Is British anti-Semitism in danger of getting out of control?
Last week, Oliver Miles, Britain’s former ambassador to Libya and a pillar of the country’s foreign policy establishment, put his thinking cap on, put pen to paper and came up with the following thoughts in a column in the Independent newspaper about the presence of the esteemed historians Martin Gilbert and Lawrence Freedman on the board of the UK’s latest Iraq Inquiry:
“Both Gilbert and Freedman are Jewish, and Gilbert at least has a record of active support for Zionism,” he said. “…if and when the inquiry is accused of a whitewash, such handy ammunition will be available. Membership should not only be balanced; it should be seen to be balanced.” (My italics)
In other words, Jews are an embarrassment. Ban them.
Hold that thought. Now consider the words of the celebrated journalist Richard Ingrams — a man who once said he does not open emails about Israel if the writer appears to have a Jewish last name — writing in the same paper today.
Enthusiastically defending Miles, he said:
“…it is a fact that the campaign to overthrow Saddam Hussein was initiated, well before 9/11, by a group of influential American neocons, notably Perle, Feith and Wolfowitz (once described by Time magazine as “the godfather of the Iraq war”) nearly all of whom were ardent Zionists, in many cases more concerned with preserving the security of Israel than that of the US.
“Given that undeniable fact, the pro-Israeli bias of Sir Martin Gilbert and Sir Lawrence Freedman, both of them supporters of the 2003 invasion, is a perfectly respectable point to raise. It is equally legitimate to ask if at any point the panel will investigate or even refer to the US neocons and their links to Israel. Call me snide if you like, but I very much doubt they will.” (My italics)
In other words, the loyalties of the Jews are with Israel and each other. The conspiracy continues.
This all comes, of course, in the wake of a widely watched “Dispatches” television documentary earlier in the month (see entries on this site) which alleged that a secretive cabal of wealthy Jews had the British political and media establishment in its pocket. I said at the time that there was a danger the situation might be about to get a whole lot worse in Britain. The signs are that that could already be happening.
For the key point to understand about the makers of that documentary and about the likes of Miles and Ingrams is that they are quintessentially mainstream figures. They are listened to and accorded respect. They are welcome in all the “right circles”. What they say helps legitimise the thinking and the discourse of others.
And as time goes by, with one incremental move down the slippery slope after another, the revivification of an ancient hatred is starting to look “normal”.
Jewish organisations in Britain like the Community Security Trust (CST) — which monitors anti-Semitism and places guards outside synagogues and Jewish schools across the country — are now voicing their fears openly.
CST spokesman Mark Gardner, quoted in the Jewish Chronicle, said of the remarks by ambassador Miles:
“These comments are ugly enough in their own right, but they also risk giving the impression that Jews are not welcome to participate in politics and society…Coming so soon after the Dispatches programme, we have to ask if a very worrying antisemitic trend is now emerging from the many years of so called anti-Zionism.”
Frightening.
To read the article by Miles, click here:
To read today’s contribution by Ingrams, click here:
To read about and/or purchase my recent book on precisely this subject, click here:
Tags: Israel
November 29th, 2009 at 1:15 am
Equally alarming, and disgusting, are many of the comments sent in by readers on the Ingrams article. I would imagine quite a few Jews will be dusting off their suitcase, if not actually packing them yet. Life is becoming uncomfortable for Jews in the UK; much the same kind of ‘black propaganda’ preceded the Kristallnacht of 1938….
November 29th, 2009 at 4:54 am
Robin, you ask:
Is British anti-Semitism in danger of getting out of control?
I’m starting to wonder:
Is Britain the new Nazi Germany?
Frightening for UK Jews indeed, and, in the end, for the UK as a whole.
November 29th, 2009 at 6:47 am
Thanks Robin.
The two articles you publish are disgusting. They had passed me by as I never read the Independent. What makes them disturbing is not the blatant (and ridiculous) anti-semitism, but that as you point out, the fact that it is now “OK” to make such points.
There is of course one very simple way of ensuring that justice is seen to be done in these sorts of inquiries: Full disclosure of conflict of interests, aided perhaps by the pinning of a yellow star to the jackets of the Jewish participants and supporters of Israel
November 29th, 2009 at 1:53 pm
It”s no longer curious how the likes of Miles and Ingrams are already of the view that the Inquiry is going to acquit Tony Blair, because the so-called ” jewish lobby” is ever present. I doubt of course if Ingrams and Miles would write anything to condemn Goldstone’s report expressing any concerns about the way his enquiry was conducted and the already well establshed credentials of the panel. Isn’t Goldstone a Jew and a self confessed “zionist” too? No surprises eh!
I am sure that the underlying question that keeps cropping up is if there is a way of counteracting against these types of view being repeated and without recourse by anyone who wants to challenge these sickening views.
Robin, you referred sometime ago to creating an organized platform. I think there is a lot in that. (it’s an expensive undertaking. A daily newspaper on line that sets out a strong positive image of Israel to the public, that is not afraid to take the argument to the demonizers of Israel and to include reformist and peaceful Muslims, within that umbrella to write or comment. Some debates should even be in Arabic. Indeed people like Mordechai Kedar (of Bar Ilan University), who speaks fluent Arabic and has appeared on al-Jazeera, has made the point that Israel needs to respond to this by developing an Israeli news agency in Arabic, to reach out to moderate Arabs.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VHpMhAzj-Tk (Kedar on al-jazeera)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1l8Sp7GPgXc&feature=related (Kedar talks about his interview about 2 minutes into the film)
…and of course one should not stop being afraid of speaking out wherever and whenever appropriately to do so in the press blogs and to complain.
November 29th, 2009 at 3:32 pm
I have already read your new book and I offer you congratulations. It is a clear concise warning. I hope it is heeded.
November 29th, 2009 at 5:01 pm
“Without ranting and raving”
One of my comments here didn’t see the light of day the other day, because of its agitated nature to put it mildly. Wholly understandable. I commend Robin in doing that.
What I want to offer now is my view comparing two countries I have views on.
The UK and Italy.
Many people here usually attack me when I dare to suggest that the UK is, partly or largely, antisemitic and they immediately come forward with my native country, hungary, its very real and supposed crimes, current political situations etc. They only forget that one cannot in any way compare a poor, insignificant state on the periphery of Central-Europe. It’s a red herring and doesn’t hold water. What’s more it’s a bit ridiculous.
So I just want to say that - I don’t hide it - as generally Italophil, it’s important to have a look out of Britain for a change.
I know for a fact that in the past decade there’s hardly any country in the world today that produced and broadcast more films/documentaries/interviews about the Holocaust thanItaly. It has always become a veritable film industry. This was almost a strategic decision I feel on the part of RAI (The state television) AND the Berlusconi channels. But not only that. The leading circles in Italy are solidly behind the Jewish state today. There are detractors and antagonists as well, BUT in glaring contrast to the BBC in Britain, the most influential media circles are pro-Israel and nothing is further from them than propgating howeevr cloaked or latent antisemitic tropes, images or articles. It’s enough to draw further attention to the far biggest political paer in the country, the Corriera della Sera, which has a reformed Muslim editor, Egyptian Magdi Allam. (The Newsweek absolutely disgustingly labeled him a “self-hating Muslim”.) For full dislosure though Allam is now Christian, has publshed a book: “Viva Israele”. The Corriere is neo-Nazi circles has been attacked , but not really because of Allam, but because of its current editor-in-chief Mr. Mieli, ironically, who is although Jewish, couldn’t be any more neutral on I/P. (Though the Rome daily La Repubblica is solidly on the center-left PC views on Palestinian affaires just as well as the third in circulation Turin-based La Stampa. These two paepers however have much less influence, and, to the best of my knowledge from 2nd hand sources never cross the line into antisemitism.)
We should not forget that it was ONLY because the interference of figures from the Italian Association of Journalists (and, to be fair, Germans as well) that Israel has been “readmitted” to the Intl. Fedr. of Journos and the British Aiden White had to (???) readmit Israel because of their supporters. Clearly, where were the Britain “journalists” in all of this? Please, we all know the answer.
Further:
In Italy much of the leading elite has just realized the fact that the current mood in Europe is, tough in totally diiffernt regards, but in its intellectual roots just as the same, a danger to the country as the recent crucifix-in-the-school case clearly showed. NOW the whole cross section of the country has a chance to think about what this whole European “project” for the 21st century means for millions of common sense Italians who don’t want to lose their identity, their values and, eventually, teir very country. But I digress. My point is that to the best of my knowledge Italy, as it has been throughout its history, less antisemitic than Britain (YES, the historical anomaly of Mussolini and its fascist gang notwithstanding! Anyone who knows the details of history acknowledges this.) And the recent awakening of the Italian population just has the potential for them to connect the dots, remain alarmed what’s going on in Europe, and, as a not incidental “side-effect” sufficiently understand Israel and what it faces. Here it concerns Robin Shepherd’s observations about the general European feelings about Israel - and offers the example of a state which is more and more becoming intelligent and conscious.
I commedn the Italians of course and I am convinced that they together with the Dutch and the Danes, serve the best antidote of an ailing, if not dying Europe. All in the sharpest contrast to Britain and much of Western Europe. Finally, I am thoroughly convinced that Italy is much, much less antisemetic than England, Scotland in general. I have the right to hold this opinion. I am fairly confident that such horrible and distasteful insinuations, innuendo and devious assumptions at least in mainstream papers would not see the light of day there.
(And finally, to evoke a part of my previously censored ranting and raving comment, Italy may not only overcome Britain in terms of economic potential - aggregate GDP as well as GDP/capita - at present and the near future, but integrity and decency too…)
Viva Isrele and Viva Italia!
November 29th, 2009 at 5:25 pm
Dear Robin,
Thank you for understanding, and for communicating about, the situation that Israel and Jewish people are currently in.
I appreciate it very much.
It is a comfort to me.
The following are links to information which is necessary to know in order to understand the situation that Israel, Jewish people, and the whole world, are currently in.
“Hitler’s Legacy: Islamic antisemitism and the impact of the Muslim Brotherhood”, by Dr. Mathias Kuentzel
http://www.matthiaskuentzel.de/contents/hitlers-legacy-islamic-antisemitism-and-the-impact-of-the-muslim-brotherhood
“Western Culture, The Holocaust, and the Persistence of Antisemitism” by Dr. Catherine Chatterley
http://www.yale.edu/yiisa/chatterleypaper3509.pdf
“Worth a Thousand Words: Picturing the Antisemitic Imagination”, by Dr. Catherine Chatterley
(further down from the top of the page on: http://web.mac.com/catherinechatterley/Catherine_Chatterley/Publications.html)
“The Psychology of Populations under Chronic Siege”, by Dr. Kenneth Levin
http://www.jcpa.org/phas/phas-046-levin.htm
The political views which I hold are a balance between Social Liberalism (modern Liberalism) and Classical Liberalism; (In my understanding, aspects of of Classical Liberalism are similar to aspects of ideal, so-called “non-ideological”, modern Conservatism).
My ethnic background is Jewish (Jewish-Ukrainian-Polish).
The existential view that I hold, and the existential practice that I strive to follow, is Theravada Buddhism.
I was born in Mexico.
I am a citizen of the United States.
(I wrote a set of e-mail messages to you which are similar to this message.)
Sincerely,
Daniel Bielak
“What we learned is that there is no Left and Right. There are the decent people, and there is the mob”
- a quote I heard attributed to a Jewish witness of the 1920’s, 1930’s, and the Holocaust
November 29th, 2009 at 5:29 pm
Correction:
“…(In my understanding, aspects of of Classical Liberalism are similar to aspects of ideal, so-called “non-ideological”, modern Conservatism)…”
…(In my understanding, aspects of Classical Liberalism are similar to aspects of ideal, so-called “non-ideological”, modern Conservatism)…
November 30th, 2009 at 3:13 pm
In the 20th century Europe murdered most of its Jews, many more left…Now Europe has replaced them with muslims…what you have now seems like karma to me…enjoy your conflict with these new “citizens”…
November 30th, 2009 at 6:40 pm
#9,
I think that Americans in the “wake” of Fort Hood better wake up as well.
(No disrespect intended for the deceased.
The sarcasm is directed at the stupidity displayed by those who did not have the courage to call foul in time).
Many still don’t get it that those they falsely accuse of dual loyalty are being replaced by those whose loyalty/allegiance to Islam outways any possible citizen linkage.
December 1st, 2009 at 2:59 pm
What a ridiculous and hyperbolic article.
First you misrepresent the Dispatches programme, which was mild to say the least.
As to the enquiry: “He also said they were both (Gilbert & Freedman) strong supporters of former prime minister Tony Blair and the Iraq war.”
I suppose you think that is balanced ? How about a couple of anti-Israel Muslims on the next panel to look at alleged Israeli war crimes ? Would you have a problem with that ?
““Given that undeniable fact…”
I would really like to see you attempt to deny that the campaign to overthrow Saddam Hussein was led by a group of self-proclaimed zionist “Neocons”, really I would.
I remember the period like yesterday and it was incredible how rarely it was mentioned in any discourse that the main cheerleaders for war were a group of chickenhawk neocons of the Jewish faith.
We were supposed to ignore that fact as though it didn’t matter. Well it DOES matter.
December 2nd, 2009 at 5:23 pm
“I remember the period like yesterday and it was incredible how rarely it was mentioned in any discourse that the main cheerleaders for war were a group of chickenhawk neocons of the Jewish faith.”
Unfortunately, TheallegedlyTallGuy, you are rather proving Shepherd’s thesis yourself.
December 4th, 2009 at 9:28 pm
thetallguy,
Gilbert is among Britain’s greatest historians ever. He is not a hack. He is the author of more than 80 books, was made a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) and was awarded a Knighthood for his services to British history and to international relations. That makes him rather qualified to sit on any panel requiring serious judgment.
I have read a number of his books. They are meticulously researched, draw conclusions only when unavoidable and he clearly knows to put his opinions to the side in an effort to seek truth. To suggest that he is a hack - which is what you effectively claim - speaks ill of you, not of him.
I do not know the other gentleman, Freedman. I have not read anything he has written. However, I do know that he is a professor at King’s College London specializing in war studies. He also advised Tony Blair in that capacity, which does not, of itself, disqualify him.
More generally, the issue is whether people who support or oppose Israel can be objective. The answer is sometimes yes and sometimes no. It depends on the person. Hence, one reads repeatedly anti-Israel advocates who could care not one wit whether what they assert is truth. You may have read some of these people. They call Israel an apartheid state, a racist state, a Nazi state. People who take that line are old fashioned bigots, placing an old prejudice into a new bottle. They are bigots nonetheless. Such people have no business being on a panel.
However, people who can put their opinions to the side can be on panels. To take the view that such is not so is to condemn government to mere politics. Why - if your approach is correct - bother to investigate since, in the end, any judgment will be biased by pre-existing views, for or against the Iraq war and could not possibly even try to make a reasoned judgment?