Neo anti-Semitic hysteria in Britain goes “viral” as Obama opens the floodgates
For readers who may have missed Melanie Phillips’ forensic analysis last week of the ever more hysterical assault on Israel and the Jews in Great Britain, I offer here an opportunity to recap on her main points. If you have already read it, read it again. It’s well worth it.
She opens by rightly pointing out that the Obama administration’s hostility to Israel has opened the floodgates to Israel bashing generally. In Britain it now amounts to “a fanatical and obsessive verbal pogrom.”
She offers the following examples to illustrate her point:
1) The Daily Telegraph ran a piece last week explaining how two prominent Labour MPs, Gerald Kaufman — a fanatically anti-Israeli British Jew — and Martin Linton — chairman of Labour Friends of Palestine are now accusing the Conservative Party of being in the pay of the Jews.
2) A perfomance last week by the Jerusalem Quartet at London’s Wigmore Hall was shouted down by anti-Israeli fanatics causing BBC Radio Three to halt live transmission of the concert.
3) British Foreign Secretary David Miliband, the week before last, implicitly accused Mossad of being terrorists.
4) Richard Ingrams (see my last post) let rip last week with a hysterical assault on Israel accusing the Mossad of being gangsters and Israel of nonchalantly slaughtering men, women and children.
5) Following an article in the Guardian the week before last by Jewish Chronicle Editor Stephen Pollard, the writer was subjected to the following type of abuse on the readers’ comment threads for offering an Israel supportive position:
“Mr. Pollard has eaten too many Kosher pies..”
“No wonder Stephen and his fellow cabal members are worried..”
I have only one thing to add. It is a question: Where precisely do we go from here?
Tags: Israel
April 3rd, 2010 at 3:14 pm
“Neo-anti-Semitic hysteria in Britain”?
What on earth are you talking about, Robin? Yes there are some hysterical anti-Israel individuals out there – but they’re a tiny minority.
And the first person you cite is Melanie Phillips? Her past record was bad enough.
But now she’s even outdone her hysterical self when recently saying “And why, once again, is a final solution being imposed by America on democratic and besieged Israel?”
Obama the new Hitler, then?
You’d do better to stay well clear of Phillips.
As for your own musings:
“the Obama administration’s hostility to Israel”??
Come off it, Robin. Hostility to continued settlement building – yes. But to Israel as such? Hardly.
How would you explain e.g. H. Clinton recently saying “We have a close, unshakable bond between the United States and Israel”, “We have an absolute commitment to Israel’s security. We have a close unshakeable bond” or “Israel is one of our closest allies and we and the Israeli people have a special bond that’s not going to go away”??
And why would she even bother attending the APIAC conference, given the “hostility” you allege?
p.s. anti-Israel posters on CiF are not even all British – and those that are are certainly not representative of anyone but themselves.
The vast majority of people in the UK have never even heard of CiF.
So please spare us your hysteria.
April 3rd, 2010 at 3:16 pm
On the Jerusalem quartet, see CiFWatch:
http://cifwatch.com/2010/04/02/culture-at-wigmore/#comment-18518
The applause at the end of the concert was rapturous. Greenstein, Fink and Kahn have shot themselves in the foot. They succeeded in alienating from their cause 700 music lovers who probably had no views at alla bout the Middle East.
On Kaufman and Linton, see Richard Millett:
http://richardmillett.wordpress.com/2010/03/24/free-palestine-vote-labour/
Linton will lose his seat on May 6. Kaufman should be thrown out of the Labour Party but won’t be – which shows the state the party is in.
April 3rd, 2010 at 3:20 pm
“Where precisely do we go from here?”
1. A change of government on 6 May would help;
2. The CPS must be more willing to prosecute cases where antisemitism is involved;
3. The EUMC Definition of Antisemitism must be ratified by the EU Council.
April 3rd, 2010 at 3:31 pm
“Where precisely do we go from here?”
What do you think, Robin?
In April 2015 will it be better or worse?
Robin Shepherd says: I think it is going to get worse before it gets better. If you are referring to Britain, the problem is that we are now encountering a kind of group hysteria against Israel in which the participants believe their behaviour to be quite normal. With Obama having partially withdrawn American cover, Europeans feel they have a much freer hand to strike out against Israel. Also, the atmosphere of appeasement in Britain has probably not been stronger since the 1930s. That is not a cheap shot. I mean it as a statement of fact. It seems increasingly clear that only military force (or at least the threat of it) can stop Iran going nuclear. But the British establishment is dead set against it.
There is so much to say. Let me just conclude by suggesting that what happens is also a question of what decent people will allow to happen. An intelligent, well designed counter-attack could make a significant difference. But the forces ranged against us are worryingly strong, and in the short term at least they’ll get stronger….
April 3rd, 2010 at 3:36 pm
As the election campaigns heat up, there is an increased likelhood of more anti-Israeli and perhaps more overt anti-Jewish rhetoric, especially in marginally held seats with multi-cultural electorates. The situation may become even worse where one or more candidates are Jewish. I wonder if there will be more instances of the special pamphlets issued by the Lib-Dems, pro-Palestinian in one constituency, pro-Israeli in another, tailored to fit in with the prejudices of the voters. All’s fair in love and war- and, it seems, British politics.
April 3rd, 2010 at 4:01 pm
Heaven only knows where this country is going from here but I will tell you one thing, I would rather live in Israel with all the unfortunate connotations of Palestinian violence, than live in England. This country is one of the most vehemently anti-semetic states in the world, and I am a gentile.
April 3rd, 2010 at 4:10 pm
Robin asks, “Where precisely do we go from here?”
I don’t have a thought-out strategy. But my answer: Formulate goals and go on the attack! Too much pro-Zionist response has been defensive, repeating their enemies’ accusations and then explaining why they’re not guilty as charged. Let the Islamist and Trotskyite purveyors of “Palestinianism” defend themselves for a change.
Also, nurture alliances in the non-Jewish world. There are other nations and religious communities who also suffer from Arab and Islamic aggression. There are British patriots and genuine liberals who rightly fear Arab and Islamic fascism. Ask whether British national interests are served by bashing Israel.
Vulnerable anti-Zionist parliamentarians should be singled out for attack and removal at the polls.
April 3rd, 2010 at 4:11 pm
Surely it is time to see if UK laws against racism and antisemitism have any teeth.
I cannot believe you can speak of “Jewish Millionaires” controlling the election, and saying that Parliament is in the grip of the Jews without it being pure antisemitism. There was no Parliamentary privilege when Gerald Kaufman made his obscene allegations, so what is stopping action being taken against him?
Also since the people who disrupted the Wigmore Hall concert were so clearly identified, and if anyone needs any further help let me tell you that two of them were well known anti Israel extremist activists Tony Greenstein and Deborah Fink (to think people would actually pay to hear her catawalling), I sincerely hope that legal action is pending for a clear breach of the peace, and even trespass since they certainly weren’t there to listen to a concert.
We are being subjected to a catalogue of lies and, as you rightly say Robin, it seems there is no red line because people now feel they can get away with anything.
Where, indeed, do we go from here?
April 3rd, 2010 at 9:04 pm
The amazing ignorance and stupidity evident in the above examples make me wonder whether Israel may be performing a service to humanity simply by existing. These people obviously don’t have the sense to come in out of the rain. If they intermarry, which they probably do, the Darwinian law of survival of the fittest means that they will gradually die out, raising the average intelligence of the human race.
April 4th, 2010 at 11:01 am
“Where precisely do we go from here?”
Yes your question hangs in the air, and it’s something British Jews (and Jewry in general) don’t want to think about too much. Personally I fear the worst, it will go to the place where it has always gone before. Increasing physical violence against Jews in the UK, especially when the next war/intifada breaks out. One cannot rule out anything, no not even a pogrom or two. Jews had better learn to defend themselves in the UK and Europe for that matter because I wouldn’t trust the UK govt and police in protecting Jews when the chips are down.
April 4th, 2010 at 6:42 pm
I’ve come to the conclusion that Robin Shepherd and Melanie Phillips are a couple of worrywarts. The reality is that God’s in his heaven and all’s right with the world. I know this because the Lord Obama tells me so:
White House in calming message to U.S. Jews: Obama is Israel’s friend
http://tinyurl.com/ykfypho
Power Line’s excellent take on this:
You can fool most American Jewish leaders nearly all of the time. . .
http://tinyurl.com/y9tl4mh
Joshie’s take:
Had Benjamin Netanyahu been a rabbi pleading before one of the more anti-Semitic Czars to protect his fellows Jews against the ravages of Cossacks, he would not have met with less respect or more animosity.
April 4th, 2010 at 6:57 pm
where do we go from here? Heathrow El Al check in desk thats where?
I have never felt so uncomfortable in this country. It is not place where i feel safe any more to bring up my children.
My prediction – in 20 years time, there will be less than 30,000 Jews left in the UK, which will then go the way of Spain after the Inquisition.
April 5th, 2010 at 10:23 am
And if high profile public figures attack Jews and Israel like this in the public sphere i dread to think what poison is being increaingly spewed out around the dinner tables….
April 5th, 2010 at 11:32 am
I agree with Joy Wolfe and Shlomo USA – Formulate goals and go on the attack!
1. Lawfare. The pro Palestinians and Islamists generally are very good at tying up time, effort and money in bringing actions in the courts for all sorts of ‘discriminatory’ actions or threatening the welfare of Israeli politicians and soldiers.
Lets fight back as Joy suggests by creating a group of lawyers (currently without jobs perhaps), one or two legal firms who can offer them facilities and offices to work from, and a sponsor who would pay them and underwrite the costs of bringing actions. Lets throw the other side onto the defensive.
2. Media. With regard to hasbara, recently we have had Israel Apartheid week, a fortnight of sheer lies and nonsense, whereas in the very real sense, the greatest real apartheid is in the Arab world, who refuse to give Palestinian Arabs citizenship or passports, treat women as second class citizens and in many cases, will not let other religions function, much less flourish in their countries. Let’s show it and let the general public know about it.
We keep getting accused of genocide when in reality, the Palestinian Arabs grow more numerous every year. Lets find a way to get this across, to counter the lies of Pallywood.
3.Economics. The Israeli government has a role to play here too. We are fighting a war not just in military terms but in the media too, and its an important role. Although the UK is not held in high regard in Jerusalem, its membership of the EU means Israel must give more thought and funding to its relationship with the UK, the EU being one of Israel’s biggest markets, and the UK being in a position to influence the EU/Israel relationship for good or bad.
4. Countering the BBC. There are a number of effective pr and advertising firms in the UK, who, especially in the current economic climate would be delighted to formulate a strategy to improve the perception of Israel in the UK. The BBC put out a constant stream of low and not so low level hostile programming in relation to Israel and its relationship to the Arab world. Unless there is a concerted counter balance to this in the media, the perception of Israel by the majority of Brits is that which they glean from the BBC and long term, that can only be disastrous.
The UK has been a safe and comfortable place for Jews to live for well over a century and I thank goodness it was there when my family needed it. Things are changing because of the Islamic threat and the Israel/Arab conflict and the state of the economy. If it is to remain safe and comfortable, we have to take steps to keep it that way.
April 5th, 2010 at 12:36 pm
I’m not too fussed what goes on in Britain. For me the only issue that matters is Iran. Facing a bit of anti-Israel bigotry here is nothing compared to the prospect of Israel, and eventually Britain, living under the threat of Iranian nuclear missiles.
So what truly matters is that the defective programming between Barack Obama’s ears gets quickly repaired. And if it’s beyond repair, then I just hope Netanyahu and Barak have the balls to do what’s necessary.
April 5th, 2010 at 12:44 pm
I agree with quite a lot of what is being said about the rise of antisemitism. I do not think that Robin or Melanie are alarmist, but they are sounding the alarm.
2 points that I think that can be added to explain the current phenomena. We are living in an increasingly narcissistic age. I am almost convinced that some of the Jewish “anti-zionists” have a form of personality disorder. They acquire, they feel, a great deal of kudos and recognition by adopting hateful feelings towards Jews who stand for anything Jewish, Israel being a big Jewish subject. In the case of Kaufman, it is for a few votes of course but also for some self-importance. This man lacks intellectual rigour and that is why he is no where within the party, except of course when it comes to talking about Jews.(Galloway called him the best Foreign Minister we never had, and if that is not the kiss of death, what is?). I recall a documentary involving him visiting Israel, a few years ago. He visited his friend on a kibbutz and reminisced about the socialistic ideals they once shared and decried the state of affairs of today. Sitting with his friend overlooking Massada he reflected on a thought that if Israel found itself up against a wall would the Israelis adopt the “Massada strategy” – meaning in this case, of course, the launching nuclear missiles. His friend gasped and told Gerald, “The Jews killed themselves, they did not go to destroy the world “. Kaufman visibly turned crimson. His narcissistic self was punctured. The same goes for the likes of Greenstein and Fink. If they really loved music, they would not have done this. They are publicity seekers for the sake of it. They saw the word “Jerusalem” the word “Radio 3″ and off they went. They are a less amusing form form of streaker invading a cricket pitch. The second point is that we are living in a world that is undergoing rapid change and re-evaluation partly due to the very deep economic depression. It provides the correct room temperature for the hateful talk to spread without decency and with total disrespect. The lessons of history are converted and turned against the real victims.
There are a few avenues open to combat this:
Through the media:Respond to articles. Go to pro-Palestinian sites that espouse hatred and challenge those ideas. Question falling standards of journalism when it occurs, which is often these days.
Through law: Some of the statements used amount to incitement in my view
Through politics: Don’t vote for Kaufman even if one is a Labour supporter, and if you have a candidate like him standing in your constituency. Actively become involved at local level.
Teach tolerance and speak to one’s neighbour. Show a good example.
April 6th, 2010 at 12:32 am
Naomi in Jerusalem Says:
“These people … If they intermarry, which they probably do, the Darwinian law of survival of the fittest means that they will gradually die out, raising the average intelligence of the human race”
Which people exactly, in what sense “intermarry” and what does “the Darwinian law of survival of the fittest” mean here?
April 6th, 2010 at 12:57 pm
Whether Kaufman and Linton are prosecuted is now down to the Crown Prosecution Service since the incident has been reported to the police.
April 6th, 2010 at 2:01 pm
“Where precisely do we go from here?”
I imagine this kind of thing:
Machete used in anti-Semitic attack, Carleton students say
[Extracts]
1) “A well-known student supporter of Israel at Carleton University and an Israeli engineering student at the university say they are counting themselves lucky to have survived an attack with what they say was a machete near a Gatineau bar early Monday.
Nick Bergamini, 22, vice-president of the Carleton University Students’ Association, said he and roommate Mark Klibanov were leaving Le Volt bar on Promenade du Portage at 1:45 a.m. when a group of about 10 men began yelling in English and Arabic that they were Zionists and Jews.”
2) “Len Rudner, director of the Ontario chapter of the Canadian Jewish Congress, said being a Jew or Zionist in Canada should not prompt such an attack.
“Maybe we should consider the impact that words can have in accelerating the argument to the point where people feel that this kind of behaviour is acceptable,” Rudner said.
“If you permit a constant invective and demonization of the Jewish state and people who support the Jewish state, some people will feel that this gives them the permission or responsibility to carry out this kind of attack.” ”
http://tinyurl.com/yjmn9dw
Via Instapundit
http://pajamasmedia.com/instapundit/
April 6th, 2010 at 2:54 pm
Another Joshua
I agree about your personality disorder comment. The word hysterical comes to mind when listening to the likes of Fink (and another woman I only know as Naomi, but who I have come across on occasion), and who becomes extremely agitated to an abnormal degree when making their often screeched points.
At the LSE for a well behaved debate on Goldstone, at the very end when people were getting up to leave, one particular Jewish woman jumped up and in an hysterical manner, screamed to the audience about the plight of the Palestinians, and was roundly told to shut up, by an audience of mixed sympathies – she looked quite shocked as if expecting support and applause, but was in fact, rejected by everyone.
April 6th, 2010 at 11:17 pm
You cite Melanie Phillips and expect your article to be taken seriously. She of the ridiculous hyperbole book ‘Londonistan’. Tell me what would you think of somebody who titled their book ‘Jew.S.A’…or better yet, ‘JewYork’? I can imagine.
April 7th, 2010 at 10:19 am
RepublicanStones,
Many thanks for confirming our very worst fears.
Joshie
April 7th, 2010 at 3:37 pm
I am currently (and belatedly) reading Robin’s book “A State Beyond The Pale” – Robin – thank you so much for your clear exposition of precisely what is so very wrong in Europe, especially the UK, today.
Thank you for this blog too.
A small crumb of comfort in these bleak times: I attended a wonderful concert given by the fantastic Jerusalem Quartet in late March at the Menuhin Hall in leafy Surrey, and am happy to report that these brilliant Israeli musicians were very warmly received by the audience mainly “Middle England” & students from the Yehudi Menuhim school. So there to Fink, Greenstein et al.!
April 7th, 2010 at 7:32 pm
Republican, you are a provocateur. I have the book Londonistan. There’s nothing ridiculous and hyperbolic about it – the whole story is rather sad and thoroughly researched. Sad what London has degenerated to.
April 7th, 2010 at 11:11 pm
RepublicanStones makes a false analogy. Jewish fundamentalists don’t run terror networks from New York and blow up innocents on the New York subway.
That notwithstanding, I sense the tide is turning against Al-Qaida and its ilk. The rejection of Al-Qaida by the Sunni tribal leaders in Iraq was significant. Likewise opinion has turned against Hamas in Gaza. Israel must keep up the pressure until the message sinks in … “armed resistance” equals endless misery. Pity the West doesn’t have the same resilience.
April 8th, 2010 at 11:47 pm
Jewish fundamentalists don’t run terror networks from New York and blow up innocents on the New York subway.
Okay Jonathan, so when they were, it would have been okay to use the terms, JewSA, or JewYork?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Victor_Vancier
Hopefull Mr Shepherd will allow this post, or does he advocate censorship?
April 11th, 2010 at 11:58 pm
You must be pretty desperate with that Wikipedia link I think. (But even on the surface of things, I fail to see HOW MANY innocent civilians he killed. That big zero could be your undoing…)