Let's Be Reasonable

The term 'weaponizing anti-Semitism' describes using anti-Semitism accusations to silence criticism of Israel. Detainees such as Mahmoud Khalil faced detention and threats of deportation after questioning Israeli actions in Gaza. The IHRA definition and its accompanying text have been adopted as policy by multiple universities and by Education and State Departments, classifying harsh criticism of Israel as anti‑Semitic. Foreign students and their professors face potential ICE action or job loss for critical speech. Debates in the Oregon Democratic Party over promoting IHRA text included denials of Israeli apartheid and calls for deportation; the promotion was voted down. Public polls show opposition to increased arms shipments to Israel, and advocates call for Congressional sponsorship of 'Block the Bombs' measures.

I recently learned the term "weaponizing anti-Semitism." We have seen the detention with threat of deportation of Mahmoud Khalil and others, who were not yet citizens, who dared to question destroying Gaza. Recently too I learned that the IHRA (International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance) definition and accompanying text on anti-Semitism has been taken as policy by several universities (Harvard in 2025), as well as our Education and State Departments.

Within this document, harsh criticism of Israel is considered anti-Semitic. Hey, you foreigners out there, as well as the professors who teach you, don't you dare call out Israel's longstanding human rights violations or compare what Israel is doing to the Nazi's-as the foreigners may be targeted by ICE and the teachers fired! This month, voices within the Oregon Democratic party wanted to promote IHRA's text in the party platform.

Among a few advocates, you can hear statements like "there is no apartheid in Israel" or that Mr. Khalil deserved deportation. In spite of this fiery rhetoric, ultimately the majority voted this IHRA text promotion down. How many polls does it take to show that Americans don't want to give more arms to Israel? When will our Congressional delegation (excepting the peace-advocate Merkley) sign up to sponsor the "Block the Bombs" measure(s), to stop arms shipments?

Read at Portland Mercury