How Western policy assists the transformation of anti-Israelism into anti-Semitism
Britain’s Home Secretary Theresa May has declared that “We must all redouble our efforts to wipe out anti-Semitism here in the United Kingdom.” In her view and that of her government colleagues this means more must be done to combat violent Islamic fundamentalism in all of its manifestations. The problem with this way of thinking and policy making, which all Western governments have in common, is that it ignores the fact that the prime cause of the transformation of anti-Israelism into anti-Semitism is Israel’s defiance of international law and brutal rejection of the Palestinian claim for justice.
A warning that anti-Israelism could and most likely would be transformed into anti-Semitism was sounded more than a quarter of a century ago by Yehoshafat Harkabi, a former Director of Israeli Military Intelligence. In his book Israel’s Fateful Hour, published in English by Harper and Row in 1986, he wrote this:
“Israel is the criterion according to which all Jews will tend to be judged. Israel as a Jewish state is an example of the Jewish character, which finds free and concentrated expression within it. Anti-Semitism has deep and historical roots. Nevertheless, any flaw in Israeli conduct, which initially is cited as anti-Israelism, is likely to be transformed into empirical proof of the validity of anti-Semitism. It would be a tragic irony if the Jewish state, which was intended to solve the problem of anti-Semitism, was to become a factor in the rise of anti-Semitism. Israelis must be aware that the price of their misconduct is paid not only by them but also Jews throughout the world.”
The Israeli “misconduct” of Harkabi’s warning can be seen today for what it is – on-going colonization of the occupied West Bank which includes the theft of more and more Palestinian land and water and the demolition of more and more Palestinian homes and olive trees; plus the on-going process of making life hell for the Palestinians of the besieged Gaza Strip.
It is this “misconduct” that has provoked and propelled the rising, global tide of anti-Israelism which is now showing early signs of being transformed into anti-Semitism.
The conclusion invited, in my view an irrefutable conclusion, is that by their refusal to call and hold Israel to account for its defiance of international law. all the governments of the Western world are assisting the transformation of anti-Israelism into anti-Semitism.
Prime Minister Netanyahu has every reason to be grateful for this assistance because he knows better than anybody else that Zionism needs anti-Semitism to justify Israel’s policies and actions.
Footnote
Harkabi’s warning was, in fact, an echo of fears expressed by very many Jews of the world before the Nazi holocaust. Prior to it most Jews, American and British Jews in particular, were opposed to Zionism’s colonial enterprise. They knew it was morally wrong. They believed it would lead to unending conflict. But most of all they feared that if Zionism was allowed by the major powers to have its way it would one day provoke anti-Semitism.
It was the Nazi holocaust that caused most Jews to throw away their moral compass.
confoundmeonce:
January 21st, 2015 at 5:08 am
Would someone Kindly Point out to me ( And Millions of Others Who Can`t find any distinction between the two >>>Just what is the difference between Anti- Israelism and anti-Semitism ? I see None. It Seems They all “”Follow the loudest Leader wherever It may lead them..And This “” Has been the DownFall of the Jewish People. It has Brought More Angst and Hate against Even the best of The good jews. Time for a Rerun with Better Traits Leading the way. Time to put the holocaust to the past and stop using it as an excuse to stay on a continuous rampage killing so many millions who have been murdered since, done in revenge.. It was NOT just jews who perished there..it was people of many other nationalities,as well. so look for a better future.. while there might can still be something worthwhile to salvage.
Sami:
January 21st, 2015 at 7:01 am
I, as a Christian, do not turn a blind eye to terrorism by coreligionists. Unfortunately, that is not the case with most Jews. They not only turn a blind eye to Israeli crimes, but defend Israel come what may and make every endeavour to gag any exposure. Besides, the recent Hebdo affair, may not even be what we were led to believe according to:
http://www.darkmoon.me/2015/how-to-demonize-islam-and-destroy-christianity/?utm_source=wysija&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=newsletter
Ronald Douglas Kennedy:
January 21st, 2015 at 5:31 pm
Well said. Those of use, who had father’s learned as a child,
two wrongs dose not make it right.
Rehmat:
January 22nd, 2015 at 3:50 pm
Pity most westerners don’t know the difference between “anti-Semitism” and “antisemitism”.
Berlin-born Jewish professor Shmuel Almog (Hebrew University, Jerusalem), has claimed that the term with hyphen and without it has different meanings. The term ‘Antisemitism’ was coined by Wilhelm Marr in the 1870s. It was applied to European Christians who hated Jews. However, when it’s written with hyphen ‘Anti-Semitism’ – it means hatred toward Semite people who are found in far greater numbers among Arab Muslims and Christians than the entire world Jewry.
Last year, Jewish academic and former UNHRC Envoy for Palestine, Dr. Richard Falk, admitted in one of his blog-post that while anti-Semitism existed for nearly 2000-year, it only appeared in the Muslim world after the creation of the state of Israel.
http://rehmat1.com/2012/11/27/antisemitism-vs-anti-semitism/
Joshua:
July 7th, 2015 at 1:11 am
The Netherlands are not more or less safer for any Jew than any other country in weretsn/central Europe. Amsterdam and Den Haag have a big orthodox community as well as reform. Dutch people tend to be very tolerant and open minded, so that won’t be a problem.BUT and this is my but I would never march outside an orthdox neighbourhood in Europe with a Kippa on my head or Tzitzit that can be seen as such. Dutch people won’t harm you, but islamic antisemitism is a problem in European countries and can be dangerous if you meet the wrong people.I live in Germany and had never problems with german people but I was several times bothered by muslim teenagers on the street when I was entering Shul and during summers if one could see my Magen David (which is very small and hardly to recognize, but they made it). No one ever touched or hurt me, but they sometimes shout at you less nicer things. Males over here tend not to wear a Kippa outside of Shul take a Baseballcap or something else as it can get dangerous (in big towns, outside of jewish neighbourhoods). Over here, people tend to not telling everyone that they are jewish as long as you don’t know people more closer as many tend to change towards you if they know so it might be better to get to know them more properly first before you tell them about this.