LA Times OpEd: Jews Face a Widening Web of Hate

[MikeGalos]

By Abraham H. Foxman
December 28, 2003

NEW YORK

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In one weekend in November, two synagogues in Istanbul, Turkey, were attacked simultaneously by suicide bombers, and a Jewish school outside Paris was destroyed by arson. These attacks occurred about a month after the Malaysian prime minister, in his swan song to the leaders of 57 Islamic nations, issued a call to a holy war against the Jews "who rule this world by proxy." Mahathir Mohamad proclaimed that Jews were not just the enemy of Muslims but of all peoples and nations. Whether the suicide bombers in Turkey were moved by his message is a question that will probably go unanswered. But one thing is clear: Their acts were motivated by a deep-seated anti-Semitism.

Meanwhile, in the United States, a Holocaust museum in Terre Haute, Ind., was leveled by arson. The attacker left behind the words "Remember Timmy McVeigh," which were spray-painted on an exterior wall. Acts of vandalism and intimidation and anti-Semitic graffiti have hit other Jewish communities across the country as well.

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That is why efforts by some to blame the surge of anti-Semitism on the policies of Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon are not only wrong but highly damaging. Certainly, one can be critical of Israel and its policies and not be anti-Semitic. We daily read such legitimate criticism in the Israeli and American press. But it is indisputable that the criticism of some is fueled by anti-Semitism.

How to distinguish the two? When the United Nations repeatedly accuses Israel — and only Israel — of human rights violations, or when the U.N. General Assembly votes, as it did, to raise the issue of Israel's security fence with the International Court of Justice in The Hague, Israel is judged by a different standard than the rest of the world. That is anti-Semitism. When Zionism — the nationalistic aspiration of the Jewish people to have a homeland, a culture, a common society and capital — is harshly criticized but other nationalistic movements are spared such antipathy, that's anti-Semitism. The Jew hatred at the core of such selective treatment of Israel has far, far more to do with scapegoating Jews for all the ills in the world — in this case mostly in the Islamic world — than any one event involving Israel and the Palestinians.

History teaches that we must not be complacent, that anti-Semitism has a life of its own, that it has little to do with the behavior of Jews but with using Jews as the ultimate scapegoat. Democratic leaders and good people must stand up — for their own sake as well as for the sake of Jewish communities — so that the theme of "never again" will be a living reality.

<Full Essay at the LA Times: http://www.latimes.com/la-op-foxman28dec28,1,1856496.story or reprinted at the ADL's website at http://www.adl.org/Anti_semitism/oped_web_of_hate.asp >

[MikeGalos]

1. Once again, the ADL speaks out against hate

Thanks to the ADL's director for this important essay.

For those not familiar with them, this year they've defended the rights of blacks, gays, moslems, asians, immigrants as well as fighting anti-Semitism.

Truly a group with a long history of fighting hatred and bigotry against all minorities and one we liberals can be proud of over our decades long history of mutual goals.

Their site is available at http://www.adl.org and their Civil Rights and racism sections are a joy to behold for anyone who opposes bigotry no matter the victim's ethnicity.

For those who think they're a group that works on nothing but anti-Semitism, I'd call your attention to an example of their work for Moslem rights at ADL Urges House of Representatives to Consider Resolution Protecting Arabs, South Asians, Muslims and Sikhs

[Jim Sagle]

2. ADL is a fine organization.

They're on the side of the O8) O8).

[drewb]

4. Not to diminish their problems...

But sometimes I feel like I am facing a "Widening Web of Hate"....

I know it's alarming, but it's true...

When that happens I tend to change my behavior, usually the "Widening Web of Hate" will then pass.


Maybe they can try the same?

[Muddleoftheroad]

6. Who are "they" in your opinion?

[drewb]

7. "They" are those that are referenced in the article.

Don't go putting words into my mouth, my post is pretty simple to understand.

[meti57b]

8. When you suggest that "maybe they can try the same", .....

does "they" refer to Jews?

The article is about anti-Semitism. Since "anti-Semitism" means "hatred of Jews", are you suggesting that Jews cease being Jews?

What alternative behavior would you suggest, ... that Jews become Irish or perhaps Japanese? .... or perhaps Christian or perhaps Hindu?

[MikeGalos]

10. So, Drewb,

how is this "Not to diminish their problems"?

It seems like you're not only precisely trying to "diminish their problems" but espousing the more and more common view, "wouldn't the world be an easier place if the Jews would just go away and frankly it's pretty selfish of them not to..."

Now, let's look at your post and subsituted some groups into the last sentence and see what you think...

---

When that happens I tend to change my behavior, usually the "Widening Web of Hate" will then pass.

Maybe Jews can try the same?
Maybe Gays can try the same?
Maybe Blacks can try the same?
Maybe Moslems can try the same?
Maybe Hispanics can try the same?
Maybe Liberals can try the same?

---

So, which of these would you still advocate? Which group should quietly stop existing so that the people who hate them would be free of the burden of bigotry? Any but the first? And, if not all, why the difference. I'm sure we'd love to understand your reasoning...

[bpilgrim]

3. or maybe it is the STATE and its POLICIES?

the head of state was found guilty of TERRORISM at one point in the past with potential charges hotely debated to this very day.

Sharon may face massacre charge

A survivor of a 1982 massacre of Palestinian civilians is trying to open a war crimes case against the man she holds responsible - Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon.

Mr Sharon was Israeli defence minister when a Lebanese Christian militia allied to Israel killed hundreds of civilians at the Sabra and Chatila refugee camps.

An Israeli investigation in 1983, the Kahan Commission, found Mr Sharon indirectly responsible for the deaths, and public pressure forced him to resign.


Mere'eh is acting on behalf of 28 survivors
But survivor Souad Srour al-Mere'eh, then 14, is not satisfied, and wants Mr Sharon tried for war crimes.

more...
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/1395080.stm

Israel faces rage over 'massacre'

London and Brussels politicians demand UN investigation of Jenin allegations

Ian Black in Brussels, Ewen MacAskill and Nicholas Watt
Wednesday April 17, 2002
The Guardian

Israel's international reputation slumped to its lowest point for two decades yesterday, amid condemnation in Britain and Europe of the Israeli army's behaviour at the Palestinian refugee camp in Jenin in the West Bank.

There were calls for a United Nations-led inquiry into allegations that the Israeli army carried out a massacre and that its soldiers were guilty of war crimes. Senior politicians lined up in London and Brussels to express outrage.

more...
http://www.guardian.co.uk/israel/Story/0,2763,685701,00.html

:shrug:

peace

[formactv]

5. never again (to them)

David Ben-Gurion first Israeli prime minister, quoted by Nehum Goldman in the book "The Israeli Paradox" quote, if I were an Arab leader I would never sign an agreement with Israel. It is normal, we've taken your country. It is true God promised it to us, but how could that interest them? Our God is not theirs. There has been anti-Semitism, the Nazis, Hitler, Auschwitz, but was that their fault? They see but one thing, we have come and we have stolen their country. Why would they accept that? End quote. Ben-Gurion.

[bemildred]

9. Dupe

Sank like a stone the first time:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=124&topic_id=42698

[Lithos]

11. Locking

Per I/P Guidelines

Lithos
FA/NS Moderator
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