First, that was an awesome reply. You’re the best.

I agree with you. People often say offensive things when they’re in heated (verbal) conflict and we frequently make more of it than what it is. We react like, in those moments, people expose their true feelings when what they’re doing is saying ‘what is the most hurtful thing I could say to you.’ I don’t think that someone saying something racist in conflict like that makes something a racially motivated attack.

But there are two categories of things that happened here. One was the thing you described (and that we agree on), the other was something premeditated and coordinated. And there is a difference between saying “Jew hunt” and planning a Jew hunt. You don’t plan and execute ambushes in the heat of the moment. This planning occurred before most (maybe all) of the things people are saying the attacks were a response to.

When this British man was attacked, they didn’t demand to know whether he was Israeli or even supported Israel. They demanded to know if he was a Jew. No matter how people felt about, say, Saudi Arabia, if someone was approaching people in the street and demanding to know whether they’re Arab (or Muslim) before attacking them, I wouldn’t hesitate to call it racist. Whatever’s happening in the world, someone organizing to “hunt Arabs” in my city can fuck right off.

Honestly, if you trade out “Jews” with any other group, can you imagine people making excuses* for it? Is there a context in which it’s okay to put out a call to hunt Muslims? Persians? Arabs? Black folks? Women? Any group within the LGBTQ+ community?

*(And, just to be clear, I think you’re explaining that it appears worse/different than what it actually is, not making excuses.)