Echoing sentiments he shared earlier this summer on his nightly program, The Daily Show, Jon Stewart shared his frustration with Jonathan Denke over the fact that any criticism of leads to one being labeled an anti-Semite.
In a November 13th interview for Postmedia, Denke questioned Stewart about some negative reactions to The Daily Show coverage of the Israel-Palestinian conflict and Stewart responded this way: “I always want to say to people when they come at me like that: ‘I would like Israel to be a safe and secure state. What’s your goal?’
So basically we disagree on how to accomplish that but boy do they, I mean, you would not believe the sh-t. You have guys on television saying I’m a Jew like the Jews in the Nazi camps who helped bring the other Jews to ovens. I have people that I lost in the Holocaust and I just … go f-ck yourself. How dare you?”
Stewart’s plight is not uncommon in the United States where the Christian belief to defend Israel at all costs and Jewish nationalism play an important role in American politics. While many would argue that some of Israel’s laws that include putting any Palestinian who throws a stone in prison for 20 years are a little harsh or that some of Israel’s actions constitute human rights violations, but the consensus in the United States remains unconditional support. Stewart would like to be able to delve into these issues without being branded an anti-Semite.