France II – Macron and Antisemitism

In February of this year, France’s President Macron, at an annual dinner of CRIF, the representative body of French Jews, came out with a statement equating anti-Zionism with Antisemitism: "L'antisionisme est l'une des formes modernes de l'antisémitisme" Whichever of his assistants had written that text, is either an idiot or under the thumb of a pro-Israel lobby. 

 

That was ten months ago. Now the French parliament has passed a resolution repeating Macron’s idiocy. The Israeli government confirmed that “The adoption of the resolution came after many months of diplomatic efforts by the Israeli embassy in Paris.”

Whereas I believe that establishing a Jewish state in Palestine was morally justified, I do not expect everyone to share my view. I definitely do not expect Palestinians to do so: For Palestinians, Zionism means dispossession, displacement, occupation and structural inequality. It is cynical and insensitive to stigmatize them as anti-Semites for opposing Zionism. They oppose Zionism not because they hate Jews, but because they experience Zionism as an oppressive political movement.  

The fact that some Antisemites are also anti-Zionists, does not mean that all anti-Zionists are Antisemites. Antisemitism is way too serious a problem to handle it superficially, only because the Israeli government takes advantage of European guilt over the Holocaust.  

Many Jews want Boris Johnson out. But how can we vote for Jeremy Corbyn?

This is a link to Jonathan Freedland’s splendid article in the Guardian about Corbyn's Jewish problem. It is worth reading. 

For anyone who does not feel personally addressed by Freedland’s call, here's another reason not  to vote Labour: Corbyn is pro-Brexit and he has swindled all of us “remainers” of a voice in parliament. As a leader of the opposition, he did not oppose. His partners-in-crime, the party’s leadership, are his enablers. Do not forget: half of the voters, voted remain.

A Labour party that does not get rid of Corbyn, despite the above, does not deserve to win. 

It may be that a massive vote for the Liberal-Democrats, which would force a coalition government, is the only way.

Israel Criticism – The trap of anti-Semitism allegations

A paper of mine “Israel criticism – The trap of anti-Semitism allegations” appeared in the autumn edition of conflict & communication online.  

Discussions about Israel, and Israeli politics, pertaining to the Israel-Palestine question, often lead to the critic – especially if the language used is harsh – being accused of Antisemitism. The purpose of introducing accusations of antisemitism is the derailment of the argument. Such discussions frequently follow a regular pattern, in which critics find themselves on the defensive and the debate turns from one about Israel to one about the critic’s alleged Antisemitism. In the interest of honesty and to facilitate factuality and sobriety in debates about Israel, the paper suggests that any personal prejudice or motivation, which a critic may or may not harbour for their arguments, be disregarded.

The paper, albeit in German, can be read HERE.

Halle – Appropriation

Several friends have asked me why I haven’t written anything after the killing of two people near the Halle synagogue, by a native-German, right-wing extremist. He tried to penetrate the full synagogue, fortunately without success. And yet, he managed to kill two people in the street. In his message, the killer explained that feminism was to blame for low birth rates in the west, which he said had led to mass immigration. He added that he was a holocaust denier and said “the Jew” was the root of these problems.

A lot has and still is being written about the incident. Most of what one reads about the killing, be it in the printed media, or on social media, is crap. I am not sure why the death of two people should have so much more impact – calls for action, for change, vigils, flowers, candles and public tears wherever you look – than the underlying, unattractive and extremely worrying, right-wing hatred that is being promoted in Germany and in many other countries. But that is the way public sentiment works. 

It has all the required ingredients to shock: Jews, killing, synagogue, Yom Kippur and Nazi propaganda. And yet,

is it serious for a senior journalist to headline her commentary with “The deadly danger of being a Jew in Germany” or for an intelligent Jewish writer to talk about Germany, as “a country where hatred for those who are perceived to be different slides effortlessly from a tick on the election ballot to genocide”?

Some take advantage of this incident and go much further, to advance their usual agenda. One, who has shown the greatest Chutzpah, was Mathias Döpfner, the CEO of the Axel Springer media concern (Die Welt, Bild). In his article about Halle, he lists various incidents, in which immigrants were involved in recent years and moves on to demand more immigration control. Hallo, Mr. Döpfner, the Halle killer is one of yours, no import. With his writing, Döpfner blatantly promotes the right-wing AfD party. He does not tell people to vote AfD but fosters the fears and thoughts that bring voters to this despicable party.

Promoting hatred kills.

Der Spiegel – Antisemitic?

The German news magazine Der Spiegel publishes a history series (Der Spiegel Geschichte), with each number dedicated to a single topic. The subject of its latest issue was “Jewish life in Germany: The unknown world next door”. They produced a well-researched magazine, covering a variety of angles and view-points.

Der Spiegel has recently angered the Jewish community with an investigation into activities and attempts of two Jewish lobby organisations to influence German politicians. It is considered by some German Jews to be not only anti-Israel but also antisemitic. A view that I do not share. 

Now Spiegel is being attacked for its choice of cover for the special issue journal. The President of the Central Council of Jews in Germany: “By choosing the cover for the current issue of Spiegel History, those who made the decision have decided to spread an anti-Semitic stereotype.“  “Neither my ancestors nor my family and I look that way”,  was one of the complaints, I saw on Facebook. 

I have no issue with this photo. On the contrary, I find it quite heart-warming. No, my ancestors, at least those, I have photos of, did not look like that. But, let’s face it, this Jewish world of the shtetl, is part of the history of European Jewish history, including Jews who at some point modernised their external appearance or even started leading a secular life.

So, here’s the corpus delicti: 

Klezmer music was not part of my grandparents’ world, they listened to Mozart, Bach and Wagner. And yet, virtually every Jewish culture festival, that Jewish communities in Germany organise, includes Klezmer music. Some Jews, who can afford it, buy “Judaica” art and artefacts at special Sotheby’s or Christies auctions and hang painting by Chagall, depicting Jewish life – art they, evidently feel is part of them, a world they identify with.

Yet, curiously, Jewish communities that are willing to embrace the klezmer stereotype as a poster for their Jewish culture-festivals, take issue with Spiegel’s cover photo. The music, which enjoys general acceptance is fine, but the shtetl image…

I wonder whether any Spiegel photo would have gotten the thumbs up? Perhaps a photo of Jewish intellectuals, or strong and healthy Israeli soldiers?   

Who are Friedman & Greenblatt Working for?

Last week, David Friedman, US ambassador to Israel and Jason Greenblatt, Trump’s Special Envoy to the Middle East, attended a tunnel-opening ceremony in Arab Jerusalem. The tunnel has been dug over the last six years under Palestinian houses and against their wishes. The instigator of this atrocity is a right-wing Israeli group that is taking over Arab East Jerusalem, stone-by-stone, house-after-house. They are backed by the Israeli government and funded by rich American Jewish donors. US casino-mogul Sheldon Adelson and his wife Miriam were also among those present at the event. The mascot in the picture is Mrs. Netanyahu.

The US civil servants did more than just attend the ceremony, they actively participated by wielding sledgehammers to break through a wall and open up a tunnel.

Friedman, Greenblatt and Trump’s son-in-law, Kushner, head Trump’s team dealing with the Israel-Palestine issue. Greenblatt recently said in an interview "there is no such thing as an honest mediator." No more veneer of impartiality. The US Ambassador and the Special Envoy, long-time supporters of the settlers, are now evidently working for this most right-wing part of Israeli society, one which many Israelis disassociate from.

So, are Jews likely to be more loyal to Israel than to their countries? Do Jews have too much control over global affairs? Do they have too much control over the United States government?

CAREFUL!!!! Think before you answer these questions. These are three out of eleven statements, that pollsters regularly use as indicators of Antisemitism. Hence, if you answer these truthfully, these will be considered indications that you are an anti-Semite. Take your pick: lie, or be falsely labelled an Antisemite. What a choice.

UK Labour Party Antisemitism

It has been reported that the British Labour Party has suspended Pete Willsman, a member of its ruling National Executive Committee (NEC), after he was recorded saying, that he believed, that the Israeli embassy, had been behind the claims about Corbyn’s Antisemitism.  

Willsman is a devoted Corbyn ally and supporter and as such hated by New-Labour (Blair & co.). He may – I have no idea – also be an Antisemite and the Party should ask itself whether someone holding antisemitic views should be a member of its executive board.

Let us, however, now look at the facts of this latest claim:

1.   Labour’s leader, Jeremy Corbyn, is – and has been for many years – extremely critical of Israel and very supportive of the Palestinian cause.

2.   Jeremy Corbyn as British Prime Minister would therefore be an unwelcome change for Israel.

3.   It is the role of embassies to work politically to promote the perceived interests of their countries. They should work within the laws of the land and if they don’t, they should not be caught doing it.

So, why is it not reasonable to believe that the Israeli embassy in London is furthering negative propaganda about Corbyn? And why should this claim be defined as Antisemitic? Does the fact that some Antisemites believe in a Jewish conspiracy to rule the world, mean that one may not make a political assessment about perfectly normal goings-on, just because the subject has an Israel angle? Israel and some of its supporters would like this “license to kill” anything which is deemed by them to be uncomfortable. Going down this road is, however, totally dishonest.

Macron the Feeble

On more than one occasion has French President Macron proven not to be very good under pressure. Last week, he panicked again, as in reaction to recent Antisemitic incidents, he announced that France would now consider anti-Zionism as a form of Antisemitism.

This, of course, is somewhere between ignorance and dishonesty.

I believe that it was morally right to establish the Jewish state and thus define myself as a Zionist. I, however, accept that some people – for whatever reason – do not share that view and therefore define themselves as anti-Zionists. There will be antisemites, whose hatred of Jews, will also make them anti-Zionists. This, however, does not mean that their anti-Zionism = antisemitism. 

Israel and its supporting Jewish lobbies have been very successful in their push to delegitimise critics of Israel by defining them as antisemites. With Macron they can add another notch to their belts. 

Muslim Congresswoman forced to apologise

Ms. Ilhan Omar, the newly elected Democrat Congresswoman from Minnesota, made the gravest error a politician in the US can make: she pointed out to the fact that pro-Israel lobby money is behind US politicians’ unquestioning support of Israel.

She soon enough got her first lesson in how American democracy functions.  She was hit by a shitstorm, in which even her own party deserted her and forced her to apologise.

Omar apologised, yet cleverly added “At the same time, I reaffirm the problematic role of lobbyists in our politics, whether it be AIPAC, the NRA or the fossil fuel industry.” 

AIPAC probably did not even have to work hard to enforce Ms. Omar’s apology. Her “colleagues”, who are all drip funded – some more, some very much more – by a variety of lobbies, do not want this funding shindig to be scrutinised, or god-forbid, to ever end.  

Is it permitted to say that the NRA gun-lobby buys influence with money, but prohibited to say the same thing about AIPAC, the pro-Israel lobby – just because of the anti-Semitic trope about Jews and money? So, what can one say about AIPAC? Preferably nothing, must be the answer.

I have no idea whether Ms. Omar is an anti-Semite or not but calling out AIPAC and pointing to their influence is not anti-Semitic. Forcing Omar to apologise is dishonest and shameful.

Israel accuses Ireland of Antisemitism

The Irish parliament is passing legislation that would ban Israeli goods produced in the Occupied Territories.

The Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs has called the Irish ambassador for a “reprimand” and has stated 

“At the meeting it was made clear to the ambassador that the hypocritical and anti-Semitic legislation will have severe ramifications on Israel-Ireland relations and Ireland’s standing in the region should the legislation be promoted”. 

Once again, Israel is using its favourite weapon, the accusation of Antisemitism, in its attempts to push back any opposition to its occupation of the West Bank.

Mind your language

A friend posted the following on his Facebook wall:

Four years ago today, two Palestinian Arab murderers entered a synagogue during morning prayers in Har Nof, and brutally slaughtered the praying congregants with axes, knives, and a gun.
They killed praying Jews and one heroic police officer, a Druze, who died taking down the terrorists.

Some tend to describe nationalistic killings of Israelis that are carried out by Palestinians as anti-Jewish acts. This serves to instil the feeling that we have a phenomenon akin to Antisemitic pogroms of the Christian kind. This is both wrong and misleading.

Murder is terrible, whether brutal or not. It is even terrible when those who have drones at their disposal carry it out from the luxury of their comfortable faraway operation centres.

There are Palestinians who use murder in their fight against Israel and against the occupation their land. This is unpardonable, but we should not confuse the issues: This is not about killing Jews in their Synagogues but about fighting occupation.  Deplorable but not Antisemitic.  

Britain’s Labour Party and Antisemitism

Anyone who is interested in what is happening in Britain’s Labour Party Antisemitism row, should read Professor David Feldman’s splendid analysis in Thursday’s Haaretz.

Second Letter to Jared Kushner

Although, I did not expect you to react so quickly to my first letter, somewhere, at the back of my mind, I was hoping that you might. I was hoping that you would understand the urgency.

Well, it has become even more urgent. Already, the wave your father-in-law has produced, is causing a virtual tsunami of anti-Semitic incidents in your country. This – I fear – is nothing, compared to the hatred of Jews that will envelop the United States, when the country will understand what havoc your father-in-law has caused. At that point, it won’t be just the hundreds or thousands extremists who vandalise Jewish cemeteries or synagogues. Millions of Americans will blame that “Jew boy”, that Jewish son-in-law who masterminded the monster into the presidency.

The weight is on your shoulders, Jared. Do not be selfish. You need to show loyalty to your people and to America. Tell the world what you know. Make it possible for your father-in-law to resign or for Congress to impeach him. You need to act.

Shalom

David

Barbarians II

Since King Trump is into complaining about uncivilised Muslims – how about doing something against the antisemitic thuggery in his own backyard?

It has been reported that the police in Whitefish, Mont. have stepped up patrols and are working with the F.B.I. after a neo-Nazi and white supremacist website listed the names and contacts of local Jews, calling on readers to “take action” against them.

Trump likes tweeting about the big problems. Why not tweet about that? Unless, of course, he does not want to annoy those who have just voted for him.

Things I heard at dinners in Germany

A man I just met at a dinner party told me that half of Berlin’s real estate was now in Jewish hands. I tried to suggest that this was somewhat exaggerated but he was certain of it. Since unification, he told me, they have bought packages of tens of thousands of flats in the city.

“I have no problem with it”, he hastened to add, fearing that I might think him an anti-Semite. “On the contrary, they are clever, they have a good nose for it”, he explained and “I try to follow the market to also do a deal now and then and it is useful to know what they are doing.”

Different party – different people, similar sentiment: a German academic in her forties, who has spent a couple of years in the USA, told me that Jewish academics look after each other. I questioned her statement and she was “certain” that if a Jewish researcher has his or her grant cut, his Jewish friends will help him out for a while, out of their own budgets, until things are sorted. “No”, she said “not forever, but for a year or two.”

Dear R

When we last met, about a month ago, you were very angry, very very angry with me for having asked in my blog  whether Israel had the moral right to wage its [November] war in Gaza. Whatever we think, you said, we should not criticise Israel abroad.

You have now sent me an email, in which you agree with many of my arguments adding that Israel’s internal as well as foreign policy puts a fright on every thinking person. You also write that the general mood in Israel is seriously depressed. Not only Netanyahu/Liberman policies but also the fact that we are stuck like a bone in the Arab throat make you doubt that there is a future for your children’s generation in Israel.

And yet, you ask me to stop spreading my criticism – which you refer to as hatred - in the world. External pressure and isolating Israel will not change Israel’s way, you say. On the other hand, spreading such criticism, leading to external pressure will, according to you, bring about even more of the already rising anti-Semitism.

I agree, we should change from within. We would all be happier and prouder if we would become better people without external pressure. But, Israel’s demographic makeup is such that this is unlikely to happen. Israel’s population permits the current leadership not only to cause terrible injustice to others but also to kill what the founders of the state have established. This must be stopped. 

Israel is in a terrible downward spiral and it may be that only trauma will bring about the necessary change. In this case, I prefer the trauma of serious external pressure - which to be effective would have to hurt politically and economically - to the trauma of war with many casualties. Without the one, we may get the other.

As to the harmful impact of my writing, I do not think you need to worry. I wrote this about two years ago. As you can see, dear R, the world did not listen to me then and I am unlikely to have too much of an impact now.

Best etc…

PS: How do you propose to prevent the Israeli press, such as Haaretz, from publishing its often very sharp criticism in their English editions?