Is criticizing Israel the same as criticizing Judaism?

Yes, it is the same. As liberals in America stretch for new venues in which to attack the Republican party and our country's efforts in Iraq, they are willing now to point fingers at the Jewish community. While Israel is often mentioned, it is just another opportunity to create hatred toward Jews. Often, conservatives are already attacked for their Christian values so this does not come as a surprise.

I hope that you found this answer to be...enlightening. Peace and go with God.

I have a professor who is a Jew. Last year, she gave a speech at the local art gallery. The subject was: "What is good and bad about your religion?" and there were guests from all different kinds of religions discussing the various good and bad points of their respective faiths. My prof talked about something related to Judaism that she doesn't like - about how the Israeli gov't is mistreating a tribe of Bedouin (who are Muslims, in case you didn't know) in Jerusalem, and are making them live next to a garbage heap. Well, this got some of her fellow Jewish friends very heated up, and they walked out of the talk, banded together and kicked her out of the synagogue. In their logic, you aren't supposed to criticize Israel - you are supposed to support it without question. Why? Becuase Israel is considered to be a miracle that arose from the ashes of the Holocaust, and by speaking disfavorably of Israel (even with all of the illegal government-backed settlements in the West Bank, behind-the-scenes discrimination, and the fact that the stuck-in-the-12th-century ultra Orthodox Haredim make the rules and are quite intolerant of any non Orthodox Jews) then you are basically (again, in their logic) promoting anti-semitism and trivializing the Holocaust.

So, in a nutshell, America just doesn't want to anger the Israeli gov't, even if they disapprove of what they're doing. If they did, then they'd get accused of all this stuff I just mentioned - "Americans are Jew haters!" "Americans are Holocaust deniers!" etc. (Even though they likely aren't.) Of course, not all Jews think this way...but it's better to be safe than sorry.

No it is not. Israel is a SECULAR state and Judaism is a religious belief system so it's definately not the same.

It's unfortunate that there are those out there that still have the anti-semitic idea that Jews rule the USA via proxy or there are "rightful" Arab haters. It's because of answers like those that we enjoy the srife we have in this world. PEACE!

No, it is not the same.

However, it is quite common for anti semitism to masquerade as anti Israel and anti Zionist rhetoric. What is sad, at least from the perspective of what I see in Yahoo Answers! and beyond, is that many don't even realize the nature of what they call "criticism".

As is the case, it is possible to be pro Israel and criticize Israel as well.

For example, I'm pro Israel and have been critical of Israel.

For example, I was critical of the peace process initiated by Israel in 1993.

I was critical of Israel's withdrawal from Gaza.

I was critical (along with the rest of Israel's population) of how the Olmert government handled Lebanon last year.

It would be pretty hypocritical of our politicians to criticize the Israeli government for things that we do too. Personally, I don't see that many problems with them internally, and find their international dealings to be completely above board. What's your problem with Israel?

Just like there are peaceful, freedom loving Jews that mind their own business, there are also Zionist jews who want to take over the world.. Just like there are peaceful muslims, there are also extremist radical muslims.

It seems to me that the powers that be are controlled by Zionists, and therefore, don't dare say anything bad about the secular Israeli government.

check out "The Israel Lobby and U.S. Foreign Policy"

By John J. Mearsheimer and Stephen Walt.

http://www.ipsnews.net/news.asp?idnews=32599

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nch43wy8Zb8

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1nmwmGcVAws

as the links might show they got the Repubo-crat party under heel.

this may help enlighten you.

No,It is just attempts to discredit the message by attempting to discredit the messenger.

You can say what you want. Freedom of speech. I curse the hell out of Muslim nations. And rightfully so I might add.

NO......but Israel's lobby pays the politician bills so they don't want the money to dry up.