This is a guest post by Tom Wonacott
European leftism, well represented in the media, academia and political organizations, has promoted hatred, intolerance and antisemitism in Europe in a malicious and dishonest campaign to cast blame on Israel for the consequences of the Israel-Palestinian (I/P) conflict. During Operation Cast Lead, for example, the European Jewish community was subjected to “a wave of reprisal attacks” which amounted to “collective punishment” for Israel’s war policies. The European left (Euro-left) is motivated by improving frayed relations between the West and Muslim-majority countries because of the prolonged and divisive war.
INTRODUCTION
Euro-leftism is dominated by a quest for world peace and a guilt associated with Western interference in the developing world. Today’s Euro-left seeks peaceful coexistence between all the world’s peoples, and this world view is defined by multiculturalism, cultural and moral relativism, a respect for other peoples and cultures, and the belief that democracy cannot be forced on third world countries. For these reasons, human rights, which once stood as a hallmark of the left, are often sacrificed for the sake of peaceful coexistence. The driving force behind the philosophy of the Euro-left, however, is demonization of the US and Israel which they view as the biggest threats and obstacles to world peace. Many on the Euro-left have a “contradictory” obsession with the US and Israel, almost to the point of exclusion of other world events such as the wars in the Congo and Sri Lanka. In practice, Euro-leftism is a policy of appeasement in the quest for a world based on tolerance and peaceful coexistence.
Where support for Israel is very strong, such as in the U.S. and Canada, the Euro-leftist movement represents the “far” or “fringe” left in society. However, much of this article is devoted to the Euro-left where support for the Palestinian cause is much stronger.
THE ISRAELI-PALESTINIAN CONFLICT AND THE ARABS
A poll conducted in Europe in 2003 indicated that nearly 60% of Europeans believe that Israel is the biggest threat to world peace. The president of the European Commission at the time, Roman Prodi, said the results “may indicate a deeper, more general prejudice against the Jewish world, our repugnance is even more radical”. In fact, Europe has a long history of antisemitism which culminated in the Holocaust, and the murder of 6,000,000 Jews. Antisemitism in Europe has been primarily associated with right wing hate (Nazi Germany) and Christian persecution. Hate directed at Jews is still very much a part of the European culture. Jonathon Freedland wrote in the Guardian recently “I knew the day of Holocaust ‘debate’ would come. Just not in my lifetime”:
“……As for Latvia, no one can claim not to know that the Tories’ new allies are prime movers behind the annual parades which celebrate the Latvian legion of the Waffen-SS – a band of brothers that included men who roamed the country gunning down Jewish men, women and children in their tens of thousands……… where is the outrage? Where is the revulsion at David Cameron becoming partners with men who cheer those who fought for Hitler and against Churchill? The Guardian, the Observer, the New Statesman and now the Jewish Chronicle have been shining a light in this dark corner…..” [emphasis added]
Today, however, antisemitism is increasingly rooted in the Euro-left. Ironically, the Guardian may, themselves, be drumming up hatred of Jews because of their relentlessly negative coverage of Israel. One wonders what motivates the Guardian against David Cameron and the Conservative Party; concern for the Jewish community in Europe, or political posturing? Right wing hate should be condemned in the strongest fashion – but not for political expediency. But why would the Euro-left, which is obsessed with countering racism and hate, be willing to encourage antisemitism in their campaign against Israel?
The Euro-left considers the Israel-Palestinian conflict a grave threat to world peace (one manifestation being Iran’s pursuit of nuclear weapons). According to Diana Muir:
“……A couple of years ago the French Ambassador at the Court of St. James, Daniel Bernard, told his companions at a London dinner party that Israel is a “shitty little country,” “Why,” he asked, “should world be in danger of World the War Three because of those people?”
The Euro-left holds Israel responsible for the consequences of the I/P conflict. Although there is little doubt that the 60 year war has been a tension point between the Islamic world and western civilization, the Euro-left also attributes a plague of world-wide Islamist terrorism to the unresolved conflict. Indeed, many fault the so-called unconditional support of the US for Israel for the attacks against America on September 11, 2001. Today, the Euro-left views the settlements as the biggest obstacle to peace, and a land grab by the Israeli government which forestalls peace in an effort to usurp Palestinian land.
While the West (with increasing desperation) tries to resolve the conflict and bring peace to the region, the Euro-left wing media has leveled an unrelenting barrage of criticism at Israel. The Guardian, in particular, has viciously attacked Israeli society in an attempt to apply international pressure to isolate Israel, and placate Muslims for the benefit of peace and peaceful coexistence between the West and the Islamic world. In their world view, the Palestinians are the victims who bear no responsibility because, among other reasons, the Euro-left views the establishment of Israel as a product of Western intervention (colonialism).
In retribution for the travesty of justice directed at the Arabs in 1948, nearly one million Jews have been expelled from the greater Middle East. Their only crime? They were Jews. The Euro-left’s silence on this issue is deafening. It’s a rare occasion, indeed, when a Euro-leftist even acknowledges this ongoing process, let alone condemns the Arabs for their “collective punishment” of Jews – because, to many on the Euro-left, this is justice.
OPERATION CAST LEAD AND ANTISEMITISM IN EUROPE
Operation Cast Lead received world-wide attention. During the three-week conflict, incidents of antisemitism spiked sharply in Europe, and indeed, world-wide. European Jews became the convenient targets of protesters as the IDF responded with “disproportionate” force to rockets launched by Hamas into Israel. According to Soeren Kern,
“……[a] second front to the conflict in the Gaza Strip has opened up in Europe, where a wave of reprisal attacks against Jewish targets is stoking fears of a wider resurgence of anti-Semitism on the continent………Much of the blame lies with Europe’s left wing mass media establishment………Thus European publics are being bombarded with round-the-clock, knee-jerk, anti-Israel political bigotry disguised as news coverage. By making such deception fashionable, European media are inciting anti-Semitism….”
In 2007, Dennis MacShane, a British Labour Parliament member, wrote about the rising fear in the British Jewish community in the following terms:
“Hatred of Jews has reached new heights in Europe and many points south and east of the old continent……..Our report showed a pattern of fear among a small number of British citizens — there are around 300,000 Jews in Britain………On campuses, militant anti-Jewish students fueled by Islamist or far-left hate seeking to prevent Jewish students from expressing their opinions. More worrisome was what we described as anti-Jewish discourse, a mood and tone whenever Jews are discussed, whether in the media, at universities, among the liberal media elite or at dinner parties of modish London. To express any support for Israel or any feeling for the right of a Jewish state to exist produces denunciation, even contempt……..”
According to the Institute for Global Jewish Affairs, “[d]uring Israel’s Operation Cast Lead ……anti-Semitic incidents in Britain increased eightfold to 220 compared to the same period a year earlier”.
And the Euro-left is clearly a part of the problem. In Spain, perhaps one of the most antisemitic countries in Europe, the blatant bias exhibited by Spanish academia and the media against Israel should be condemned, not encouraged by the head of a European country. Yet, Socialist Prime Minister, José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero, made an anti-Semitic slur about the Holocaust more characteristic of Ahmadinejad than a European Prime Minister:
“ ….Zapatero loosed a tirade of extreme anti-Zionist and anti-Semitic rhetoric that ended with the phrase: “Es que a veces hasta se entiende que haya gente que puede justificar el holocausto” which means: “At times one can even understand that there might be people who could justify the Holocaust.”…..”.
Zapatero surely understood the potential consequences to the small Jewish community in Spain with his remarkably insensitive outburst. Citing a study conducted by Two Connecticut professors which found a correlation between very harsh critics of Israel and antisemitism, Diana Muir wrote,
“…..In a survey of 5,000 Europeans in ten countries………… [a]nti-Semitism and anti-Zionism flourish among the few, but those few are over-represented in Europe’s newspapers, its universities, and its left-wing political parties…..”
One would have to be blind or willfully ignorant to be unaware of the hatred displayed by the Euro-left towards Israel – inspired and promoted by the left wing media, academics, and even the Prime Minister of Spain. No one can deny the influence of the Euro-leftist “elite” on the negative perception of Israel, and the consequences to the Jewish community which was held hostage to demonstrations, violence and intimidation during Operation Cast Lead.
THE JEWISH STATE
The goal of the Euro-left is simple: attack the foundation of the Jewish state, her Jewish people, her Jewish history and democracy, and provide an impetus for international actions against Israel including isolation and sanctions. Euro-leftist academia has been at the forefront of the fight to boycott Israel, promote the single state solution and present Israel as a racist, apartheid state. Besides the vile comparisons between Germany and Israel which are anti-Semitic to the core, the most damaging lie is the comparison of Israel with apartheid South Africa. Neve Gordon, Professor of Politics at Ben-Gurion University, is one such academic that has propagated this lie. In a “Time to Boycott Israel” published in the Guardian’s Comment is Free, Gordon wrote,
“…..Out of this population, 3.5 million Palestinians and almost half a million Jews live in the areas Israel occupied in 1967, and yet while these two groups live in the same area, they are subjected to totally different legal systems………The question that keeps me up at night, both as a parent and as a citizen, is how to ensure that my two children as well as the children of my Palestinian neighbours do not grow up in an apartheid regime……”
The Guardian has provided a convenient outlet for the Euro-left to promote hatred against Israeli society, and in the case of Mr. Gordon, against his own country. Just a cursory glance at the laws (apartheid legislation) which governed South Africa indicate that nothing like apartheid exists in Israel. Certainly, discrimination and racism are present in Israeli society (complicated by continuous war for the past 60 years), but Israeli Arabs have the right to vote, the right to an education, serve in the Knesset and so on. The comparison is false, but the lie is propagated to demonize the Jewish state. The Guardian, in particular, has depicted the Palestinians as the “victims” of a brutal racist state through a plethora of anti-Israel commentary. Don’t expect a change in this tactic anytime soon.
In addition, the Euro-left has relentlessly criticized the demographics of Israel, maintaining that a state founded on an ethnic or religious majority must be exclusivist or racist. Additionally, because there is only a small population of Jews world-wide, Jews must create laws to maintain their demographic majority. Ali Abudimah, a political activist who advocates a unitary state in Palestine, assaulted the “Jewish” state in a prototype article used by the Guardian to undermine the legitimacy of Israel, “Democracy: an existential threat?“,
“…..But whereas transforming a regime of institutionalised racism, or apartheid, into a democracy was viewed as a triumph for human rights and international law in South Africa and Northern Ireland, it is rejected out of hand in the Israeli case as a breach of what is essentially a sacred right to ethno-religious supremacy (euphemistically rendered as Israel’s “right to be a Jewish state”)……..”
Has Mr. Abudimah noticed that the West helped create Pakistan and Kosovo exclusively for Muslims? Also, is it any wonder that the initiation of the academic boycott against Israel began with an open letter to the Guardian?
CONCLUSION
The Euro-left has condemned Israel in every way possible – proclaimed in the name of Palestinian human rights – but this amounts to a farcical ploy couched in an agenda by the Euro-left wing media, academia and the political left to promote anger, intolerance and anti-Semitism in a bid to isolate the Jewish state internationally. Ironically, the Euro-left is motivated by peaceful coexistence with the non-democratic Islamic world which adheres to the Cairo Declaration of Human Rights in Islam – a document which promotes bigotry in the name of cultural relativism.
The Euro-left considers the fleeing of 750,000 Palestinian Arabs (during Israel’s war of independence) a debasement of the entire Arab population. However, the ongoing process (Yemen) of Arab retribution against Middle East Jews has not only been condoned in silence by the Euro-left, but the Euro-left has encouraged a policy of hatred and incitement against Jews amounting to a collective punishment of the Jewish community in Europe.
Left wing political activist and supporter of the one-state solution, Virginia Tilley, warns her fellow activists supporting a boycott of Israel:
“……….Don’t tolerate the slightest whiff of anti-Semitism in your own group or movement. Anti-Jewish racists are certainly out there, and they are attracted to these campaigns like roaches….”
Indeed.
Hawkeye
Omar2
WellofSense
Medusa
The Alchemist
Louise
Tosca
Maimon
Telling the Truth
Israelinurse
Adam Levick
Margie in Tel Aviv
Guest/Cross Post
Hadar Sela
26 comments
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December 14, 2009 at 10:37 pm
Hi
Uh, I’m completely on your side, but to say “Euro-leftism is dominated by a quest for world peace” is a really stupid way of denouncing the Euro-left. I get the followup points you make, but that’s a really moronic way to word that sentence.
December 14, 2009 at 11:49 pm
SickFrogman
Would you prefer him to have said truthfully, “Euro-leftism is dominated by a fantasy of world peace despite Islam”?
December 15, 2009 at 12:29 am
AKUS
Tom, this is very sound analysis. The concept that the Euroe-left will sacrifice human rights in a fruitless quest for peaceful coexistence, not realizing that it takes at least two with the same preference for peaceful coexistence, is right on the money.
What makes their attacks on Israel all the more hypocritical is the way an endless ragtag band of self-styled “activists”, “human rights workers’ and so forth try to claim the human rights title by attacking Israel when, as you say, what lies behind it is a vain attempt at appeasing a resurgent and violent Islam, which will turn on the very people who brought it to power when it gets the chance.
One other comment – that French politician with his “shitty little country” – if you follow the I/P threads closely, you’ll often see references to Israel’s “littleness” – it is the fact that this tiny country successful stands up to and even vanquishes countries larger in almost every dimension (population, physical size, oil reserves) that so bewilders and upsets the Euro-Left. In their scheme, tiny Israel should just do what it is told by those who still mistakenly think of themselves as great powers.
December 15, 2009 at 12:44 am
Margie
Excellent analysis, clearly presented Tom.
Akus:tiny Israel should just do what it is told by those who still mistakenly think of themselves as great powers.
Elders and betters comes to mind.
December 15, 2009 at 4:49 am
JerusalemMite
Tom. Nicely set out.
Nice except that it doesn’t differentiate between the rational left who are prepared to compromise on mistakes made and the loony left who see everything is black on white or don’t ‘see’ it at all.
The ‘it’ being Islamism in its worst forms.
Which will surely swallow them whole if it ever succeeds.
‘They‘ will hate you as they hate Tony Blair and Nick Cohen.
You should be proud.
December 15, 2009 at 7:38 am
pretzelberg
“A poll conducted in Europe in 2003 indicated that nearly 60% of Europeans believe that Israel is the biggest threat to world peace.”
This is simply not true. the figures from the survey have been widely misinterpreted.
“Hate directed at Jews is still very much a part of the European culture.”
Am I allowed to call this preposterous nonsense a libel?
“an agenda by the Euro-left wing media, academia and the political left to promote anger, intolerance and anti-Semitism”
Please provide evidence of the mainstream European left wing actively seeking to promote anti-Semitism.
You are making this up.
“let alone condemns the Arabs for their “collective punishment” of Jews – because, to many on the Euro-left, this is justice.”
Again this is a nasty slur that just doesn’t stand up.
Who on the Euro-left believes the collective punishment of Jews was justified?
And on the last two points I mean serious commentators or politicians – not some idiot on CiF.
December 15, 2009 at 7:43 am
pretzelberg
@ AKUS
“it is the fact that this tiny country successful stands up to and even vanquishes countries larger in almost every dimension (population, physical size, oil reserves) that so bewilders and upsets the Euro-Left.”
You seem to be under some misconceptions here. There was initially widespread symapthy and support for Israel, especially in light of the common perception of it as being the David in the equation.
What primarily upsets people on the left is the ongoing occupation and the WB settlements.
December 15, 2009 at 8:08 am
AKUS
Pretzelberg – I wish I had made a collection of comments on CiF and other places that refer to Israel’s small size in tones ranging from irritation to anger as the reason it should not act in what the speaker/writer believes is a way inappropriate for a small nation. The “shitty little country” comment is but one, and the most visible. You can see many comments on CiF like “Israel behaves like a spoiled child” (and should be given a good whack on the behind by Uncle Sam or Auntie Boadicea).
It is also one reason that the occupation and settlements are so high-profile in the Euro-left scheme of things. They know there’s nothing they can do about China in Tibet, or India or Pakistan in Kashmir, or even the US in Iraq, but like domineering adults believe that they should be able to make Israel do what its told.
December 15, 2009 at 8:30 am
Margie
Pretzelberg: Middle Eastern Jews suffered expulsion from the countries that their forbears had occupied for centuries after the establishment of Israel. This may certainly be termed collective punishment and we are still waiting to hear the European voices raised in protest.
December 15, 2009 at 8:40 am
modernityblog
pretzelberg you wrote:
“What primarily upsets people on the left is the ongoing occupation and the WB settlements.”
I think nowadays it is merely a totem pole issue, a constant, an easy topic to pick on and I think that it is more confined to the English speaking section of the European left than anything else.
As political failures in other areas have been apparent (Fall of the USSR, decline of trade unionism, etc) the quick and easy issue of attacking Israelis has been taken up, even though there are many comparably worse situations around the world (Tibet, etc).
So I don’t think that concern for the goings-on in the West Bank and Gaza can totally explain it, the reason I say that is because when ever I argue with people (from the Left, although not exclusively) on this topic what becomes apparent is a lot of misconceptions, incredibly poor history, much often shrouded in political malice.
I would agree that prior to 68 most on the Left were sympathetic to varying degrees with Israel, but explaining it in terms of concern for Gaza and the West Bank does not, in my view, fully explain it.
I think that the influence of the Soviet Union, its “Anti-Zionist” purges, rampant antisemitism and the need to curry favour with the Arab states is a far more persuasive thesis.
European CPs, as we know, were propaganda outlets for the USSR and all of their policies, and after 1968 Soviet “Anti-Zionism” became more dominant, bearing in mind that European CPs were mass parties with 100,000s of members and millions voting for them.
So I suspect that the CP’s influence changed many of the previously held attitudes, prior to 1968, although I accept that it doesn’t fully explain the phenomena.
December 15, 2009 at 9:34 am
TomWonacott
Prezelberg
Consider the amount of antisemitic incidents directed at the Jewish communities in Europe after Operation Cast Lead. Consider that in a 2009 poll conducted in Spain, 74% of Spaniards believe that Jews have too much influence over the financial markets. Consider that 68% of Germans believe that Israel is waging a war of extermination against the Palestinians, and then consider the timing of the British report on the Israel lobby which is really about Jewish power, money and influence. Isn’t this just an old stereotype of Jews? Maybe its just me, but it seems obvious. Yea, actively promoting antisemitism – in my opinion.
“let alone condemns the Arabs for their “collective punishment” of Jews – because, to many on the Euro-left, this is justice.”
In fact, Prezelberg, even very few crazies on the far left actively suggest that the ethnic cleansing of Jews was/is justified, let alone politicians, but silence speaks volumes on the issue. For example, how much coverage did the latest incident in Yemen receive? The remnants of a 2000 (+) year old historic Jewish community must be airlifted out of Yemen for their own safety. It didn’t really seem to matter did it? Yet, when a couple of families in East Jerusalem are removed from their home, all hell breaks loose in the western media.
No one should condone the removal of Palestinian families, but do they deserve more press that the 200-300 Jews losing their homes in Yemen, effectively, ending a 2000 year old community? Isn’t this because Jews are the oppressors and the Arabs the victims? Isn’t this because Jews are seen as powerful? In a lot of ways, how Israel is viewed is similar to the US. In that sense, anti Americanism and anti Israelism are really one in the same (the “Great Satan” and the “Little Satan”, respectively). In that sense, the Jewish community in Yemen suffered the consequences of that view of Israel as the powerful oppressor. Once again, it goes back to the idea that all Jews are punished because of Israel. Antisemitism is on the rise around the world – for that reason.
Seen in that context, the 800,000 Jews removed from the Middle East is viewed differently than the 750,000 Arabs expelled during the 1948 war. Even authors like Hayeem blame the Mossad (at least in Iraq). Jews as powerful manipulaters. I think his original reply to me spoke volumes.
December 15, 2009 at 9:43 am
cityca
TW
Excellent article.
pretzelberg and modernityblog
WRT occupation/settlements – I entirely agree with modernityblog – if it weren’t those two items, another red herring would appear. It is simply an excuse not to progress with peace – I think Netanyahu could be somewhat more conciliatory and explain his stance better no doubt, but in the long run, there is nothing that Israel could do to get broad satisfaction from its Arab neighbours, except up stakes and move out, lock stock and barrel.
If you think differently pretzelberg, you are fooling yoiurself.
December 15, 2009 at 9:50 am
TomWonacott
AKUS
I think that the statement by the French politician speaks volumes for the left’s view of Israel in many respects. A very condescending view of a Israel, indeed.
Thanks, and a great comment by the way.
December 15, 2009 at 10:12 am
TomWonacott
JerusalemMite
I think that you are right in many ways. Certainly, the left should be differentiated in Europe, and, indeed, everywhere. While the “far” left in Europe that has led the anti Israel campaign, they have been much more successful in mainstreaming their anti Israel views (in my opinion). This is not the case in the US and Canada. But, that could change. In fact, there is an erosion to a certain degree in the US despite recent poll results showing strong US support for Israel across the board.
There are an awful lot of left-leaning Prezelbergs, ExiledLondoners and Lenis out there who view the IP conflict fairly (probably more so than myself).
December 15, 2009 at 10:51 am
TomWonacott
Thanks Cityca. I’ve always admired your political activism
December 15, 2009 at 12:08 pm
richardhutton
@TomWonacott:
“Consider that in a 2009 poll conducted in Spain, 74% of Spaniards believe that Jews have too much influence over the financial markets. Consider that 68% of Germans believe that Israel is waging a war of extermination against the Palestinians, and then consider the timing of the British report on the Israel lobby which is really about Jewish power, money and influence. Isn’t this just an old stereotype of Jews? Maybe its just me, but it seems obvious. Yea, actively promoting antisemitism – in my opinion”.
And which poll precisely was that data drawn from? A reliable, credible source; or from the Anti Defamation League’s fictional ones in which the always anonymous ADL author takes a template and makes the statistics up?
Let’s look at a credible source – the Pew charitable trust’s findings from 2008:
http://pewglobal.org/reports/pdf/262.pdf
Pew asked people in several countries “if you have a very favorable, somewhat favorable, somewhat unfavorable or very unfavorable opinion of: Jews” (p. 52).
Spain = hardly overwhelmingly negative; and Britain = overwhelmingly favourable.
Only 2-3% = very unfavourable; a range of between 4 and 6 % = ‘somewhat unfavourable’; whereas the ‘somewhat favourable = 53-57%; whilst ‘very favourable’ = 16 – 24%. That is, the full range for affirmed favourable views = between 69-81%; whereas for avowed disfavourable = between 6-9%. This somewhat disproves your statistics.
Now, who did Pew find to be the mainstay of anti-semitic views? A young, highly educated passionately anti-racist liberal elite? No:
“A notable parallel between anti-Muslim and
anti-Jewish opinion in Western Europe is that both
sentiments are most prevalent among the same
groups of people. Older people and those with less
education are more anti-Semitic and anti-Muslim
than are younger people or those with more
Education“. (p. 6)
and
- in other words, precisely the opposite of a new, young generation of educated intellectuals/liberals.
“There are some political parallels too. Anti-Muslim and anti-Jewish opinions are most prevalent among Europeans on the political right” (p. 6)
Case very firmly closed.
Which British report stated that Jews had too much power/control/influence? Which one stated that an Israeli lobby was all powerful? As far as I can tell, most diaspora Israeli nationalists are usually decidedly feeble and shabby. Who precisely has said that they are not?
“There are an awful lot of left-leaning Prezelbergs, ExiledLondoners and Lenis out there who view the IP conflict fairly (probably more so than myself)”.
Aye fortunately there are. But a striking admission nonetheless. Maybe there’s hope for you yet.
December 15, 2009 at 12:34 pm
Margie
RHutton: Your personal preferences as to which poll to choose to grace with your approval is not very impressive considering the way you end your comment
As far as I can tell, most diaspora Israeli nationalists are usually decidedly feeble and shabby. How many diaspora Israeli nationalists do you know, how do you define and identify them as such and in what kind of circles do you move personally?
December 15, 2009 at 12:52 pm
pretzelberg
@ TomW
Thanks for the response, but you haven’t really addressed my principle concerns about the piece:
- Anti-Semitism being “very much a part of the European culture.”
- Anti-Semitism being “promoted” by the left.
- The left allegedly claiming that the expulsion of Arab Jews was justice.
These are all serious accusations, and frankly I don’t see that you have the material to back them up with.
December 15, 2009 at 1:45 pm
richardhutton
@Margie:
“Your personal preferences as to which poll to choose to grace with your approval is not very impressive considering the way you end your comment”
Firstly, that hardly relates to the quality of data presented by Pew; nor does it in any way detract from the criticism I personally levelled at Tom’s account of matters. My choice was determined by the fact that a) the adl makes its statistics up and b) the Pew trust is independent and authoritative. Of course, if Tom had provided a reference then I could have taken a look at that data. Needless to say it didn’t; and I recall a fuss being made about the ADL’s ‘report’ a shortwhile back. If that’s not the data Tom cites then of course I would retract the suggestion that it was; but that ishardly the point now is it?
” How many diaspora Israeli nationalists do you know, how do you define and identify them as such and in what kind of circles do you move personally?”
Knowing them personally is neither here nor there: I didn’t discuss personalities – I was discussing Tom’s case as it was made in print – and for what it’s worth I tend to find those of right-wing leanings far more amenable in person than in print. In fact – to put it mildly – as much as I may admire more left-leaning individuals as journalists/scholars etc. I rarely like their personalities. I’m sure if I knew you personally there would hardly be anything to dislike; but that does not mean you make arguments with which there is nothing to disagree.
I would define an Israeli nationalist in the same way as I would define a British or American nationalist: a person who believes ‘my country right or wrong’; or more specifically, somebody whose devotion to their country overrides their discernment between truth and fiction.
“in what kind of circles do you move personally?”
concentric ones, Margie. Red wine and dropped keys often feature.
December 15, 2009 at 2:19 pm
Margie
Red wine and dropped keys often feature. Clouded judgement, as I thought. Thank you.
December 15, 2009 at 2:29 pm
modernityblog
Well CityCa,
I think we need to examine all issues and not use these topics as political battering rams against our perceived political opponents, and I’m afraid that’s how this post comes over.
I’ll have a think and then post a few pointers on Tom’s article.
December 15, 2009 at 4:11 pm
TomWonacott
Sorry RichardHutton, but I had some prior commitments today, but better late than never.
According to Robin Shepherd, Washington Post, January 30, 2005, “In Europe, an Unhealthy Fixation on Israel”
“…………….A poll of 3,000 people published last month by Germany’s University of Bielefeld showed more than 50 percent of respondents equating Israel’s policies toward the Palestinians with Nazi treatment of the Jews [~40 million]. Sixty-eight percent of those surveyed specifically believed that Israel is waging a “war of extermination” against the Palestinian people [~55 million].
Germany is not alone in these shocking sentiments. They have been expressed elsewhere, and often by prominent figures. In 2002, the Portuguese Nobel Prize-winning writer Jose Saramago declared, “What is happening in Palestine is a crime which we can put on the same plane as what happened at Auschwitz.” In Israel just last month, Mairead Corrigan Maguire, the Irish winner of the 1976 Nobel Peace Prize, compared the country’s suspected nuclear weapons to Auschwitz, calling them “gas chambers perfected.”………..
…………BBC poll of 4,000 people taken late last year, in the run-up to Holocaust Remembrance Day last Thursday, showed that, amazingly, 45 percent of all Britons and 60 percent of those under 35 years of age had never heard of Auschwitz — the Nazi death camp in southern Poland where about 1.5 million Jews were murdered during World War II…
The Eurobarometer survey quoted above also showed 40 percent of respondents across Europe believing that Jews had a “particular relationship to money,” with more than a third expressing concern that Jews were “playing the victim because of the Holocaust…………..” My brackets
You said,
“……Pew asked people in several countries “if you have a very favorable, somewhat favorable, somewhat unfavorable or very unfavorable opinion of: Jews”
Spain = hardly overwhelmingly negative; and Britain = overwhelmingly favourable…….”
According to Soeren Kern, “Spain’s Jewish Problem”, 12/8/2008:
“………Spain is also the only country in Europe where negative views of Jews outweigh positive views [negative 46%]; only 37 percent of Spaniards think favorably about Jews. By comparison, 36 percent of Poles have negative views of Jews while 50 percent have positive views; in Germany, 25 percent negative versus 64 percent positive; in France, 20 percent negative versus 79 percent positive; and in Britain, 9 percent positive versus 73 percent favorable. (According to Pew, 77 percent of Americans have favorable views toward Jews, compared with 7 percent unfavorable.)…..” My brackets
Taken from the same PEW poll that you cite, and nearly 50% in Spain have an unfavorable view of Jews and you don’t believe that is a bad number? That’s approximately 20 million people. View the results from the US, for example, and that wouldn’t worry you?
“……….“There are some political parallels too. Anti-Muslim and anti-Jewish opinions are most prevalent among Europeans on the political right” (p. 6)
Case very firmly closed…….”
Hardly. While it might be a good trend that younger people are less antisemitic, I never said anything about age, now did I?
From the PEW polls. “…….Similarly, 34% of people on the political right have a negative opinion of Jews, compared with 28% of those on the left and 26% of centrists…..”
Why should anyone on the anti racist left have negative opinions of Jews? Of those that express a negative opinion of Jews, approximately 61% consider themselves center or left as opposed to 39% the political right. In addition, PEW shows these numbers are clearly rising in Europe. Case closed?
“…..And which poll precisely was that data drawn from? A reliable, credible source; or from the Anti Defamation League’s fictional ones in which the always anonymous ADL author takes a template and makes the statistics up?….”
The Anti Defamation League commissioned First International Resources to conduct the poll that showed that 74% of Spaniards have too much power in the international financial markets – with a 95% confidence level +/- 4%, Unless you can show that the ADL in some way biased the results, you look fairly silly with your accusation. As far as I can tell, First International is credible, and would they risk their international standing to fake a poll result? Sorry, I cannot link to the story. Its under “Antisemitism in Europe”.
Notice what Zapatero said in the article? Let me repeat it.
“ ….Zapatero loosed a tirade of extreme anti-Zionist and anti-Semitic rhetoric that ended with the phrase: “Es que a veces hasta se entiende que haya gente que puede justificar el holocausto” which means: “At times one can even understand that there might be people who could justify the Holocaust.”…..”.
Another right winger? If you believe that the left is not involved in the rise of antismitism in Europe, you are living in la la land.
December 15, 2009 at 4:26 pm
TomWonacott
Prezelberg
I don’t know if you are looking for a smoking gun or what. Do you want tapes from the editorial room of several left wing news sources? Its just how I interpret events, that’s all. I feel comfortable in the interpretation.
Thanks.
December 16, 2009 at 5:32 am
modernityblog
I can see where this article is going, but it strikes me as a bit sloppy and politically motivated.
By politically motivated, it seems to me to already drawn a conclusion and then proceeds to marshal the facts afterwards, to settle political scores or some such.
Firstly, who exactly is the Euro left?
How is it defined? Everyone in Europe, or those to the Left of Rush Limbaugh?
What exactly does that mean? In terms of Europe? Liberals? Social Democrats? Socialists? Communists? Anarchists? Who?
Assuming that it means Guardian readers, liberals, the intelligentsia then that’s a big catchment, and it seems a bit messy to try to generalise about such a diverse range of people, without strong evidence to back it up.
We are told that “The European left (Euro-left) is motivated by”, how exactly do we know the motivation of the tens of thousands of people who presumably comprise this vague Euro-Left?
What evidence is there for their motivation? Surely this is the realm of speculation and telepathy? And not much use in the real world.
If, however, the article were to argue that sections of the media are anti-Israeli then there is plenty of evidence to back that up, but the wider generalisations are rather unsatisfactory.
For example, it is a bit like someone saying conservatives in America are all Gun nuts.
You could make a case that some conservatives are keen on Guns, but it would be too much to suggest that nearly all of them are. The same applies when you take this article and the sweeping view attributed to the Euro-left, who ever they are.
Another problem is that there is no sense of history in this article, how views have changed over time, or why.
There is no differentiation between forms of antisemitism, vocal or violence, or any nuanced view of anti-Israeli feeling in societies, sections of it and how that differentiates between physical violence towards Jews.
Sadly, the article is long on political hyperbole, sweeping in tone and rather short on evidence. It probably confirms existing political prejudices but does little to shed light on attitudes in Europe in any subtle fashion.
Finally, is there no counter case? Or is this lopsided thesis the only possible view?
December 16, 2009 at 11:41 am
TomWonacott
Modernityblob
I appreciate your response. I should have narrowed the scope of the article – and shortened the article to be more reader friendly. The topic is simply too broad-based to attack the subject in the detail you suggest. One example would be, as you noted, has the left changed over time (historical context). That’s a very important point because views of the left have significantly changed, and that forms the basis of the article. Unfortunately, I eliminated a section which might have helped explain that change (to shorten the article). Of course, the left is very broad in their views, just like any political movement, and it probably would have helped greatly to explain why that change is important – and it also might have helped narrow the target somewhat. That I regret.
To perfectly define the “Euro-left“ would have been nearly impossible (which is your point). The terms “left” and “right“, or “neoconservative” defy single descriptions and definitions because as individuals, we all are politically motivated for various reasons and causes. None the less, they’re useful terms. To me, the term Euro-left (really “modern” left), while difficult to define exactly, is useful to define as a leftist political movement that is anti American and anti Israel at its core. Obviously, this extends beyond Europe – and much more space could have been devoted to the definition (like a book, for example).
Antisemitism, in itself, is a very complex subject. The intention was not to try to define the various kinds of antisemitism and their origins – but just to note that left wing antisemitism is on the rise, in large part, because of leftist control of the media and academics, and how they demonize Israel with their reporting/teaching. Nothing really new there. That’s why we have CIFWatch – at least, in part. Certainly, one affect of the “new” antisemitism has been to bring the various forms of antisemitism out of the closet – both left and right (in effect, normalize it, see CIF). In this sense, left meets right, and left aligns with right. The Respect Party?
Also, I felt the need to stay within the parameters of this site, namely, to expose the Guardian. As has been noted by others, the BBC has certainly been no friend to Israel. In general, the media bias has been influential throughout Europe in shaping public opinion on the IP conflict. And it took time and effort (since I’m relatively new to reading the Guardian) – and space – to relate “left-wing antisemitism” to the Guardian. No problem for me on that account because media watchdogs are, it seems, becoming more and more important to balance viewpoints. I believe that the role of the media (in general) is significant in the way the European population perceives the IP conflict which, as you know, is much different than the way Americans and Canadians perceive it. By the way, I’m interested in counterpoints when someone (like DaveHutton) presents one, but that was way beyond what I had the time for in this article.
Additionally, Hawkeye insisted that I use the term Euro-left in place of “left” (or “modern” left). Understandably, CIFWatch does not take a stand on the political left or right. Originally, I used the term “Euro-left” only twice, and the term “modern“ left seven times. I think that “modern left” is a better term than “Euro-left” because it implies a change.
Finally, if this paper fails to build a case, that’s entirely my fault because there clearly is a case to be made – at least in my opinion.
Thanks for your suggestions. Next time…….
December 16, 2009 at 12:54 pm
modernityblog
Tom,
Fair enough, I appreciate your reply.
I think something like “much of the modern Left” would be have nearer the mark.
Because Euro-Left could encompass any number of people, or subsections of 800 million Europeans.
Not forgetting that not all of the Left are complacent on antisemitism.
In fact, one of the first critical pamphlets dealing with the left and antisemitism, was in fact from a socialist, Steve Cohen, who died recently.
http://www.engageonline.org.uk/ressources/funny/
That’s Funny You Don’t Look Anti-Semitic, An anti-racist analysis of left anti-semitism by Steve Cohen
Originally published in 1984, over 25 years ago.
I think the topic of antisemitism vs. anti Israeli sentiment, who pushes it and why, is a very worthwhile discussion, I come back to it later if I may?