Anti-Zionism comes from anti-Semitism

I agree with Cain Morano ("Campus anti-Semitism overstated," Sept. 19) when he says that criticizing the Israeli government isn't necessarily anti-Semitic. There are very proud Zionists who criticize their government for both left wing and right wing reasons.

However, I also agree with a quote by Thomas L. Friedman, "Criticizing Israel is not anti-Semitic, and saying so is vile. But singling out Israel for opprobrium and international sanction out of all proportion to any other party in the Middle East is anti-Semitic, and not saying so is dishonest."

Cain may not realize this, but right now many on the left and right single out Israel but never speak a word of the injustices committed by the Palestinians and other regimes in the Middle East. Why doesn't anyone speak a word of the basic human rights denied to both Muslims and non-Muslims alike in countries like Iran, Syria, Libya, etc.? They also don't concede that while it's not perfect, Arabs get more rights in Israel than they would in any other Middle East nation, like the right to vote and to serve in a democratically elected parliament.

Cain, you said, "Honestly, there is no anti-Semitism." You may not be anti-Semitic, but there are certainly a number of people who criticize Israel that are. To deny anti-Semitism fuels this debate, especially when a lot of people do not believe in Israel's right to exist, period.

Finally, regarding your last statement that Israel needs to lighten up because they aren't the center of the world: tell that to the people (many of whom are influential government leaders throughout the world) who blame Israel for all of the worlds' ills. To deny that Israel isn't held to a double standard is ignorant. Personally, I believe that this double standard comes from anti-Semitism, even if all of the people who hold them to this double standard are not.