me_irl

I don't identify as Jewish but am (based on genetic website) 19% Ashkenazi by heritage. As an atheist I used to (mistakenly) believe the conflicts in the middle east were religious in nature and it took me awhile to realize it was about land, power, and oppression. Once I came to that realization a couple decades ago, everything I've seen since has peeled back layer upon layer of false assumptions which I believe are intentionally injected into the public consciousness. For one, I dislike this term antisemitism. The Israelite's were not the only Semitic peoples, and the descendants of those peoples are dispersed primarily in the area of Lebanon and Palestine. A very large percentage of modern Jews on the other hand (like myself) hail from European origins. The genetics have been traced and show that by in large, the Jews who emigrated to Europe were men, and mated with European females before then interbreeding once they had sufficient populations. Point being, I don't think its reasonable to describe anti-Jewish attitudes as anti-Semitic, especially when some of the worst things being done to actual Semitic people are being done BY Jews. Further, and regardless of what you call it, the most damage being done to Jews in the world today is done by the so-called state of Israel. How many more people will be attracted to anti-Jewish messages after baring witness to the horrors inflicted upon the people of Palestine? How much damage does this do to the "soul" of those Jews in Israel? It's not healthy to harbor such evil, its a cancer that attacks outwardly but also destroys itself internally.

So, for me I prefer to say anti-Jewish (just like I would say anti-Islamic or anti-Christian.) The distinction of Zionism I believe is important because there are many Christian Zionists, and as you've mentioned, its Zionists in particular who want to promote the idea that Israel == Jewish and Jewish == Israel. In my mind, I see Zionists as truly anti-Semitic & anti-Jewish.