Yaron Ginsberg is a freshman in the Elliott School of International Affairs.

I am writing in response to a column published in The Hatchet Jan. 22, entitled, “An ancient debate comes to campus,” regarding what opinions write Claude Khalife author perceives to be the equation some make between anti-Semitism and anti-Zionism.

Khalife mentioned other students calling him an anti-Semite whenever he expressed opinions against certain policies of the State of Israel. The truth is, however, at least among mainstream intellectual pro-Israel advocacy, that intelligent people rarely equate the two. In reality, pro-Israel advocates recognize that Israel, like any state, should be subject to criticism for its policies when those policies seem immoral or unjust. Of course this is not anti-Semitism: To criticize a government and its policies is a hallmark of democracy.

That said, when passionate people argue about this issue, a line is often crossed – Israel is subject to a moral standard to which no other state is. No doubt Israel is an imperfect state, but so is every other state on the planet.

And in examining Middle Eastern countries closely in terms of democracy, adherence to human rights and liberal-progressive values in general, it might appall a Martian onlooker to learn that Israel is subject to extreme vitriolic criticism totally out of proportion. Other countries are permitted by the global community to get away with far worse human rights violations without nearly as harsh a response.

This is a double standard. Many people who criticize Israel do so with a bewildering lack of perspective, one I, and many other Jews and Israelis, find a little bit suspect.

In response to Khalife’s anecdote about his grandmother in Lebanon, I can only say that I highly doubt the Israeli government considered her in their decision to engage in an airstrike. I ask that in the future, emotion-based arguments, which are often misleading and unhelpful, be put aside in favor of the bigger picture. On a side note, perhaps residents of Lebanon who find themselves in need of dire medical assistance, which they may be unable to obtain in their home country, should cross over to Israel where a friendly Zionist doctor will happily provide medical assistance, as they do today for Syrian refugees.

I would like to thank Khalife for opening the discussion. He is right to be offended when people call him an anti-Semite, because more often than not this is uncalled for. But at the same time, I urge everyone to be open-minded and consider the Israeli perspective. Understand that nobody wants war. Zionists want peace as well. But only if both sides’ right for self-determination and peaceful existence is recognized can peace be achieved.