Unfortunately there are those who jumped on the bandwagon of Human Rights and hijacked it and freely use it to bash Israel and democracy. It would be worthwhile to hear what Martin Luther King himself had to say about Israel and listen to his words of respect and admiration for the only Democracy in the Middle East.
The following is a compilation of quotes from Martin Luther King about his feelings for Israel taken from the American Zionist movement website:
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. on Israel, Zionism and the Jewish People
“Peace for Israel means security, and we must stand with all our might to protect its right to exist, its territorial integrity. I see Israel as one of the great outposts of democracy in the world, and a marvelous example of what can be done, how desert land can be transformed into an oasis of brotherhood and democracy. Peace for Israel means security and that security must be a reality”
“When people criticize Zionists they mean Jews, you are talking anti-Semitism.”
“The whole world must see that Israel must exist, and has the right to exist, and is one of the great outposts of democracy in the world.”
“Israel’s right to exist as a state of [with] security is incontestable.”
“I solemnly pledge to do my utmost to uphold the fair name of the Jews — because bigotry in any form is an affront to us all.”
“I cannot stand idly by, even though I live in the United States and even though I happen to be an American Negro, and not be concerned about what happens to my brothers and sisters who happen to be Jews in Soviet Russia. For what happens to them happens to me and to you and we must be concerned.”
The following quotes were compiled by the StandWithUs website:
“I can say with absolute certainty that Martin abhorred anti-Semitism in all its forms, including anti-Zionism,”—Clarence B. Jones, personal attorney and close adviser to Martin Luther King Jr.
“Martin… warned repeatedly that anti-Semitism would soon be disguised as anti-Zionism.”—Clarence B. Jones, personal attorney and close adviser to Martin Luther King Jr.
“[MLK] understood that a special relationship exists between African Americans and Jews… He knew that both peoples were uprooted involuntarily from their homelands. He knew that both peoples were shaped by the tragic experience of slavery. He knew that both peoples were forced to live in ghettoes, victims of segregation… He knew that both peoples were subject to laws passed with the particular intent of oppressing them simply because they were Jewish or black. He knew that both peoples have been subjected to oppression and genocide on a level unprecedented in history.”—Rep. John Lewis, former civil rights leader who worked with Martin Luther King Jr.
People would do well to review these words over and over again especially when zealously denouncing Israel all in the name of Human Rights. In Martin Luther king’s own words: “When people criticize Zionists they mean Jews, you are talking anti-Semitism”… and “bigotry in any form is an affront to us all.”
