As you admit, part of the problem people don't always separate their thoughts on Israel from those on Jews (as is most evident to me in the amount of criticism Israel gets while other countries far worse are ignored. We don;t see large scale campaigns to boycott Saudi Arabia, China, or Russia for example. Simply criticism of Israel is based on anti-semitic ideas often enough that the question will come up even when it isn't the basis.[/QUOTE]
That's a valid point, and it gave me pause to consider it.
The only reasons I can think of is this.
In terms of Israel, this conflict has gone back to just after WWII, the duration and dynamics of it give it a unique dimension.
As well, Jews have been, integrated into our culture way more significantly than the others, in terms of business, politics,
intellectually, the arts, our Judeo -Christian heritage. Jews are way more on the map.
The reality of AIPAC, by virtue of its size and influence and how it impacts decision making is an issue for non Jews and Jews alike.
If somebody stands up to them, candidates don't support the status quo, they get the shit kicked out of them. I don't think that's a secret.
With Russia, we were at war with them, hot and cold until 1990, and really nobody condones anything they do.
With Saudi Arabia, we get nothing but oil, nothing else to boycott.
The Yemen crisis is relatively young and I think the US has cut off support of arms for this, and I don't think anyone is happy with
them about everything else, nobody defends them.
China, other than Tibet, which they took flack for, I don't know. Nobody defends them either.
Israel is kind of an extension of us, by virtue of the Jewish community.
The experience is more visceral with Israel because of this.
That's all I can come up with, let me know if you think I'm on or off with this.
As far as me saying I wasn't Jewish, it was part of giving some context and laying a groundwork to express a non Jewish perspective.
Having skin in the game or not is huge, but it doesn't preclude either side from being right and wrong
in different ways. Nothing other than that.