An Ongoing War on Jews
...was the topic of an energetic and blunt-spoken speech by Ricochet's own Rupert Murdoch last night, after receiving an award from the Anti-Defamation League. He put it this way:
This is the soft war that seeks to isolate Israel by delegitimizing it. The battleground is everywhere: the media … multinational organizations … NGOs.
In this war, the aim is to make Israel a pariah.
The result is the curious situation we have today: Israel becomes increasingly ostracized, while Iran – a nation that has made no secret of wishing Israel’s destruction – pursues nuclear weapons loudly, proudly, and without apparent fear of rebuke.
For me, this ongoing war is a fairly obvious fact of life.
Every day, the citizens of the Jewish homeland defend themselves against armies of terrorists whose maps spell out the goal they have in mind: a Middle East without Israel.
In Europe, Jewish populations increasingly find themselves targeted by people who share that goal.
And in the United States, I fear that our foreign policy sometimes emboldens these extremists.
It's a pretty direct speech. He even zeroes in on the words of a (maybe typical) European bureaucrat:
...a European Commission trade minister declared that peace in the Middle East is impossible because of the Jewish lobby in America. Here’s how he put it:
“There is indeed a belief—it’s difficult to describe it otherwise—among most Jews that they are right. And it’s not so much whether these are religious Jews or not. Lay Jews also share the same belief that they are right. So it is not easy to have, even with moderate Jews, a rational discussion about what is actually happening in the Middle East.”
This minister did not suggest the problem was any specific Israeli policy. The problem, as he defined it, is the nature of the Jews.
It's hard to deny that there's a serious world-wide upsurge in anti-Semitic thought, speech, and deeds. It's harder, I think, to pinpoint exactly why this is so. Part of me thinks that, in this country, anyway, there's a certain kind of anti-anti-Semitism fatigue -- you know what I mean: you look around and you see a group that's prosperous and successful and hugely participatory in the culture, that contributes enormously to the American Engine, and you may think to yourself, Well, okay, so how much anti-Semitism could there really be?
But the stark fact is, if they had to choose between an alliance with Israel or an alliance with Iran, most of the establishment thinkers and politicians in Europe would instinctively choose Iran. You'd think, after all that's happened, Europe would be able to know the difference, and to make the right choice.
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Aug '10
Re: An Ongoing War on Jews
So true, Rob, and it's the most alarming trend of our times, apart from the rise of IslamoNaziism; but they are, of course, linked. This tactic is right out of the Saul Alinsky playbook, Rule #13: Identify, isolate, freeze, escalate. Here's a link:
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2009/1/26/51320/1995/695/688833
It's crunch time, and we have to choose, once and for all. This is the most critical moment in our history since 1860. Everything hangs in the balance for Western civilization.
Israel also must decide if they need their God. Are they or are they not a people of God?
Once those decisions are made, the path forward become a lot clearer and easier.
May '10
Re: An Ongoing War on Jews
But that's like driving around I-495 and Tysons's Corner, looking at all the Recovery act signs and thinking the country's in good shape.
Anti-semitism and anti-israel sentiments have been legitimized. They've camouflaged the argument in anti-western, anti-colonialism terms. If you're thinking in terms of centuries, Israel is just another crusader state, another constantinopole that will be conquered by the next generation.
John Bolton talks about this in his speeches, Israel isn't negotiating from a position of strength. Its demeanor is that of a thief giving back stolen property. You don't thank a thief for giving back what he stole. By allowing itself to fall within that mindset, you let the other side form the argument in their favor. Which makes it OK to rag on israel and jews.
May '10
Re: An Ongoing War on Jews
Ja, ja, die Juden... If Israel only had as much oil as they had oranges!
Europe's anti-Semitism is also rooted in the fact that they have one eye on their Muslim population. Why not get aligned with your future masters now?
Oct '10
Re: An Ongoing War on Jews
"This minister did not suggest the problem was any specific Israeli policy. The problem, as he defined it, is the nature of the Jews."
This is exactly how Hitler redefined the "Jewish" question in his day. He made it a question of race, not religion. One can change his religion, but not his race. The "advantage" of racism over religious bigotry is that all members of an "inferior race" can be said to possess the same inferior and/or dangerous traits as the others.
I don't generally engage in hyberbole, except with sarcasm, and I have never before played the "Hitler" card in public. But I am in the middle of reading Mein Kampf, so Hitler's own words are echoing in my head. I can hear them reflected in the modern world around me, and frankly, it scares the hell out of me.
Aug '10
Re: An Ongoing War on Jews
The education and training of Yasser Arafat by the Soviets has been one of their more successful missions. An enduring legacy of trouble brewed by the growth of an underdeveloped culture combined with a moribund religion ,fueled by fuel.
Jun '10
Re: An Ongoing War on Jews
For a brilliant takedown of the new anti-Semitism/anti-rationalism, read Melanie Phillips' book A World Turned Upside Down, published by Ricochet sponsor Encounter Books. It's brilliant.
Jul '10
Re: An Ongoing War on Jews
Well, you were just there and I wasn't (welcome home, btw) but the sense I've always had is that a lot of Europe is still extremely anti-Semitic; the rise of fascism in Sweden seems indicative of this but even just amongst average people in France and Germany, the former colonial and post-colonial relationships with a lot of Middle Eastern nations seems more important to them than anything that happens to the Jews. Here in the States though, you may be onto something, I can't think of any other reason why the sentiment is rising but it undeniably is...
May '10
Re: An Ongoing War on Jews
Aside from the treatment of Israel, I can only take the word of pundits that anti-Semitism is on the rise. There aren't many Jews in my area.
But there seems to be a pattern throughout history that escalations of anti-Semitism are accompanied by war and other horrors that affect everyone, so I hope the apparent escalation today is an illusion.
Re: An Ongoing War on Jews
I can's speak for Europeans, but I know for many Americans, they see Palestinians and Lebanese as underdogs against the Israeli juggernaut. They see and hear stories of the Palestinians being treated like dogs and see Beirut being bombed about once a decade, and they begin to view Israel as a bully. Perhaps Israel has legitimate reason to be the bully in that region, but still, no American likes bullies and all Americans like underdogs. I'm uncomfortable with calling someone an anti-semite if they criticize Israeli politics; it reminds me of when liberals call someone racist if they want stricter immigration policy. Or criticize Obama.
Edited on Oct 14, 2010 at 12:01pmMay '10
Re: An Ongoing War on Jews
I think its more of an escalation of hostilities towards a class that was traditionally dominated by jews, since most avenues in society were closed to them.
When the sepoys took over new delhi in 1857, the first ones against the walls, in front of the cannons and on the sword were the moneylenders and traders.
Re: An Ongoing War on Jews
It's a good thing that the European ethnic groups never had a sense that "they were right." Imagine how contentious their history might have been.
Oct '10
Re: An Ongoing War on Jews
Mao Zehedgehog: I can's speak for Europeans, but I know for many Americans, they see Palestinians and Lebanese as underdogs against the Israeli juggernaut. They see and hear stories of the Palestinians being treated like dogs and see Beirut being bombed about once a decade, and they begin to view Israel as a bully. Perhaps Israel has legitimate reason to be the bully in that region, but still, no American likes bullies and all Americans like underdogs. I'm uncomfortable with calling someone an anti-semite if they criticize Israeli politics; it reminds me of when liberals call someone racist if they want stricter immigration policy. Or criticize Obama. · Oct 14 at 12:00pm
Edited on Oct 14 at 12:01 pm
Mao:
Murdoch said, referning to a European official:
"This minister did not suggest the problem was any specific Israeli policy. The problem, as he defined it, is the nature of the Jews."
Israel's government is fair game for criticism. But that's not the topic. The topic is about evidence that criticism is being leveled openly at Jews for no other reason than their Jewishness. That is what is new... and old... and frightening.
Jul '10
Re: An Ongoing War on Jews
Republicans have squandered an excellent opportunity by not loudly and forthrightly defending Israel and condemning anti-Semitism.
In the background, they've been good on Israel, slapping down the Obama administration's more egregious anti-Israel policies.
But they should have rushed to the microphones during the Gaza flotilla incident. The fact that they didn't would seem to indicate that, while their hearts are in the right place, they don't see defending Jews as a winning issue.
One can only hope that eventually Jewish-American voters will wake up and realize that all the Jew-haters are on the Left. But Republican politicians aren't showing them the way.
Oct '10
Re: An Ongoing War on Jews
Is this not true of Palestinians? They seem to be hindering rational discussion quite capably without the help of an American lobby.
May '10
Re: An Ongoing War on Jews
Rob Long: [...] you look around and you see a group that's prosperous and successful and hugely participatory in the culture, that contributes enormously to the American Engine, and you may think to yourself, Well, okay, so how much anti-Semitism could there really be?
·
For many, this prosperity is the very source of the anti-Semitism. which also explains why it is now primarily a phenomenon of the Left.
This is the take-home message of George Gilder's recent The Israel Test: The inability of many to comprehend that economics is not zero sum-- that the wealth and accomplishment of the Jews did not come at someone's expense; rather their good fortune is the good fortune of us all--is the fundamental driver of Jew-hatred.
It's the same old lefty BS, which means BTW that anti-Semitism and anti-Americanism share the same root cause.
Edited on Oct 14, 2010 at 2:03pmRe: An Ongoing War on Jews
Mao Zehedgehog: I'm uncomfortable with calling someone an anti-semite if they criticize Israeli politics; it reminds me of when liberals call someone racist if they want stricter immigration policy. Or criticize Obama. · Oct 14 at 12:00pm
Edited on Oct 14 at 12:01 pm
I am perfectly comfortable with calling someone an anti-Semite if they criticize Israel's policies in a way they criticize no other nation's policies. When criticism of Israel becomes vastly louder and more emotional than criticism of Sri Lanka, it's entirely reasonable to ask whether this criticism is truly motivated by an earnest concern for human rights and a natural love for the underdog.
Edited on Oct 14, 2010 at 1:33pmAug '10
Re: An Ongoing War on Jews
Also, destructive envy of the successful has a way of masquerading as love for the underdog.
Jun '10
Re: An Ongoing War on Jews
Claire Berlinski, Ed.
Mao Zehedgehog: I'm uncomfortable with calling someone an anti-semite if they criticize Israeli politics; it reminds me of when liberals call someone racist if they want stricter immigration policy. Or criticize Obama. · Oct 14 at 12:00pm
Edited on Oct 14 at 12:01 pm
I am perfectly comfortable with calling someone an anti-Semite if they criticize Israel's policies in a way they criticize no other nation's policies. When criticism of Israel becomes vastly louder and more emotional than criticism of Sri Lanka, it's entirely reasonable to ask whether this criticism is truly motivated by an earnest concern for human rights and a natural love for the underdog. · Oct 14 at 1:32pm
Edited on Oct 14 at 01:33 pm
I agree with Claire. How many UN resolutions have we had condemning Israel for "racism," "genocide," etc. etc., but complete silence on Sri Lanka, Darfur, Burma, the Congo, and many others? The human cost in these other cases are dramatically higher than anything Israel has done (setting aside the question whether they were justified), but Israel remains public enemy no. 1. I call that anti-Semitism.
Oct '10
Re: An Ongoing War on Jews
When the media went down on their knees for the current president, I started doing some research on propaganda. I found much good information on the website of the US Holocaust Museum, located here: http://www.ushmm.org/propaganda/.
My feeling, unsupported by any taxpayer-funded study, is that anti-semitism has never died, or even waned. I think it was considered to be in bad taste for a long time after we admitted what was happening to the Jews during WW II. Anti-semitism seems to be very chic these days. And there are scary parallels to the propaganda used in WW II.
Aug '10
Re: An Ongoing War on Jews
Well ,that's why they invented the EU . Voila !
No more contention and the free music for everyone ! And.....if you were one of the contentious ones.....now you are a European !!...and not the jackbooted german that your papa was !
Edited on Oct 14, 2010 at 2:06pm