Me: I think the United States should express more concern and support for the thousands of innocent Palestinian lives lost in Gaza.

Other people: That’s antisemitic.

Me: What? Everyone has a right to life, yes? Isn’t it supporting human rights?

OP: No. You are not allowed to criticize the actions of Israel. That is antisemitism.

Me: Oh? I didn’t know that. So maybe the United States should not acknowledge any major loss of life due to state action to avoid upsetting any other countries. For example, maybe we should stop remembering Pearl Harbor Day on December 7 or the Nanjing Massacre on December 13. It might be seen as anti-Japanese.

OP: No that’s different. You’re allowed to remember Pearl Harbor Day and the Nanjing Massacre.

Me: But won’t the Japanese feel like it is a criticism of the actions of their country?

OP: I don’t know. Maybe. But it doesn’t matter. Any country can be criticized for its human rights record except Israel.

Me: Really? Why?

OP: Because it’s antisemitism.

Me: Who defines what it means to be antisemitic?

OP: Israel.

Me: Huh, very interesting. What if Japan decides that continued remembrances of Pearl Harbor Day or the Nanjing Massacre are anti-Japanese?

OP: They can’t do that.

Me: Why not?

OP: Because over 2,400 people were killed at Pearl Harbor and something like 300,000 in Nanjing. Such atrocities should be remembered.

Me: In that case, over 65,000 Japanese were killed when the US dropped the atomic bomb on Hiroshima. Should that be remembered?

OP: Maybe.

Me: And over 40,000 people have been killed in Gaza.

OP: No, that’s different. You are not allowed to talk about that.

Me: Why not?

OP: Because Israel cannot be criticized for its actions. That’s antisemitism.

Me: So you’re saying that the only country in the whole world that can declare itself immune to criticism is Israel?

OP: Yes.

Me: Fascinating.