While America obsesses about Trump and the chaos that surrounds him, allegations of anti - semitism created a storm in the United Kingdom. Even in a world which has seen an upsurge in anti semitism, the current crisis facing the United Kingdom, (U.K.), represents, for many reasons, the most serious revitalization of this millennial old scourge. While there have been disturbing Eastern European political movements in the renaissance of the racist phenomenon these have emanated from right wing groups. The source of the U.K. anti semitism is said to arise from the left wing Labour Party, (LP), which has long had Jewish support. The LP is not a fringe entity - according to opinion polls they have an almost equal chance of being the next U.K. Government. Most significant in all of this is that the leader of the LP, Jeremy Corbyn, has been singled out as the perpetrator in chief of the pervasive anti - semitism that his Party stands accused of. Corbyn, much like Trump, hijacked his Party to the dismay and over the opposition of the elected parliamentarians - his support came from the base of the Party. Finally, of all the European countries Britain has the most stable and integrated Jewish community which consists of approximately three hundred thousand individuals, which is less than 0.5% of the U. K. population.
The whole crisis came to a head when a group of Jewish L P supporters registered a protest outside of Parliament and were joined by some sixty LP parliamentary members. The gathering was organized by the normally conservative, usually collaborative, British Jewish Board of Deputies. The protest theme fittingly was entitled,“Enough is Enough”. The fumes of anger were flamed when Corbyn appeared to back a small group of counter protesters and seemingly did nothing to support the participating LP legislators who were attacked because of their involvement.
CORBYN’S HISTORY
Corbyn finally agreed to an interview with the Jewish media which he had refused for the past three years as allegations of anti semitism have been simmering against the Labor Party for some time. In this interview his decades of actions, which had been interpreted again and again as being anti Jewish, were revisited. He apologized arguing in some instances that he had been wrong and in all instances he was merely being anti racist. As the litany of occurrences were detailed his plaintiff cry that he was not an anti semite sounded less and less convincing. The many allegations included that there was support of FaceBook groups who made their anti semitic objectives clear, the backing of an Arab Israeli who had incited racial animosity and was subsequently convicted of same, the endorsement of an artist’s work that depicted a scene from the infamous Jewish libel, The Protocols of Zion, association with an anti semite who claimed that the Rothschilds harvested organs for gain, the involvement with Holocaust deniers and then on Holocaust Day failing to mention the slaughter of six million Jews.
Corbyn referred to an in house LP investigation, the Chakrabarti report, that delved into this “problem”. He said he would make it a priority to see that it’s recommendations were enforced. This did not really wash as the latter has been seen more as a cover up then as a solution. His explanations that his apparent endorsements of Hamas and Hezbollah were an attempt at Middle East Peace are not being taken seriously by anyone. The consensus was that Corbyn’s defense was not “good enough”. There is ongoing criticism of the leader who to the frustration of his retractors met with anti - Israeli groups during the passover.
So as matters stand the perception is that Corbin and a chunk of his Party are anti semitic. The implications of a major political party, being accused of perpetuating the bigotry, in a country that, more than any other, saved the world from a fascist tyranny which was responsible for the genocide of six million Jews, are vast.
WHO ARE THE JEWS?
Jews represent about 0.2 percent of the world’s population - fifteen million of about six billion. The population of the Romani or Gypsies is estimated to be at least ten million and they are as scattered as the Jews are. The Bahai peoples are said to number about five or six million and also are a group that have their own unique beliefs and value systems. No - one bothers much about these two groups. So why the Jews?
There is little doubt that if you are born a Jew you are regarded as such whether you like it or not. Of course you can assimilate but even that has met with mixed success. Historically there are certain characteristics and behaviors that Jews exhibit whether they are religious or secular. They have a distinct religion but more important from a sociological point of view they have a value system with certain characteristics. Also the religious diaspora has always regarded themselves as part of a nation and for two thousand years they have prayed - “Next year in Jerusalem”.
Their value system places a great emphasis on education, family life, community, assisting others, charity and care for the stranger, (“because remember you were a stranger in Egypt”). So the family and community units have always been strong assisting one another to this day. This behavior makes Jewish communities a cohesive and an easily recognizable group. The obsessive emphasis on education has not only social benefits but economic ones as well. So as long as the society allowed them to educate themselves they became wealthy, and a disproportionately large portion of the professional, business and intellectual class. Their desire to help others lead them into politics and activism. In short in democratic societies they inevitably exhibited an influence and wealth far above their numbers. They are vocal and visible and in any social movement they are invariably disproportionately represented.
For the moment let us accept that everywhere Jews are a distinct and easily identifiable minority. They thus could easily be labelled, attacked and scapegoated as the cause of whatever were the problems of society throughout the ages. Added to that the Hebrew bible, that was also part of the Christian religion, claimed that they were “the chosen people”. (The fact that that was in the context of spreading G-d’s word was not understood. In addition converts to the “chosen” are regarded highly and the religion dictates that the Messiah will arise from the lineage of a convert, Ruth, whose line also included King David).
HOW AND WHY DOES ANTI - SEMITISM MANIFEST?
Anti semitism according to former Chief Rabbi Jonathan Sacks has morphed through time. The Jews were just another different nation up until their expulsion from Jerusalem by the Romans at the beginning of the first millennium. With the emergence of Christianity, whose G-d the Jews refused to acknowledge and then Islam, who claimed Abraham’s true son was Ishmael not Isaac, they became an enemy religion. So religion became the basis of anti semitism. Sustained attempts over nearly two millennia were made either to convert them, expel them or murder them. In the twentieth century they were persecuted because of their race so there was no escape and the Holocaust was the outcome. Currently their central sin is the formation of the State of Israel. Most anti semitic attacks are now couched against Zionism for which all Jews are blamed for whether they are Zionists or not.
Throughout the two millennia all manner of atrocities and evils were ascribed to the Jews. These alleged behaviors rationalized the persecutions. They were either capitalists or communists. They were either too poor and were parasites on society or too rich and exploited it. They killed children so they could use their blood to make the unleavened bread for Passover. Evidence that the Jews planned to take over the world was provided in the form of a diatribe entitled The Protocols of the Elders of Zion. Written in the nineteenth century it is still quoted to this day. It purports to be the minutes of meetings as to how the Jews would dominate the world and form a single state. It has been shown again and again to be a forgery but is still the bible of the haters and is being translated into several languages.
The current rationale is to delegitimize Israel as an abuser of human rights, an aggressor and a violator of international standards. This justifies anti - semitism of all jews, religious or secular whether they are in the diaspora or Israel. Even the murder of Jews in the diaspora as was the case in France was because of the Israeli "occupiers". The main forum for this argument has been the United Nations where Israel has been condemned in half the resolutions passed by the Security Council in the past five years. The General Assembly has an even better batting average on condemnation. The last Secretary General of United Nations, Ban Ki - Moon claimed that the United Nation’s undue bias against Israel was the reason for its inability to be effective.
Another rationale is to argue that Israel and Jews, in general, have fabricated the Holocaust. The importance of Holocaust denial is to take away any moral right the survivors had to return to the British mandate. A common criticism is to equate racism with Zionism in addition to regarding Israel as the greatest threat to world peace. While many Jews in and out of Israel legitimately disagree with the current government’s policies few if any would agree with Hamas and the PLO that the Jews do not belong in Israel and should return to their supposed countries of origin. The argument for the latter supposition being that the Europeans didn’t want the Jews so they gave them Israel.
IS CORBIN AN ANTI SEMITE?
In terms of the modern manifestations of anti - semitism Corbin is the real deal. You can tick of all the elements in his resume. He has supported and validated terrorist movements that have sworn to destroy Israel and drive all the Jews out, he has been associated with Holocaust deniers and depicters of The protocols of Zion and on and on. This he has done over decades and as noted in his extensive interview his explanations as to his actions just did not fly.
WHERE TO GO FROM HERE?
Corbyn has moved into damage control mode. He has axed close ally Christine Shawcroft from the LP National Executive Committee on the basis that she allowed a holocaust denier to retain his party membership. Shawcroft falling on her sword, claimed that all the attacks of anti -semitism on the Labour Party were merely designed to weaken Corbyn. Corbyn utilized the Passover holiday to send his “warmest regards” to Jewish Communities in Britain. He further claimed that he had always been moved by the Israelite escape from enslavement. In the light of the current controversy the response, at kindest, sounded paternalistic. The Jewish Board of Deputies have only agreed to meet with the LP leader on condition that meaningful steps were taken to eradicate anti semitism in his party. They apparently believe that Corbyn’s moves so far fall short.
The Labour Party need to axe Corbyn. This appears as unlikely as the Republican Party cutting Trump adrift. The issue then moves to the electorate. Early polling seems to indicate that this episode may cost Corbyn and his Party at the hustings. The fear at present is how deep the anti semitic attitudes have pervaded the LP and whether they are representative of the base.
However whatever the outcome British and world jewry has been jolted. Past history has taught us that the accuser defines who is a Jew and who isn’t. Karl Marx whose father converted to Lutherism is often exhibit number one when anti semites point to the pernicious influence of the Jews. Whatever the outcome, British jewry, who seemed the least likely to follow the French example of mass immigration to Israel, are in shock.
RECENT GAZA VIOLENCE AND ASYLUM SEEKERS TO ISRAEL
Whatever the merits, facts and outcome of the recent clashes between the Israeli Defense Force, (IDF), and the march organized by Hamas to reclaim Israel, the event will be used for anti - semitic attacks. If for example, it is found that undue force was used by the IDF then it is that that needs condemnation of the perpetrators and not world jewry as a whole or that the alleged illegality automatically delegitimizes Israel’s existence. Incidentally it has not passed unnoticed that an urgent Security Council meeting was called following the 17 Palestinian deaths while the Assad and Russian genocide continues unabated in Syria. The Security Council’s latest intervention on that conflict was on February 24, 2018. This followed days of Syrian bombing of a Damascus suburb where hundreds of civilians were killed. The Security Council called for a thirty day cease fire as a result.
There has been an outcry at Netanyahu's welching on his deal to facilitate a sanctuary for the African asylum seekers in Israel. Opposition leaders have labelled him as spineless. There has been wide spread support both within and without Israel for the victims. Once again Netanyahu has illustrated that he has no leadership qualities whatsoever. If he expels them he will be defying the Israeli Supreme Court. The condemnation should be heaped on the Premier and his inner caucus for their duplicity and lack of humanity.
PAUSE FOR REFLECTION
Theodore Herzl on viewing the vast anti semitic Dreyfus spectacle pioneered the modern day Zionistic movement. The secular Herzl till then had believed that assimilation was the answer to anti semitism. However, he concluded that if this could occur to a patriotic Jew who had risen in the ranks of France’s military other solutions were needed. He believed that if the Jews had their own state there would be no anti - semitism! Little did he know that would just provide another reason for blaming all Jews for all the world’s problems.
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