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September 10, 2006
Anti-Judaism
By William Kristol
Wall Street Journal
"How odd / Of God / To choose / The Jews." Thus the British
journalist (and communist) William Norman Ewer, in the early
part of the last century. The reply came from Cecil Browne:
"But not so odd / As those who choose / A Jewish God / But
spurn the Jews."
Browne's riposte may have won the poetic exchange. But
Ewer's anti-Judaism prevailed in the next decades in Europe.
Buried there after World War II, hatred of the Jews
flourished for the rest of the 20th century in the Middle
East. Is anti-Judaism now enjoying a broader revival? It
would seem so.
University of Chicago political science professor John
Mearsheimer came to Washington late last month along with
his sidekick, Stephen Walt of Harvard's Kennedy School of
Government.
Speaking to the Council on American-Islamic
Relations, they attacked the "Israel Lobby" (of which they
claim I am a part) for its pernicious deeds, and singled out
several Jews who served or serve in the Bush administration.
These Jews, they explained, have special "attachments" in
the Middle East. The attachment? Their religious belief --
Judaism.
Bigotry now has an academic cachet.
Some of the activists at Moveon.org, the political
organization that raises millions for Democratic candidates
and generates support for left-wing policies, had a curious
reason for cheering the Democratic primary defeat of Sen.
Joe Lieberman. As Robert Goldberg reported in the Washington
Times, after one Moveon member celebrated the defeat of "Jew
Lieberman," 95% of those who responded to the post on the
Moveon Web site expressed their approval.
Meanwhile, over in Europe, Norwegian writer Jostein Gaarder,
author of "Sophie's World," announced in Norway's leading
newspaper, the Aftenposten, the end of Israel: "There is no
turning back. It is time to learn a new lesson: We do no
longer recognize the state of Israel . . . We must now get
used to the idea: The state of Israel in its current form is
history . . . Fear not! The time of trouble shall soon be
over. The state of Israel has seen its Soweto . . . May
spirit and word sweep away the apartheid walls of Israel.
The state of Israel does not exist. It is now without
defense, without skin. May the world therefore have mercy on
the civilian population."
Mr. Gaarder's distaste for Israel seemed to be based on his
dislike of Israel's policies, his revulsion against the God
of Israel ("an insatiable sadist"), and his anger that, "for
two thousand years, we have rehearsed the syllabus of
humanism, but Israel does not listen."
It's not clear who that "we" has been for 2,000 years.
But since Israel has only existed since 1948, it is presumably
the Jews, not merely, Israel, who have not listened.
(It was, however, generous of Mr. Gaarder to call for mercy
for the Jewish civilian population.)
And then there's Mahmoud Ahmadinejad -- bidding fair to be
the most powerful leader in the Islamic world. Mr.
Ahmadinejad has called, of course, for the "the elimination
of the Zionist regime" and "the destruction of Israel."
He wants Israel eliminated because he wants Judaism eliminated
(Christianity will take longer). Javier Solana of the EU and
Kofi Annan of the U.N. are eagerly paying him court. Will
Mr. Solana or Mr. Annan stand up in the presence of Mr.
Ahmadinejad and denounce Jew-hatred? No.
Jews are under attack. And no one seems very concerned.
Liberal Jews are more concerned about Mel Gibson than Mr.
Ahmadinejad. The mainstream Jewish organizations have played
the "anti-Semitism" card so often that it has been devalued.
Much of the world is in denial about the jihadist threat. No
one wants to be alarmist. This is, in a way, understandable.
There are two large Jewish communities in the world. The
Jews of America prosper in comfort and security. The Jews of
Israel have been able to defend themselves. It's not 1938
again.
But the jihadists are on the move. Recently in Gaza,
kidnapped journalists Steve Centanni and Olaf Wiig were
forced to "convert" to Islam before being released. What
would have happened to them if they had been Jewish? And,
incidentally -- if they had refused to "convert," as some
Jews and Christians have in the past -- what would have
happened then?
Mr. Kristol is editor of The Weekly Standard.
Posted by Robert J. Avrech at September 10, 2006 09:33 AM
Comments
Seraphic Secret is private property, that's right, it's an extension of our home, and as such, Karen and I have instituted two Seraphic Rules and we ask commentors to act respectfully.
1. No profanity.2. No Israel bashing. We debate, we discuss, we are respectful. You know what Israel bashing is. The world is full of it. Seraphic Secret is one of the few places in the world that will not tolerate this form of anti-Semitism. That's it. Break either of these rules and you will be banned.
Who will listen? The killers are at our door, indeed, inside our home and we do not listen. The killers have a blade against my child's throat but they will not listen.
When we are all gone, who will listen to you then?
What can we do? Fight in every way we have at our own individual disposal, calling, emailing, faxing, standing up and speaking truth to thugs and power, reject appeasement and most important, refuse to acknowledge lies.
Posted by: Sue at September 10, 2006 01:07 PM
Sue:
Who will listen? Well in America one has to choose between two major parties, the Democrats and the Republicans.
I don't think there's any question as to which party can be trusted with national security and to fight with and for Israel: the Republicans. Those who argue otherwise are simply not connected to reality and live in denial of the obvious.
Posted by: Robert J. Avrech ![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.seraphicpress.com/nav-commenters.gif)
at September 10, 2006 04:02 PM
A great essay, but I disagree with his contention that "the mainstream Jewish organizations have played the 'anti-Semitism' card so often that it has been devalued."
I don't like to think of myself as someone whose knee-jerk resposne to everything is a cry of anti-Semitism, but if anything, I think mainstream organizations have brushed AS under the carpet. Especially when it is pronounced in certain communities.
I wish he would give some specific examples of overreaction beside Gibson (who in anycase I don't think should be ignored).
Posted by: Ari Kinsberg at September 10, 2006 08:56 PM
Re. your remark to Sue:
As things stand now, Israel's future definately rests on the fortunes of the Republican party.
I'm not sure which is better, however, in matters of domestic anti-Semitism.
Posted by: Ari Kinsberg at September 10, 2006 08:59 PM
Ari:
I think Kristol is probably talking about Abe Foxman and the ADL, who are always kkvetching about anti-Semitism, when they should just shut up.
RE: domestic anti-Semitism. One of its home addresses is Moveon.org. and the Daily Kos, branchess of the Democratic Party.
Posted by: Robert J. Avrech at September 10, 2006 10:46 PM
Given AIPAC's broad visibility and their above-board work for Israel, I'm quite surprised that Mr. Kristol chose to place scare quotes around the term Israel lobby (unless it was to draw attention to Messrs. Mearsheimer and Walt's view of such activity?) Just wondering.
Posted by: Brian at September 11, 2006 05:46 AM
"Abe Foxman and the ADL, who are always kkvetching about anti-Semitism"
maybe they go about the wrong way, but that is their mandate.
"Moveon.org. and the Daily Kos"
nuts. the only thing that makes me feel better about them is that their views on everything are skewed.
Posted by: Ari Kinsberg at September 11, 2006 07:37 AM