French Jews advised to avoid use of the term Zionism

[shira]

(JTA) — Stanley Greenberg, a prominent American political strategist from the United States, advised representatives of French Jewry to avoid mentioning Zionism when speaking to non-Jews.

Zionism “is seen as extremist and a force mainly in Israel, rather than Europe. Use of the term links your spokespeople to what is seen as an external conflict,” Greenberg, who has advised the campaigns of Bill Clinton and John Kerry, wrote in July to Robert Ejnes, the executive director of the CRIF umbrella group of French Jewish communities.

Zionism is seen as an “extremist movement that is uncompromising and aggressively pursues its goals.”

....One far-left voter said during polling: “For me (Zionism is) the Israeli version of Nazism.” Ejnes told JTA he found the findings on Zionism the most unexpected. “All the sectors — Muslims, highly-educated, far-right and far-left voters – they all said the same: Zionism is to Jews what iihadism is to Muslims,” he said. “It indicates it is very difficult to use the word ‘Zionist,’ in the definition we have of it, in popular discourse.”

http://www.jta.org/2015/09/04/news-opinion/world/french-jews-advised-to-avoid-use-of-the-term-zionism

[R. Daneel Olivaw]

1. Does zionism stand for Israel, shira?

It does.

If that homeland, Israel, engages in vile acts of human rights abuses, ethnic cleansing and apartheid I can see how the country and mivement could be regarded as an unsavory thing.

Perhaps if Usrael practiced peace instead of land theft then zionism might still be a wholesome word; untainted by years of illegal colonization.

[grossproffit]

2. The same will be said about the word "European" in the years to come.

They will reap what they have sown.

[6chars]

3. gives them more reason to move to Israel

http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/200464
European Jews Afraid to Reveal Jewishness
Over 85% of European Jewry won't attend Rosh Hashana services for fear of anti-Semitism.

http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4699567,00.html
Poll: 70% of European Jews conceal their religion

These numbers are real and horrifying - hard to believe it is happening in our lifetimes.

BDS can be proud. I am waiting for one of that ilk to say how Israel is to blame for Europe's anti-semitism, rather than taking ownership of their goal and result.

[Little Tich]

4. I think it's worth to point out that in French "Zionism" doesn't have the "z", it's "Sionisme".

Nevertheless, most French people seem to have a very negative about Israel and my experience is that it mostly has to do with how the Palestinians are treated, at least with those who are mainstream. But then again, I've met some not so mainstream French people as well...