← Autodidact Archive · Original Dissent · yummybear
Thread ID: 8932 | Posts: 8 | Started: 2003-08-10
2003-08-10 14:24 | User Profile
[url=http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/pages/ShArt.jhtml?itemNo=327265&contrassID=2&subContrassID=4&sbSubContrassID=0&listSrc=Y]http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/pages/ShArt.j...sID=0&listSrc=Y[/url]
Sunday, August 10, 2003 Av 12, 5763 Israel Time: 16:58 (GMT+3)
Anti-Semitism is our problem
By Natan Sharansky
Last week a unique and unusual conference took place in Jerusalem. Representatives of Jewish organizations from all over the world joined Israeli officials and academics to formulate a joint strategy for a war on anti-Semitism. No more local reaction to one incident or another, but an attempt at universal Jewish cooperation.
The participants in the conference agreed on two basic assumptions. First, that we are facing a wave of anti-Semitism the like of which we have not known since World War II, both in scope and force. Second, that, like a malignant disease, today's anti-Semitism has developed a new mutation and is not limited to acts of violence against Jews, carrying swastikas and burning synagogues. The new anti-Semitism appears in the guise of "political criticism of Israel," consisting of a discriminating approach and double standards toward the state of the Jews, while questioning its right to exist.
The doubt which traditional anti-Semitism cast on the right of the Jewish individual to exist as an equal in general society, turned, in the new anti-Semitism, into a dispute of the right of the Jewish nation to exist on its land as any other nation. Another feeling shared by the delegates in the conference is that the new trend caught us, both in Israel and in the Diaspora, unprepared. It took us a long time to understand that we are facing a new incarnation of anti-Semitism and to respond accordingly. Thus, for example, we did not prepare for the Durban Conference that turned into an anti-Semitic carnival; we didn't fight hard enough against the UN resolutions against Israel, which are becoming more hypocritical and radical and we failed to warn of the anti-Semitic cries and measures accompanying the protest against the war in Iraq.
How did we fall asleep on our guard? How is it possible that despite the great efforts invested by organizations monitoring anti-Semitism, almost two years went by until the Jewish world understood that anti-Zionism can no longer be separated from anti-Semitism and that both constitute an existential danger to the Jewish people?
The answer, I believe, derives not from the characteristics of the new anti-Semitism, but from the traditional way of thinking prevalent in the State of Israel and among Diaspora Jewry. For decades Israel refused to treat anti-Semitism as a problem relating to it directly. Anti-Semitism was perceived as a problem of Jews in exile, whose solution was immigrating to Israel.
This began with Herzl, who believed that anti-Semitism stemmed from the anomaly of Jewish existence in exile, and therefore the establishment of the Jewish state would make it disappear. He, along with the rest of the Zionist intellectuals and leaders, saw Israel as the ultimate solution to anti-Semitism. At times it seemed the Zionist leadership even saw the continued existence of anti-Semitism overseas as proof that the Zionist cause was just, and therefore made no effort to eradicate it.
Thus, through the years Israel paid lip service to the war on anti-Semitism but, in fact, was indifferent to it. Empathy with the victims? Certainly. Offering Israel as a shelter in the storm? Always. But treating it as an Israeli problem and making a determined effort to fight it? No.
A similar process, but in reverse, was taking place in Diaspora Jewry. There it had always been clear that anti-Semitism was an existential danger, but a thick line separated it from anti-Israel incitement, which was not perceived as a threat to Diaspora Jews. As long as the criticism focused on Israel and its actions, even if it was obviously exaggerated, exceeded the acceptable criticism of other states and was tainted with ulterior motives, they did not feel it was really their problem.
Solidarity with Israel? Certainly. Contributions? Gladly. But to see wild incitement against the Jewish state as a real problem, threatening the entire Jewish nation. No. Let Israel take care of its international image. As long as we are not discriminated in our countries it is not exactly our problem.
It took us all three years of vociferous anti-Israel propaganda, comparing Israel to Nazi Germany, banning Israel from the family of nations and accusing it of crimes against humanity, to understand that the attempts to make such a separation are passe. Isolated and ostracized, accused of every possible atrocity and discriminated against in every international forum, Israel had to ingest that while it regards itself as a normal state, the world is not necessarily willing to treat it as such and that anti-Semitism is not about to disappear.
The double standard toward the Jewish individual is now directed to the Jewish collective and the denial attempts are mainly ridiculous. The Diaspora Jews who suffered violent physical and verbal assaults, who were discriminated for their affiliation to Israel, even if personally they had no such affiliation, were forced to recognize that the separation line between the Jewish people and the Jewish state was only in their minds. The entire Jewish nation was forced, once again, to remember that we are one nation with one destiny. No one can escape.
The historical alliance joining the Jews of Israel and the Diaspora has eroded greatly over the years. There are different issues on our respective agendas, internal processes have polarized our positions and sharpened our differences, tensions have sprung up and the alienation between us increased. In a somewhat absurd fashion, the war on anti-Semitism gives us a new opportunity to mend the rift. Our joint destiny is sometimes a heavy burden, but it also gives a lot of strength. Our power is in our unity, in mutual responsibility and in partnership. If we succeed in overcoming the alienation, if we manage to bring together the torn shreds of the Jewish nation and make them feel that we are brethren again - then we have a chance. We cannot miss this opportunity.
Natan Sharansky is the minister for Diaspora affairs, society and Jerusalem.
2003-08-10 20:54 | User Profile
Visual
[url=http://198.173.255.220/pipeline_of_hatred.html]http://198.173.255.220/pipeline_of_hatred.html[/url]
Enjoy the view...
2003-08-10 21:05 | User Profile
Speaking as a representative of United Effort To End the Exploitation of Lunch Meat [UEEELM], I must say that I found that anti-Sandwich-ism most shocking.
Lunch meats of the world, fight back against anti-Sandwich-ism! :)
2003-08-10 21:13 | User Profile
Anti-Semitism only achieves a partial goal. Removal of Jewish ideas from the West is most important. Removal of Jews is only part of this process.
2003-08-10 22:36 | User Profile
*Originally posted by yummybear@Aug 10 2003, 08:24 * ** No more local reaction to one incident or another, but an attempt at universal Jewish cooperation. **
In other words: An all-time first. :blink:
2003-08-10 22:58 | User Profile
Jews have now decided to declare war on the rest of humanity. What did that general say about aiming Israel's nuclear weapons at Europe's cities?
2003-08-11 00:54 | User Profile
** Anti-Semitism only achieves a partial goal. Removal of Jewish ideas from the West is most important. Removal of Jews is only part of this process.** Yeah, but I'd be sure-nuff glad to START there!! Get THEM gone, and it will somewhat easier to 're-program' our white race! :hit:
2003-08-11 03:09 | User Profile
[img]http://www.i3mm.com/~guest2/67yjtngdf.jpg[/img]