"I would like to see Israel become a democracy, and it cannot become a democracy as long as it is a Jewish state."

Yes, I think we'd all like to see Israel as a better democracy. And Syria and Egypt and Lebanon and Iran and Saudi etc etc.

But so long as Israel exists as a small state surrounded by foes who, given the slightest chance, would wipe it and its people from existence, compromises from the ideal world have to be made

Anti-Semitism is being anti-Jew. Its just semantics to say that other peoples are also, in some circles, called Semites. There is no ambiguity when someone is called anti-Semitic.

"Antisemitism is hostility to, prejudice towards, or discrimination against Jews. A person who holds such positions is called an antisemite. Antisemitism is considered to be a form of racism." Wikipedia

Canem,

After Alexander, the Jewish state grew in wealth and prestige. This was partly because it benefited from the destruction of the Samaritans and the obliteration of Tyre and the Phoenicians. After Alexander's empire broke up into parts, Judah sat between two of the most powerful - Ptolemaic Egypt and the Seleucids. This can often be a bad place to be (eg Poland which has been wiped out four times between Russia and Prussia) but the Jewish leadership was smart and benefited from both sides.

When Rome arrived, its main concern was Egypt which became the bread-basket for Italy. And Judea became the best place to protect Egypt from eastern invaders. Again the leadership were smart and backed the right side - eg Octavian.

But that unravelled when they became radicalised by the Essenes/Maccabees and picked the wrong side following the overthrow of Nero. Vespasian/Titus destroyed Judea for, it turned out, almost 2000yrs and the problem of European Jews was born. (Side note - the Coliseum was paid for from the plunder taken from Judea.)

"The Roman's probably would have eventually seen a monotheistic god as more suitable- I suppose"

They did. They started following Sol as the supreme God and while they never quite got to monotheism prior to Yahweh Sol was elevated above all others. The Christians tried to link Sol with Yahweh/Jesus which is why you see Jesus claiming to be 'the light', why you often see a solar halo around Jesus in depictions and why Christmas is 25/12 which is really the Rome celebration of Sol Invictus

Yuyutsu wrote:

Great, then you should be able to gather some like-minded people, converge on (buy up) some town or village and form there your own independent state where Wednesdays are the official day of rest and weeks start on Thursdays!

Dear Yuyutsu,

I think it more worthwhile, more conducive to peace and more interesting to learn to live with people who think differently. To gather with like-minded people may be a prelude to conflict and hate for people who aren't like-minded. Even if people are like-minded their young may not be of the same mind as their parents.

mhaze wrote:

But so long as Israel exists as a small state surrounded by foes who, given the slightest chance, would wipe it and its people from existence, compromises from the ideal world have to be made.

Dear mhaze,

Of course, compromises have to be made, but if the compromises are too great the original purpose is lost.

Objections to Israeli domestic policies, settlement,
occupation, or treatment of the Palestinians are
political positions, not antisemitic slurs. Objections
to Israeli policies happen all the time in Israel
itself and among Jews everywhere. Just as someone can
oppose the policies of the US, France, China, Saudi Arabia,
or any other nation. Doing so does not make them a bigot.

However -

What is important - we do need to be aware that antisemites
are drawn to Israel debates and that we are vigilant about
rejecting their bigoted language and derogatory remarks
and that we do prevent them from corrupting the critical
conversation about the Jewish state and its conduct.

It is a complex situation.

Dear mhaze,

You quote: "Antisemitism is hostility to, prejudice towards, or discrimination against Jews. A person who holds such positions is called an antisemite. Antisemitism is considered to be a form of racism." Wikipedia

So what is hostility to and prejudice toward Palestinians?

In December 2020 Australia yet again voted against a UN resolution about the middle east situation. We joined Israel, Canada, the US, and a few pacific nations to be part of just 7 countries which voted against a basic resolution calling titled "Peaceful settlement of the question of Palestine".
http://www.undocs.org/en/A/75/L.34

This gang of 7 countries repeatedly votes in this manner with anything to do with Israel.

We use to pride ourselves as a country which stood up for the under dog. No longer.

What people like you do is to try and claim that status for the nuclear armed nation of Israel which spends 10 times the amount on military weaponry than any of its neighbours.

It's victim claim just doesn't fly so why do you continue to insist it?