Hi Y'all,
A lot of European anti-Semitism comes from misplaced guilt over Europe's complicity in the Holocaust..`hey.... look at those @!@ `zionists'...they're no better than us!'

This is particularly true of Britain, IMO, which was directly responsible for the high death toll in the Nazi Camps by closing off emigration to Palestine on the eve of the Holocaust via the `White Paper'...giving desperate Jews no refuge to flee to. Had the British allowed those Jews into Palestine in accordance with their responsibilities under the League of Nations Mandate, millions would have been saved.

Another little known instance occurred when the Nazis occupied Hungary, an ally of Hitler's during the war and containing a community of 500,000 Jews.

Himmler offered to spare these Jews and let the allies take them off his hands in exchange fo ra few trucks. The Americans signed off on the deal, but Britain would not...because they didn't want these Jews in Palestine to `antagonize' the Arabs.
Most of them died in Auschwitz and Treblinka.

You can read about this in Lucy Dawidowicz'z award winning book, `The War Against the Jews'.

Both Britain and the Arabs were highly complicit in the Holocaust, as well as the attempt to destroy Israel at birth.J O S H U A P U N D I T: Ahmadinejad hits out at Israel ..again. But raises a legitimate point for discussion

One can hardly expect them to change.

Great site, BTW...

It's infuriating to see words such as apartheid used to describe Israel, a democracy. Israel must assert her right to exist unapologetically and forcefully.

Dear Rmill2k:

Thanks so much for your incisive and profound analysis. And of course the excellent links are invaluable.

Naturally, the boiling-over British antiSemitism disguised as "mere antiZionism" is found in all Europe. France is certainly in the grip of homegrown and foreign Jihadists, and yet her foreign policy and citizenry are squarely hostile to Israel and suicidally warm towards the Jihadists who have openly proclaimed their desire to turn France, all of Europe, into a Caliphite. French women will have to trade in their basic black Chanel dress for the basic black chardor.

Perhaps then the French will come to their senses.

Returning to England. The Mayor of London, the right dishonorable Ken Livingston, is an outspoken and unapologetic antiSemite. Londoners do not seem terribly perturbed by their mayor's continual Israel/Jew bashing. He makes regular statements that excuse homicide bombers -- in Israel. And even these disgusting remarks are accepted by Londoners as quite logical within the context of the modern liberal mindset.

And they are quite correct in this argument.

Modern liberalism, at its core, lusts for the homicidal nihilism that propels Hamas and the entire Jihadist movement.

Melanie Philips has dubbed London "Londonstan." It appears that Londoners barely notice what is happening to their once great city. And if they do notice, they do not seem to care, or if they do care they have not the weapons with which to fight this implacable enemy.

And what are these weapons I refer to?

In short:

1)A deep religious faith that passionately accepts and defends the Judeo/Christian values of: religion; if you are Jewish, start with the written Torah and move on to the Oral Torah. If Christian, start with the Torah and move on to the Christain Bible. Democracy and pluralism are integral parts of the Judeo/Christian tradition and they must triumph over the Islamic Jihadist values of religious tyranny and Dhimmitude.

2)A soaring nationalism, and a total rejection of multi-culturalism which states that all cultures are of equal value. A recognition that the mantra of "all people are the same" is a lie. A culture that promotes and casually accepts "honor killings" of women has nothing in common with my culture. Zero. Nada. This is one of the mindsets that is destroying European culture. If you do not passionately love your country, and your religion, well, how can, how will you defend it?

3)There must be a willingness to fight and sacrifice and fight some more, and ultimately destroy the enemy so completely that they will surrender unconditionally.

Regarding casualties: People will die. That's what happens in war. There is no way of fighting a war without incurring casualties. If this is your goal. You lose. This is not to say that we fight with unrestrained brutality. The opposite. We do the best we can to avoid unnecessary casualties. We do the best we can to minimize civilian casualties. But our soldiers will die. And civilians will die. These horrible deaths must not deter us. The enemy counts on our very humanity to paralyze us.

INTERPOLATION:

This public death count here in America, every single day, is not only grotesque, but sends the message (driven not by compassion, but by anti-war sentiment) that the war we fight against the Jihadists is already lost and not worth the blood our soldiers shed.

Let me say this: Each death is a tragedy; not as the news anchors present it, a melodrama.

We lost these many men in the first hour of the Normandy landings. We lost these many men in the first few minutes of Antietam.

END INTERPOLATION.

For England, it is, to paraphrase a great English writer: "... the worst of times and the worst of times."

Thanks for the kind words.

Oddly enough, I think Pope Benedict recognizes that the Battle for Europe is commencing, based on his remarks at Auschwitz Sunday. J O S H U A P U N D I T: The Pope at Auschwitz And remember, each pontiff picks his own name...the name of benedict has historical significance.

Based on what I hear from my correspondants in Europe, I still believe that in the end, the Europeans will rally and fight the Islamists in their midst...even in Britain. The anger towards Europe's `multicultural' politicians is palpable.

Unfortunately, the reaction will likely be of an extremely nativist kind, and many Jews, in Europe as in America, tend to identify with the Left,on the wrong side in this struggle and will be likely caught in the middle.

If I were a Jew in England or France or Germany I would leave for Israel, Australia or America as soon as possible.

Anyway, that's how I see it.

Tamara:

Always good to hear from you. I actually think that the time to assert Israel's right to exist is not the way to go. That is a defensive position and plays into the hands of our enemies.

What we must do is assert, as forcefully as possible, the fact that it is the Arab Territories in Gaza and Judea and Samaria, that are proudly and outspokenly apartheid, that demand to be Judenrein.

Further, we must state that there must be no Palestinian state for they have already proven to be a terrorist entity and as such have no right to a national existence.

If these Arabs continue their terrorist and genocidal agenda, they must be isolated in every way possible.

This goes for terrorist states like Saudi Arabia-- a family corporation really that exports its wretched, fanatical Wahhabi brand of Islam that is antiSemitic, antiChristian, anti Democratic, and antiFemale.

Dear Rmill2k:

Once again, I thank you for the fine comments. By the way, I have shamefully neglected to tell you what a fine website you have, a blog I regularly read and learn from.

Confession, Jewish style: No idea what the historical signifigance of Pope Benedict's name means. I would greatly appreciate any light you could throw on this for me.

As for your notion that the Europeans will fight, well, what can I say?

1. I sincerely hope you are right, but...
2. With what?
3. You do admit that the fight will be naively leftists hence all I can forsee is suicide.
4. The Jews of England are, and I hate to write this: hopeless. They publically called Hamas "terrorists." Hamas threatened to sue them for, get this: libel. Rather than go to court, the Jews of London paid Hamas several hundred thousand dollars in an out-of-court settlement.

These are not people who fight battles.

A professor of mine once commented in class that most anti-Israel agitation in Europe is a smokescreen for anti-Semitism. In the post-Holocaust era it is no longer "polite" to interject anti-Semitic rhetoric into public discourse. So instead, this rhetoric was refashioned as anti-Zionism. The very same leaders who today lead the anti-Israel movement would have been at the helm of the anti-Semitic movements 60+ years ago. Aside from those who are overtly anti-Israel, she also believed that the grossly disproportionate interest by non-Jews in the Jewish state in general is evidence that they are still infatuated with “the Jew.”

What greatly complicates matters, though, is that many Israelis seem to offer the same criticisms of their country as do the anti-Zionists (anti-Semites) of Europe. For example, on any given day the Haaretz editorial page could easily seem as if it had been hijacked by some Palestinian propaganda agency. But in fact, Haaretz represents the attitudes of many Israelis (engough to sustain economically at least).

I realized this a few years ago when I sat next to a young woman from Ramat Aviv who was so left-wing that she was practically defending suicide bombers. So now when some rare objective reporter comes to Israel to get both sides of the story, but gets the Israeli side from someone like this woman, should we surprised as to the result? Or if he gets his background information from the English edition of Haaretz and the post-Zionist historians? Should we bother wasting our time arguing with non-Jewish critics of Israel on these issues when many Israelis would be willing to take their side?

Ari, It's not a waste of time to argue with left-wing opponents if you have an audience of undecided or moderate people whom you can influence with your example. One-on-one, though, sure can be draining.

Jeremiah,

Of course one should continue the struggle and never despair, but I am merely trying to bring out a point: how should Ploni, an American, repsond to a European (or American) leftist who informs Ploni that it is HE who is ill informed on the Israeli-Arab conflict. After all, the leftist has his (leftist) Israeli sources, who certainly know more about the situation than Ploni. For that matter, how does Ploni repsond to his left-wing Israeli friends, who assert that they know better then he does, living in America.

Robert, brilliant and absolutely NECESSARY words. I don't know how many Jews and Westeners will wake up, but if your prescription is followed, there is some chance. I don't know how to wake up those slumbering and not seeing what is going on...from Jews either here or in Israel who want to hide their heads in the sand and try to reason with killers and murderers, or the rest of the West. But first, it takes those as yourself and others who are at least trying to sound the alarm.

It starts somewhere, has to. But I will send your words to friends, because this post so articulately says what needs saying and summarizes the struggle. Sorry If I am getting hyperbolic in my description and praise of it, but I think it IS what's necessary and we should all spread the same ideas, either in our own or in Robert's words. If we stand idly by...

Just as we always destroy the Arabs on the battlefield, we can destroy them in the battle of words. But only if we are on the offence and only if we give up any notions of compromise.

Winston Churchill had the political insight to recognize, early on, that western civilization was up against an implacable, genocidal enemy.

We must adopt this mindset before it's too late...>>

For Ploni (and all of us):
1. Be clear about the values you refuse to compromise, even if you have to look like a fool defending them. (Sometimes this is more compelling than polished talk.)
2. Be certain about your facts and talking points you must make in order to make your case.
3. Anticipate your opponent's points and his rebuttals to yours, and prepare your rebuttals.

Besides, since America and American Jews contribute so much money to Israel we have every right to insist our opinions be heard by Israelis.

Maurice:

See what happens when I write in a white-hot fury? Now, if I could only do that when I write my movies.

How to translate my fury into a workable program?

(Head in hands, deep shudder, deep sigh.)

Robert, just get a continuous loop tape of Ahminajad (translated) and a number of other anti-Semites, from the European haters, to the American fools, even the Jewish and Israel Leftniks...you have plenty of ammo..I mean, words to choose...put the headphones on...and if you can write even as they talk...and can concentrate over the grinding of your own teeth...you can summon up the white-hot fury; you just have to have the outline for the movie script in front of you, so you don't off track with the anger, and came come back to where you need to be.

Anyone looking for anger as artistic motivation..it's out there a'plenty! In the meantime, your writing helps US, and it starts somewhere, doesn't it?!

It might just work...

Jeremiah: "Besides, since America and American Jews contribute so much money to Israel we have every right to insist our opinions be heard by Israelis."

1) You know where many (most?) Israelies would tell us to stick our money?

2) The foreign aid from America does help, but wow, in some ways hasn't that really made it more difficult for Israeli policy makers. I'm not sure I would want to add any more strings to this foreign aid.

3) Regrding personal contributions, I'm not up on my current stats, but how much do American Jews actually donate. A few high rollers may make some really nice gifts, but what does the average American Jew give, if he gives anything at all? $18 $36? $1000? And at what price does one buy the right to dictate policy to Israelis? $1000? Nope. Maybe not even with with seven more zeros. And how much money matches the amounts that Israelis "donate" (through their insane socialist tax system)? And what is the conversion rate for the sweat, tears and blood they invest? 4) Jeremiah, I'm certainly not saying we can't have an opinion on matters pertaining to Israel (I had to defend this myself on a different website and in a different context). But I still don't think we have a good answer for leftists (Israelis or otherwise) who tell us that our take on Israel is less accurate than mainstream Israeli sources such as Haaretz et al.

Maurice:

Let me get this straight: I put on the headphones, listen to a loop of Aminawhackjob or Barbara Boxer, another head case, and I write what, a teen comedy?

Okaaaay. Got it.

I clearly see my career going down the drain very quickly.

Have a lovely Shavuos.

Yours Truly.

The former screenwriter -

you know who.

Ari, I guess that last sentence begged too many questions. It just seems to me that we (Israelis and Americans) have a profound responsiblity to each other that is practical as well as moral. I don't want to imagine what life would be like for one country if the other one didn't exist.

Have you seen that a large union in Canada, with notihng better to do apparently, decided to vote to boycott Israel also? There is a move afoot internationally to isolate Israel, try to do what folks did to South Africa and declare Israel apartheid and evil.

It gets more depressing by the day. As Robert summed up in his original post on this, there is not a single reason to single out Israel as has shamefully been done.

The bigger point I want to make though, is that Olmert continues on his course to pull out of the West Bank.

Why?

Israel has been "rewarded" for leaving Gaza and giving the Palis their OWN PLACE by greater opprobrium from these groups and by Qassams and attacks into Israel.

What planet is he on that he believes giving back most of the West Bank will do anything different? If anything, it just brings the terror state that much closer, but significantly, will do nothing to stop the anti-Semites from purveying their hatred of Israel.

So why bother? It's indefensible. Robert said it all correctly, IMHO, above. We need to move to an offensive position, and not play into the hands of the enemies of Israel and the Jewish people, but I am afraid we are going down that path.

Olmert's move will be another step down the road to national suicide. I thought the Gaza plan was somewhat different, and I think it still had some nebulous value...but over time, the more I see, the more I think I was WRONG, but giving back the entire West Bank, until or unless the Palis would be defeated/rid of weapons and want to make true peace (all chimerical notions), it is completely insane to pull out.

Maurice:

Yes, I am aware of what's going on with our northern neighbors. We must face the fact that the Jihadists are well organized, that leftist and liberals are painfully naive, and in truth, have no love of Israel. So, we must redouble our efforts and attack our enemies at every front. I am working on some ideas and will publish a program soon.

Meanwhile. Read this from the Wall Street Journal. It's excellent: http://www.benadorassociates.com/article/19512

"Because in 1948 there was a deliberate policy of ethnic cleansing of approximately one million Jews carried out in Egypt, Syria, Iraq, Algeria, Yemen, Morocco, and Libya."

False.

For a start, Algeria and Morocco weren't even independent in 1948, and few Jews left at that time; indeed, the Moroccan king retains a Jewish adviser to this day (Andre Azoulay.) Small Jewish communities remain to this day in Syria and Yemen - the principal complaint made on their behalf is not that they're being forced out, but to the contrary that they aren't allowed to emigrate! Even in Egypt, few Jews left until 1956, when, following the Lavon Affair and the Suez war, the Egyptian government became hostile to them.

The real story of Arab Jews' emigration from the Arab world is far more complex. Some were motivated by economics, some by fear of possible unrealized scenarios, some by the ideals of Zionism (I seem to recall that a lot of the Yemenis thought the Messiah was coming), some by governmental oppression shared with the rest of the country (who lacked a similar destination to escape to), and some by ethnically specific persecution. Only the last of these can reasonably be considered "ethnic cleansing".

The small Jewish communities you speak of in Yemen and Syria number less than 500 souls.

The Jews in Arab lands have at various points been publicly lynched: Even into the 60's there were public lynchings in Syria, Iraq, and Egypt. Official Arab government hatred ebbs and flows. These are not lands Jews are anxious to remain in.

The economics you speak of is really called "Dhimmitude." Jews were less than second class citizens. The Jews of Yemen were impoverished beyond belief and this was enforced by Dhimmitude. It's not that the Jews in the Arab countries just happened to be poor as you suggest.

The modern Messianic zeal among the Jews of Yemen that you refer to as the motivating factor is false. This messianic zeal was last seen in the 16th century during the false Messiahship of Shabbtai Zevi.

The truth is the Arab world is basically Judenrein. And that was by Arab decree. Your benign portrait of Arab governments towards its Jewish subjects is, at best, naive.

Jews that remain in Arab lands are hostages. They would love to get out, but can't. They are prisoners. Reporters who tell their story never get the real story. If the real story of their misery were told, these Jews would be tortured and killed.

My original statement stands as true. The emigration figures speak for themselves. The property stolen by the various Arab governments also speaks for itself.

It seems that as Holocaust denial is all the rage, now denial of the Arab ethnic cleansing of its Jewish population is the next step in this disgraceful and shameless march of antiSemitism that animates the hatred of Israel.

And the Algerians: You're right. That ethnic cleansing did not happen until after the Algerian revolution. Then the Muslims expelled all the Jews from Algeria. A proud community that had lived in that land since the destruction of the Second Temple in 70 ACE was forced to leave their homes; no less than 100,000 Algerian Jews were forcibly expelled from Algeria, their homes and property stolen by "the Revolution." Don't even ask what the Muslims did to the Jews during the revolution. One outrage after another.

I will deal with the expulsions in all the other Arab states in more detail in Seraphic Secret.

I see that the time has come to fight the shameful rewriting of history that is now taking place about the ethnic cleansing of the Arab Jews from the Arab lands.

Robert, you wrote about the high price the IDF paid in Jenin for avoiding civilian casualties. I was reminded of this sad fact on Shavu'ot, which I spent at Camp Moshava (Bnei Akiva). I have not been there in a few years. One of the changes is a rededicated bet midrash in memory of St./Sgt. Matanya Robinson, one of the thirteen who fell in Jenin. (I knew his family well, as his father was my madrich during the year I spent in Israel with Bnei Akiva.)

Ari;

Thanks so much for providing us with the name of one of the 13 who gave their lives in order to spare Arab non-combatants. May St. Sgt. Matanya Robinson's family be comforted among the mourners of Zion. St. Sgt. Matanya Robinson is among the kedoshim who gave their lives for the land and people of Israel. May his neshama have an aliya.