never stop reminding the world that "Never again is now!"

6 hours ago, fredwiggy said:

How do these people even get an audience?

 Through shared beliefs in antisemitism.  It's been an "ideology" for 2,000 years.  In its modern form, antisemitism is a shared characteristic of  some adherents of both the Right and Left political camps.  Grzegorz Braun, just like many leftists, accuses Jews of committing genocide in Gaza.

Polish far-right MEP ejected from European Parliament after disrupting Holocaust tribute

During a minute’s silence honouring Holocaust victims, Braun, who was elected to the European Parliament from the list of Poland’s far-right Confederation (Konfederacja), shouted remarks including “let’s pray for the victims of the Jewish genocide in Gaza” and “thank you everybody for praying”, reported Polish broadcaster TVN24.

https://notesfrompoland.com/2025/01/29/polish-far-right-mep-ejected-from-european-parliament-after-disrupting-holocaust-memorial/

If you want to better understand Holocaust denial, here's a video that explains it in three minutes.  WARNING:  It contains disturbing images.

Some of you are misunderstanding the dynamics involved.  In coming weeks, Trump will make an informal visit to the UK, mainly to Scotland to visit his golf course.  Later he will make a formal state visit.  The protocol is very different for the two visits.

The BBC explains it here:

UK to host Trump for full state visit later this year

Donald Trump will make a full state visit to the UK later this year after King Charles and the US president's schedules meant they would be unable to meet informally over the summer, it is understood.

Buckingham Palace confirmed an invitation signed by the King, called the "Manu Regia", was taken to the White House by representatives from the British Embassy in Washington last week.

The dates of Trump's visit are yet to be confirmed but September is said to be the most likely.

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cvg4589pweeo

Strange Fruit sung by Billie Holliday was very profound for 1937:

She sang it for 20 years:

The lyrics of Simon & Garfunkle's Sound of Silence were meaningful, if not profound.

Hurt by Nine-Inch Nails was profound, especially when sung by Johnny Cash.

Leonard Cohen had a lot of songs with profound lyrics:

4 hours ago, roo860 said:

What's a singes?

"Singes" is French for "monkeys."

It also means "to burn slightly." But in his post, @ezzra meant to write "signs."

9 hours ago, ezzra said:

Why would anyone condone such animalistic and brutal behavior? were there singes signs posted asking to refrain from taking photos?

I wonder if "Mr. Raf" might be a wannabe Pattaya vlogger, hoping to attract views through posting confrontational videos.  It's a common tactic in the U.S.  Videos that feature confrontation, especially when it gets violent, receive a lot more views than the "happy" stuff.  But as Mr. Raf found out, Thailand is a bad place for that style of vlogging.  The risk of street justice is high.  

On 7/7/2025 at 9:52 AM, Yagoda said:

According to the sources in this article, here is an Arab proposal

 

https://www.wsj.com/opinion/new-palestinian-offer-peace-israel-hebron-sheikh-emirate-36dd39c3?st=XC1JPS

Yes, that is exactly what is needed: for Palestinians and all other Arabs to recognize Israel's right to exist as the homeland of the world's Jews.  One that's done, the details can be worked out through negotiation.  Lasting peace is impossible when Hamas has as its goal the annihilation of Israel.   I went into detail about that in a different thread:

On 7/9/2025 at 9:43 AM, Evil Penevil said:

 

This is the (in)famous "Rocks and Trees Hadith" which is an explicit call for genocide against Jews.  It is widely used in Muslim sermons and cited by Muslim scholars as justification for attacks on Jews.  You can see some examples  in the video clip below.  The last guy says it pretty clearly: "We will fight them, we will defeat them, and we will annihilate them. Not a single Jew will remain on the face of the Earth."  That's what Israelis have been up against each and every day since 1948.

 

But maybe you prefer to believe the media commentators who keep telling us, "Islam is a religion of peace."

 

 

 

 

You can get more background on the "Rocks and Trees Hadith" and its use in Islamic teachings from this article:

https://jewishchronicle.timesofisrael.com/there-is-a-jew-hiding-behind-me-come-and-kill-him/

A Web site named "Where Do We Stand?"  gives "Perspectives on Obstacles to Peace in the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict."  It has contributions from both  pro- and anti-Israel commentators and analysts.  https://wheredowestand.org/

My favorite contributor is Alan Dershowitz. https://wheredowestand.org/alandershowitz/

He has a long and thorough analysis of what's necessary for peace in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Donald Trump's nomination for the 2026 Nobel Peace Prize is neither as surprising nor odd as some BMs seem to feel.  Every year the names of several hundred individuals and organizations are submitted to the five-member Norwegian Nobel Committee as candidates  for the Nobel Peace Prize.  In 2025, no less than the nominations of 244 individuals and 94 organizations were registered as valid nominations.

Thousands of individuals all over the world can make nominations for the Nobel Peace Prize,  so it's no wonder some strange suggestions could show up.  I'd bet my 401K that some idiot, somewhere, has nominated Hamas and Hezbollah  for the Peace Prize.   Information about nominees and nominators is kept secret for 50 years and then only released on a very selective basis.  We know about Trump's nomination because his nominator, the government of Pakistan, chose to make it public.  

And if the governments of India and Pakistan both acknowledge Trump played a crucial role in preventing a war between those two countries, then he should win it.  Alfred Nobel's will states the Peace Prize should go to "the person who shall have done the most or the best work for fraternity between nations."   https://www.nobelpeacecenter.org/en/the-last-will-of-alfred-nobel

However many disagree with Trump's  policies on the wars in Gaza, Iran and the Ukraine,  he still made the biggest contribution of the year to world peace.  Does anyone believe there's  of a individual or group who has done something more significant than  preventing war between two large and countries which have always hated each other?

You can read more about the nomination and selection process on the official  Web site of the Nobel Peace Prize. 

https://www.nobelprize.org/nomination/peace/

The criteria for nominators is broad and could include thousands, maybe tens of thousands, of people.   https://www.nobelpeaceprize.org/nobel-peace-prize/nomination/criteria-for-nominators

16 hours ago, Social Media said:

He stated: “The hour will not begin until the Muslims fight the Jews and the Muslims will kill them until a Jew hides behind a rock or a tree. And the rock or tree will say ‘Oh Muslim... there is a Jew behind me. Come and kill him’.”

This is the (in)famous "Rocks and Trees Hadith" which is an explicit call for genocide against Jews.  It is widely used in Muslim sermons and cited by Muslim scholars as justification for attacks on Jews.  You can see some examples  in the video clip below.  The last guy says it pretty clearly: "We will fight them, we will defeat them, and we will annihilate them. Not a single Jew will remain on the face of the Earth."  That's what Israelis have been up against each and every day since 1948.

But maybe you prefer to believe the media commentators who keep telling us, "Islam is a religion of peace."

You can get more background on the "Rocks and Trees Hadith" and its use in Islamic teachings from this article:

https://jewishchronicle.timesofisrael.com/there-is-a-jew-hiding-behind-me-come-and-kill-him/

There is already a thread running on this topic: