Also in the US (Huffington Post, Pat Buchanan, e.g.), just less so so far.

Many Jews are easily silenced on university campus, in employment, among colleagues and anywhere since any mere indication of any sympathy with Israel or Jews usually prompts an attack which often becomes personal and will not be reported. At a new year gathering I mentioned to someone that I had been to see friends and family in Israel. His response was that Israel had stolen the land and I found myself under siege as he went off on an ignorant tirade. It felt most uncomfortable. If I had said “from North Korea” he’d have said nothing. He knew nothing about my politics but had immediately formed his view of me, by my mentioning the word “Israel”. A colleague at work I had a drink with remarked about the “insular” lives of the Haredi community, who in his view had failed to integrate to conclude : “They deserve what will happen to them!” I’m sure many readers will have their own experiences of this.

Interestingly I have noted from speaking with a friend that he too is feeling uncomfortable as the media seems to be preoccupied with Muslims and he sees no future in remaining in this country. He does not hold extreme views but loathes the fact that Muslims as a group are being tainted with the same brush as those being reported about daily in the news and FEARS a backlash and was talking about leaving the UK.

The trend is worrying and Robin you are absolutely right to keep highlighting it and not to allow the discussion on the subject to hide in the shadows however unpleasant this has all become.

“…double standard towards Jews as a people and a religion…”

Far more concerning is the double standards of the media and the so-called ‘intelligentsia’ between their treatment of each and every Israeli act; whether it is the war, targetted attacks on terror leaders, or political actions like the building of the security fence or the withdrawal from Gaza; compared with the way that any act by any other nation is reported or commented on.

That’s the real danger, the subtle and continuous feeding of the idea that Israel, and by insinuation / association, Jews as a whole are in some way more devious, more violent, more racist etc. than anybody else in the World.

I’m neither Jewish nor Israeli but feel an immense and growing anger and frustration about this. Goodness knows how it must feel to be Jewish!

Yours is a faint voice in the middle of a large angry mob but I hope you keep shouting: some people can hear you.

Steve, London