Two Young Israelis Were Murdered - Was It Antisemitism?

On Wednesday night, two young employees of the Israeli embassy were shot and killed as they exited an event at the Jewish Museum in Washington. 

It was a violent criminal act that should never have happened, and I'm thankful the perpetrator was apprehended. I hope he's convicted and serves a very long sentence in prison.

But one thing that has bothered me is that the media was instantly calling it antisemitism. It might have been, but we first have to know why it occurred.

If the gunman shot these young people simply because they were Jewish, then it would definitely be antisemitism. But if they were shot because they worked for a government committing violent crimes against the people of Gaza, it would be political terrorism - but not antisemitism.

Too often these days, people (especially politicians) are quick to label any speech or action against Israel as antisemitism. But people have the right to oppose actions by the Israeli government - just like they would against the actions of any other government. It is NOT antisemitism to oppose the Israeli government!

Violence (except in self-defense) is always wrong, but it is not always antisemitic.