Thoughts on JD Vance's Claim There's a Difference Between "Not Liking Israel" and Anti-Semitism

Last night, Vice-President JD Vance claimed, “I would say there’s a difference between not liking Israel (or disagreeing with a given Israeli policy) and anti-semitism," 

For starters, I would say there's a difference between disagreeing with a given Israeli policy and not liking Israel. Indeed, one can be strongly skeptical of the Netanyahu government's efforts to strip Israel's judiciary of its independence. But those who were prepared to take the streets of Tel Aviv against such a policy did so because they are proud of Israel's tradition of an independent judiciary. They very much like Israel.

Frankly, if one is inclined in Vance's word towards "not liking Israel" itself then one can reasonably conclude that there are anti-Semitic sentiments behind such feelings especially if a) Israel alone is singled out for contempt or b) if Israel is lumped in with the world's worst regimes (i.e. Russia, China, Iran, North Korea). 

It is difficult for me to accept Vance as a credible messenger on the subject given how he has seen fit to minimize and excuse anti-Semitism of the right-wing variety. 

If that was not enough, Vance also made a point of claiming that contemporary anti-Semitism in this country is demographic rather than generational. Vance argues:

The most significant single thing you could do to eliminate anti-semitism and any other kind of ethnic hatred is to support our efforts to lower immigration and promote assimilation.

Somehow, I don't think Vance means to deport Elon Musk. Last I checked Nick Fuentes, Marjorie Taylor Greene and his old buddy Tucker Carlson were born in the good old U.S.A. While it isn't to say there isn't anti-Semitism among certain immigrant communities, it is again hard to take Vance seriously as a messenger on the subject.

There is also one other thing to consider concerning Vance's comments vis a vis disliking Israel vs. anti-Semitism. From where I sit this represents a signal the Trump Administration is going to be far more openly critical of Israel with the passage of time. 

Not that it hasn't, mind you. Just yesterday, President Trump saw fit to accuse Israel of violating its ceasefire with Hamas as a result of its assassination of a Hamas commander as he did when Israel went after Hamas commanders being sheltered by Qatar last September. Then there is U.S. Ambassador to Turkey and Syrian envoy Thomas Barrack publicly questioning Israel's credentials as a democracy while describing Hezbollah as a political party. Vance himself recently said he was "insulted" the Knesset saw fit to take a vote on the annexation of the West Bank. 

So, it's already out there but we can expect a lot more of this to come. In the event the Trump Administration becomes far more critical of Israel, Vance is trying to ward off accusations of anti-Semitism ahead of time. Given the disdain of Israel by many of the Trump Administration's left-wing critics, this strategy might very well work. In which case, Israel will truly be alone.