It’s up to all pro-Palestinian campaigners to stamp out any anti-Semitic sentiments when they see them.
It’s up to all pro-Palestinian campaigners to stamp out any anti-Semitic sentiments when they see them
70 attacks have been reported on Jews in the UK since the Israeli war on Gaza began on July 8, two thirds of which are directly related to the conflict.
It goes without saying that this is an incredibly worrying trend. And as the Palestinian death toll mounts past a thousand, it appears to be spreading.
I was on the Stop the War demonstration in London on Saturday. It was huge (between 50,000-100,000), and it was peaceful. It was also incredibly diverse, with Jews for Justice for Palestinians marching alongside Muslims, students and peace campaigners.
But there were some disturbing sentiments expressed on banners and placards. I saw the flag of Hezbollah, the armed Lebanese Islamist party classified as a terrorist organisation in many countries. Other marchers reported seeing placards saying ‘Research: The Protocols of the Learned Elders of Zion’, the famous anti-Semitic conspiracy document, with a Star of David dripping in blood.
When confronted, the Jewish pro-Palestinian was hurled with abuse such as ‘Jews are the problem. If you’re a Jew, you’re racist, you’re what we’re demonstrating against’. There were also pretty horrifying Nazi allusions, including signs saying ‘Hitler you were right’. And chants from ‘No justice, no peace’ seemed to try to legitimise anti-Israel violence, at a time when an immediate end to hostilities needs to be the priority.
Daniel Randall writes:
“While outward displays of “classical” anti-Semitism are rare, subtler themes are more common. Placards and banners comparing the Israeli state to Nazism, and its occupation of Palestine to the Holocaust, and images melding or replacing the Star of David with swastikas, are, while far from universal, relatively commonplace. The politics of this imagery, too, has an anti-Semitic logic.”
The Muslim Council of Britain has rightly condemned all such imagery, as well as the incidents which have doubled in recent weeks.
The Community Security Trust also reports violence against Jews and Jewish buildings not at the march, including a brick thrown at the window of a synagogue in Belfast. Much of the non-violent incidents have occurred on Twitter, including the #HitlerWasRight hashtag which gained some following. Such actions represent the politics of the far-right – similar to the surge in anti-Muslim hate crime following the killing of Lee Rigby – and have no place in a progressive movement.
Now the All-Party Parliamentary Group Against Antisemitism are to launch a report into the spread of these hate attacks. But it’s up to all pro-Palestinian campaigners to stamp out any anti-Semitic sentiments when they see them – we must be vigilant in confronting it at all times.
Jews and Muslims must be able to demonstrate arm in arm against the war on Gaza – the movement for peace and human rights is nothing if it is not tolerant. It is especially nothing if it is not peaceful or respectful of human rights.
42 Responses to “Anti-Semitism should have no place in the pro-Palestinian movement”
jensej
I have not see this much anti-semitism ever in my life. I think the last time it was this bad had to be during WWII. I have to say the current administration, that I voted for twice, is going to have to take some blame. I am upset at how things are going around the world. I hope Hillary, or someone else will change this. I am afraid Hillary does not have it though, she just said Gaza is too small to put rockets in other places than schools and hospitals. Gaza is 150 miles wide. With a lot of desert. Look at it on Google earth. Sounds like she is just more of the same. I stand with Israel over terrorist of Hamas everyday of the week.
Guest
Firstly, you make excuses for anti-Semitism.
2. Make excuse.
3. Anti-Semitism.
Keep projecting your views – at least you’re consistent in hating democracy across the board.
Guest
Keep demanding terrorists be absolutely pandered to.
And in fact, the other Arab states hate Hamas in many cases far more than Israel.
Erich
I don’t think you’re getting the gist of what I’m attempting to say. If someone is blaming Jewish people, that is racist, perhaps (race in this age is dubious in its application), or at least hate for a religious group. I do not support that, nor would I tolerate it from anyone. Often, however, there are those who criticize the State of Israel for its racist policies who are immediately labeled “anti-semites,” which translates to “racist,” which it is NOT. Also, I’m trying to call attention to the FACT that the term “anti-semite” is not appropriate to use EVEN for those who hate the Jewish people if they, at the same time, defend the Arabs. They are BOTH semitic people!
And you seem to be saying that I make excuses for anti-semitism and hate democracy? Ah, well, humans have a knack for finding what they want/expect to find, regardless. So I should probably not bother.
Hayri Z. Korkmaz
People protested too much.. and.. Massacre (or should say punishment?!) is not enough!!!