(CNN)A pro-Palestinian Instagram station from Hollywood prima Emma Watson has sparked accusations of anti-Semitism from Israeli politicians, and a backlash against what galore are calling the cynical weaponization of the word to onslaught supporters of the Palestinian cause.
On Monday Watson, who changeable to planetary superstardom aft playing Hermione Granger successful the "Harry Potter" films, posted an representation of a pro-Palestinian rally overlaid with the words "Solidarity is simply a verb," with a quotation from world Sara Ahmed connected the meaning of solidarity successful the caption.
By Wednesday, the station had attracted much than 1.2 cardinal likes, arsenic good arsenic thousands of comments divided betwixt those supporting Watson and those criticizing her stance.
The station besides drew attraction from Israeli politicians, including Danny Danon, the country's erstwhile ambassador to the United Nations, who shared Watson's station connected his authoritative Twitter relationship alongside the caption: "10 points from Gryffindor for being an antisemite."
Gilad Erdan, Israel's existent ambassador to the UN, besides reacted connected his authoritative Twitter account.
"Fiction whitethorn enactment successful Harry Potter but it does not enactment successful reality," Erdan tweeted. "If it did, the magic utilized successful the wizarding satellite could destruct the evils of Hamas (which oppresses women & seeks the annihilation of Israel) and the PA (which supports terror). I would beryllium successful favour of that!"
This is not the archetypal clip that Israeli officials person reacted furiously to nationalist demonstrations of enactment for Palestinians, and the latest comments received pushback online.
Leah Greenberg, co-executive manager of Indivisible, a US-based progressive governmental run organization, responded to Danon connected Twitter.
"A cleanable objection of the utterly cynical and bad-faith weaponization of antisemitism to unopen down basal expressions of solidarity with the Palestinian people," Greenberg wrote.
And UK person Sayeeda Warsi besides tweeted backmost to Danon.
"Showing solidarity with Palestinians is not antisemitism," she wrote. "These changeless attempts to stifle immoderate and each enactment for Palestinians indispensable beryllium called out."
MSNBC big and erstwhile CNN writer Ayman Mohyeldin was different who commented.
"No joke, we are astatine the constituent wherever simply posting a vague representation referencing solidarity with Palestinians connected Instagram gets you labeled arsenic an antisemite," helium tweeted.
Other celebrities person besides travel successful for crisp disapproval implicit their enactment for the Palestinian cause.
In October 2021, bestselling Irish writer Sally Rooney said she had chosen not to merchantability the translation rights for her latest caller to an Israeli-based publishing house, citing concerns astir the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
Nachman Shai, Israel's Minister for Diaspora Affairs, criticized Rooney's determination connected Twitter. "The taste boycott of Israel, anti-Semitism successful a caller guise," helium wrote.
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