[View the story "Activists seek to rebrand Israel as 'JSIL'" on Storify ]Activists seek to rebrand Israel as 'JSIL' Twitter users compare Israel to ISIL, renaming it the 'Jewish State of Israel in the Levant'. Storified by The Stream · Tue, Sep 30 2014 18:03:55
Russell Tribunal on Palestine - Ken Loach, Roger Watersguengl
Online,
Rania Khalek expanded on Blumenthal's comparison, encouraging others to add on using #JSIL.
Parallels between ISIL & #JSIL are striking. Both solicit foreign fighters & use religious text to justify violence. @MaxBlumenthalRania Khalek
#JSIL trend itRania Khalek
Just as Muslims said ISIL’s actions were
#NotInMyName , Blumenthal went on to condemn Israel's relationship to Judaism.
#ISIL falsely claims to embody the true Islam, inspiring Islamophobia. #JSIL falsely claims to represent all Jews, inspiring anti-Semitism.Max Blumenthal
Others tweeted their assent.
I unequivocally condemn the Jewish State of Israel and the Levant #JSIL, even though @BarackObama hasn't asked me to.Joel Reinstein
Muslims against #ISIL & Jews against #JSIL. #NotInMyNameAnne-Merete
There are many Jews that are fierce opponents of #JSIL because they see what is being done in their name and they are furious. #BDS #GAZAHasbara Troll
Some using the hashtag couched Israel’s public relations campaigns in the language frequently used to talk about ISIL recruitment.
Growing up Jewish in America, #JSIL infiltrated my synagogue and actively recruits from my community to kill for its expansionist aims.Dan Cohen
Heartbreaking stories coming out from Jews radicalized by extremist clerics as kids to be recruited into #JSILTerrina Aguilar
#JSIL has secret cells in US to promote its agenda of suppression of the Palestinian people. These cells have infiltrated the gov't. #AIPACabushalom
Others satirically asked whether the United States would come to the aid of Palestinians.
#JSIL extremists lay siege to cleansed, bombed and battered ethnic group, restricting access to food.
OBAMA, WHERE ARE THE CARRIERS?IDFcomedian
I wonder when US would take action against Jewish State in Israel and the Levant #JSILKashif Qureshi
But the hashtag did generate backlash as well, with many online saying the hashtag was simply a distraction.
.@MaxBlumenthal and his merry band of Israel haters must think their #JSIL shenanigans are very clever. Nope.Jamie Weinstein
#JSIL what is that? Some perverse tactic to distract from media focus on #ISIS. Any excuse for some baseless anti-Israel rhetoric!Amanda Burns
@JosephIsVegan @MoAnsar #JSIL guys clever 4 letter acronyms won't distract from the islamic evil state - nice try thoughaalenian2009