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Zaheer ◴[] No.44314495[source]
Original DHS Announcement on Social Media Screening: https://www.uscis.gov/newsroom/news-releases/dhs-to-begin-sc...

State Dept on what is considered Antisemitism: https://www.state.gov/defining-antisemitism/

These definitions are intentionally broad and designed to censor criticism of Israel. You have more freedom to criticize the US Government than to criticize a foreign country.

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1. hearsathought ◴[] No.44315104[source]
Does the DHS also screen for people who post anti-chinese, anti-russian, anti-canadian, anti-mexican, etc social media posts? Why screen for anti-israel comments only? I'm guessing they are not screening for anti-palestinian or anti-muslim posts.

Imagine if DHS said they are going to ban anyone who criticizes china or russia or saudi arabia from traveling to the US? Both the republicans and democratics would be raising hell. Why the silence when it comes to israel?

What Homeland is DHS securing? The US or Israel? Why is it that so much of our political class openly and unabashedly act like agents of israel? Doesn't matter who you vote for. Republican or democrat. As soon as they are elected, they all grovel for israel. How many wars are we going to fight for israel? How many american colleges are we going to attack for israel? How many people are we going to censor for israel? Just doesn't make any sense.

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2. petre ◴[] No.44315201[source]
> What Homeland is DHS securing? The US or Israel?

There are more Jewish people in the US than Israel. I guess this is what they're securing against?

https://www.adl.org/resources/report/audit-antisemitic-incid...

Or who knows, maybe they ban Trump critics or commies from entering the US? I will definitely avoid travelling to the US due to the Trump Administration's hostility towards immigrants. These screening policies will probably remain in place under the next administration.

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3. hearsathought ◴[] No.44315249[source]
> There are more Jewish people in the US than Israel. I guess this is what they're securing against?

There are more chinese in the US than jews. So is DHS going to ban anyone who makes anti-china posts? We have a lot of arabs and palestinians. Why isn't DHS protecting them? Shouldn't DHS check every israeli's social media for anti-palestinian comments?

> Or who knows, maybe they ban Trump critics or commies from entering the US.

What does that have to do with israel and "antisemitism"?

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4. nashashmi ◴[] No.44315262[source]
It is a litmus test: Israel is the most controversial western (not middle eastern) country and if you don’t criticize it, there is a good chance you will not criticize any western nation including the US. You will be easily bullied by the US govt with a tape over your mouth.

Or this is the story line that US politicians have bought and unpacked after being hand delivered by AIPAC with a brief case of money plus a set of blackmail love letters waiting to be leaked if they don’t take it.

I am convinced that our govt never had spine to stand up for freedom unless Israel/lobbyists were behind it. They quarrel amongst themselves because of Israel and agree in large numbers because of Israel.

5. petre ◴[] No.44315286{3}[source]
> Why isn't DHS protecting them?

I'm not sure the DHS is protecting anyone other than the Trump Administration's narratives at this point.

6. hearsathought ◴[] No.44315346{4}[source]
> Jewish people are literally being gunned down in the streets in the US, so you don’t need to put antisemitism in scare quotes.

That comment was in response to : "Or who knows, maybe they ban Trump critics or commies from entering the US." I was asking what trump critics or commies have to do with israel or "antisemitism".

> That being said, I don’t think this has anything to do with Israel, and everything to do with Trump trying to steal more power.

Right. A policy specifically tailored for israel has nothing to do with israel. The prime minister of israel asked the US government to attack US colleges for "antisemitism" because so many college students were protesting against israel's genocide against palestinians. I'm sure that has nothing to do with israel also.

> I’m not Jewish so I can’t speak authoritatively, but the Jews have a very long memory and the Holocaust was only 60-ish years ago.

What does this even mean? Also, do you think just randomly throwing in the "holocaust" is making an argument?

> I can’t imagine the majority of Jews in the US would support fascist government surveillance.

What?

I asked a simple question of why so many US politicians act like lackeys to israel. And every response so far has been awkward and obvious. Let me guess, you're next door neighbor is a holocaust survivor.

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7. KingMob ◴[] No.44315498[source]
There are more Jews in Israel than the US, but it's close. Roughly, 6mil to 7mil.
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8. slg ◴[] No.44315548{3}[source]
There are also roughly 100 million Evangelical Christians in the US who are strongly in favor of political support of Israel too. It is a little silly to think the American position on this is exclusively about wooing the votes of 6 million people who will overwhelmingly vote for the Democrats anyway.
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9. ◴[] No.44315611[source]
10. JumpCrisscross ◴[] No.44315618{4}[source]
> Jewish people are literally being gunned down in the streets in the US

Lots of folks are being gunned down. Nobody, particularly not those who claim to represent Jewish interests, gives a fuck.

11. JumpCrisscross ◴[] No.44315625{6}[source]
> Jews still pray prayers written during the Crusades asking for peace in the Middle East

Literal thoughts and prayers.

I have no horse in this race. But what folks say, whether prayers for peace or death to Israel, shouldn’t matter in a hot war.

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12. mahirsaid ◴[] No.44315705[source]
Most likely the very same people that passed it are part of the lobbying of you know who ( i don't want to say the exact names or party). Any future bills in favor of that foreign country will be hard to protest against. petitioning will be heavy criticized for being anti-semitic in nature firstly, which will delay any reverse action to a bill, such as a arms deal package or some aid in war effort such what's happening right now. another way to block none align congress vote or civil pushback.
13. jasonfarnon ◴[] No.44315711{4}[source]
" exclusively about wooing the votes of 6 million people "

Surely you aren't suggesting political power is just about the numbers? That one group of 6 million people has the same political sway as any other block of 6 million?

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14. slg ◴[] No.44315954{5}[source]
I wasn't comparing any two blocks of 6m people. I was comparing a specific group of 6m to a specific group of 100m. Do you think the 6m American Jews have more political power than the 100m American Evangelical Christians?
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15. throwaway8395 ◴[] No.44316054{6}[source]
The answer is yes.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=74ZA-GdeQP4&pp=0gcJCdgAo7VqN5t...

16. throwaway2473 ◴[] No.44316057{6}[source]
The answer is yes.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=74ZA-GdeQP4&pp=0gcJCdgAo7VqN5t...

Also

https://x.com/aipac/status/1800947317173784973

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17. slg ◴[] No.44316155{7}[source]
I'm unclear on why you think those links answer my question. Do you think AIPAC refuses money from non-Jews? Do you think there aren't Evangelical leaning PACs or other lobbying groups?
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18. throwaway8924 ◴[] No.44316364{8}[source]
What other PAC has a handler for just about each congressman and congresswoman?
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19. jampekka ◴[] No.44316625[source]
> Why is it that so much of our political class openly and unabashedly act like agents of israel?

According to Jimmy Carter:

"The many controversial issues concerning Palestine and the path to peace for Israel are intensely debated among Israelis and throughout other nations — but not in the United States. For the last 30 years, I have witnessed and experienced the severe restraints on any free and balanced discussion of the facts. This reluctance to criticize any policies of the Israeli government is because of the extraordinary lobbying efforts of the American-Israel Political Action Committee and the absence of any significant contrary voices.

It would be almost politically suicidal for members of Congress to espouse a balanced position between Israel and Palestine, to suggest that Israel comply with international law or to speak in defense of justice or human rights for Palestinians."

https://www.latimes.com/news/la-oe-carter8dec08-story.html

Carter was of course widely (and absurdly) slandered as an antisemite. He probably wouldn't get a visa.

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20. subjectsigma ◴[] No.44317348{7}[source]
I was using it as an illustrative example, so the contents of the prayers don’t matter, they could have been praying to see unicorns. Did you read the comment?
21. kotaKat ◴[] No.44317723[source]
Whoa, whoa, whoa!

> Applying double standards by requiring of it a behavior not expected or demanded of any other democratic nation.

That's awfully anti-Semitic thinking of you, buddy. ICE HSI would like to know your current location for your free trip to the gulag.

22. afpx ◴[] No.44318418{4}[source]
Not true. That assumption reflects a dated and oversimplified narrative. Most Evangelicals under 50 give no special status to Israel. No scripture instructs modern Christians to give political Israel special treatment.

I'm an Evangelical, and like many others, I don’t prioritize foreign policy through the lens of Israeli politics. Our core mandate is global discipleship, not geopolitical allegiance.

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23. peppers-ghost ◴[] No.44319321[source]
Israel is a defacto extension of the US. They're a part of us as much as Texas is.
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24. slg ◴[] No.44320466{5}[source]
You are right that young Evangelicals are less supportive of Israel, but that is an overall trend in the US[1] and not specific to Evangelicals. Maybe the rest of what you said is true about your specific church, but it doesn't seem to match the general polling data.

For example, "support for Israel among evangelicals is largely based on age and Biblical knowledge and has not been substantively impacted by the current Israel-Hamas war in Gaza... a belief that "God's covenant with the Jewish people remains intact today" has the greatest impact on support for Israel among a number of potential political, theological, sociological, and demographic factors... evangelical support for Israel remains stable from 2021 to 2024, though earlier surveys did show a sharp decline in evangelical support for Israel between 2018 and 2021...A decrease in core evangelical behavior like attending church and reading the Bible. Past studies have shown that these religious practices increase support for Israel."[2]

In addition, "The only U.S. religious groups that have a majority favorable view toward Israel are Jews (at 73%) and Protestants (at 57%), according to the survey. In particular, 72% of white evangelicals view Israel favorably... Among American Jews, 53% do not have confidence in Netanyahu and 45% do. The only U.S. religious group to demonstrate confidence in Netanyahu is white evangelical Protestants."[3] And once again, these groups are not comparable in size meaning there are a lot more supportive Evangelicals than supportive Jews.

There is also the matter of the US's current ambassador to Israel being an Evangelical who texts the president stuff like this[4].

[1] - https://www.newsweek.com/israel-poll-gen-z-biden-election-19...

[2] - https://religionnews.com/2024/06/03/new-study-measures-senti...

[3] - https://www.jta.org/2025/04/09/united-states/most-americans-...

[4] - https://arktimes.com/arkansas-blog/2025/06/17/trump-posts-fa...

25. slg ◴[] No.44320475{9}[source]
I guess I need to repeat myself. I'm unclear on why you think that question answers my questions. Do you think AIPAC refuses money from non-Jews?
26. const_cast ◴[] No.44321984{3}[source]
> Oh yeah, "Jews control the government", such a new trope that has nothing to do with antisemitism.

He didn't say that.

> know two members of Congress speaking frequently in defense of Palestine

This is your evidence? Really? I mean, do you guys hear yourselves?

Two members of congress? Out of hundreds? Two members who, might I remind everyone, are constantly accused of being anti-American communists?

> Was it almost politically suicidal for them?

Yes! These two are treated like the scum of the Earth by 100% of the American right and 80% of the American left!

It's not even debatable that the US is absurdly pro-Israel. I don't know what we're even arguing here. Zionists should all agree that Zionism is good, right? So why are we arguing that Zionists are some sort of minority? You should be ecstatic that our government is explicitly Zionist!

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27. EvgeniyZh ◴[] No.44322213{4}[source]
> He didn't say that.

Sure, you replace "Jews" by "Zionists" and then every trope is ok. It's Zionists who have the power to influence or direct US government behavior (i.e., control it).

> Two members of congress? Out of hundreds?

Well yeah, to show something possible it's enough to show one example.

> Yes!

How is being elected to Congress political suicide?

> It's not even debatable that the US is absurdly pro-Israel.

I'm not debating that. I'm debating the idea that this is somehow doing of evil Zionist lobby or that repeating antisemitic tropes is not antisemitic because you euphemize Jews by Zionists

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28. jampekka ◴[] No.44323028{5}[source]
> Well yeah, to show something possible it's enough to show one example.

AIPAC used almost 20 million dollars to defeat Jamaal Bowman and Cori Bush, for example.

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29. EvgeniyZh ◴[] No.44325029{6}[source]
So out of 9 members of "the Squad", 7 were reelected and only 2 outed? Quite inefficient suicide in my book.
30. ZYbCRq22HbJ2y7 ◴[] No.44328090[source]
Maybe because Israel is accused of committing blatant crimes against humanity at the moment, and you can't let that potential reality seep into the country. Or its just more anti-freedom (speech) moves by the current administration in an effort to control public perception.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gaza_genocide

31. account42 ◴[] No.44353896[source]
Just not bound by the US constitution when they spy on American citizens.