The Royal Court's mystery play

Nehama

No surprise that the first act not only fails to mention the 19th C. Jewish majority in Jerusalem, it also fails to mention that the majority of Israelis are actually from (or the descendents of Jews from) Arab lands. More Jews were kicked out of Arab lands post-48 than Palestinian Arabs fled from Israel. Another "incovenient truth".

Miranda Rose Smith

The mystery plays were better, deicide charge or no. They contained some wonderful, irreverant bawdy humor. They didn't take themselves too seriously. The fact that this kind of play gets put on is further proof of something I have long suspected: A lot of people are faking when they pretend to be moved by Anne Frank, may the al-mighty avenge her blood. They have no sympathy for Jews who want to stay alive, and, since Anne Frank was a Jew who wanted to stay alive,Q.E.D., they have no sympathy for her. Notice please that Caryl Churchill knows she can write what she pleases about the Jews, without fearing for her life or being put on trial for hate speech. You can tell any lie you feel like about Jews, but don't try to tell the truth about Moslems, as Geert Wilders, Theo van Gogh, may the al-mighty avenge his blood, Brigette Bardot, and Salmon Rushdie have all found out. Ask Sherry Jones, author of The Jewel of Medina, what happens when you write a bodice-ripper that has Mohammed as a character. Doesn't Caryl Churchill, who obviously dreams of Israel's destruction, realize that, as I've said before, England is one of the next countries on the Islamofascist hit list? Does she want to live in a country run by militant Islamic fanatics? Does she know how women are treated in such countries?

Joshua

"It is a despicable act."

"Evil" is a more accurate description.

Miranda Rose Smith

Notice how Ms. Churchill keeps saying "Don't tell her, Don't tell her." That's projection. Ms. Churchill knows all the things she's not telling the audience.

BullCats

All the more shocking given this is receiving next to no coverage from the BBC (what a surprise).

A Scottish Lib Dem MSP called Hugh O’Donnell launched a hate fuelled tirade against Israel in the Scottish Parliament on 8th January. Joseph Goebbels himself could scarcely have done a better job. I was not the only one who noticed; there was an excellent article in the telegraph over the sordid and shameful affair.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/comment/columnists/alancochrane/4208004/Holyroods-shameful-Gaza-debate-full-of-sound-and-fury-signifying-nothing.html

When I complained to the Liberal Democrats, an ex lib dem councillor and local activist Dr Richard B Speirs retorted (in writing) “Were you rubbing your hand with glee at the sight of all these women and children being killed and maimed in Gaza?”

Obviously, no, I was not.

I never thought I’d see Nazi sympathies alive and well in a UK mainstream political party, let alone hear them in a UK parliament. But that’s exactly what we have. When irrational, illogical downright hatred of this small nation of only 7 million people, called Israel, is condoned and encouraged by a mainstream UK political party, is it any wonder Jews are being attacked on the streets of Britain?

Jenny

Well, I’m not surprised given that it’s written by Caryl Churchill. This is the woman who wrote an anti-Bush play with a homosexual, levitating sofa as a stage metaphor.

As with that silly metaphor, this new play of her also seems to have a complete disconnection from reality. Unable to deal with the facts, the spiteful Churchill simply puts words into Israel’s mouth, because the words that come out of Hamas’ mouth expose Ms Churchill for what she is.

There may be some re-writes before the curtain goes up, but you can bet you’re bottom dollar they won‘t include facts like this:

‘Tell her this is what Hamas said: "Allah has chosen you for Himself and for His religion, so that you will serve as the engine pulling this nation to the phase of succession, security, and consolidation of power, and even to conquests thorough da'wa and military conquests of the capitals of the entire world.

‘"Very soon, Allah willing, Rome will be conquered, just like Constantinople was, as was prophesised by our Prophet Muhammad. Today, Rome is the capital of the Catholics, or the Crusader capital, which has declared its hostility to Islam, and has planted the brothers of apes and pigs in Palestine in order to prevent the reawakening of Islam – this capital of theirs will be an advanced post for the Islamic conquests, which will spread through Europe in its entirety, and then will turn to the two Americas, and even Eastern Europe.

‘"I believe that our children or our grandchildren will inherit our jihad and our sacrifices, and Allah willing, the commanders of the conquest will come from among them. Today, we instil these good tidings in their souls, and by means of the mosques and The Koran books, and the history of our prophets, his companions, and the great leaders, we prepare them for the mission of saving humanity from the hellfire on the brink of which they stand."‘ (Hamas MP Yunis Al-Astral aired on Al-Aqsa TV on April 11, 2008)

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=x_qbKrOF64w

‘Tell her the Hamas Charter contains such niceties as: "O Muslim! there is a Jew hiding behind me, come on and kill him!"‘

No wonder Caryl Churchill has retreated into pure fiction.

Richard Lawson

Melanie, you say these horrible threats against British Jews are the "result of the malevolent misrepresentation of Israel’s actions in Gaza by Britain’s media and intelligentsia".
Do you mean absolutely and completely and only the result of misrepresentation? Is it impossible in your view that a kill ratio of 100:1 could have anything to do with the upsurge in anger that we are seeing after Cast Lead?

Christopher

What are these twisted people trying to achieve?!
I'm not Jewish, not Israeli -- but I feel sick after reading this.
I don't know what to say or do anymore...

Maurice MD

The report in the Observor cited in this article attributes planned emigration of Jews entirely to fear.
I suggest there could be more than a little disgust as well.
Disgust at the lack of public reaction to the assaults on the Jews, who have been loyal and productive Britons for some 350 years now.

Yes, the police patrols have been stepped up. The Communities Minister expresses her "deep concern".

That's it? If Britain is too decayed to produce any more of a response than that, then the Jews should indeed leave -- in disgust.

phil

this woman is a patron of the Palestinian solidarity campaign ,so its understandable that she would write it ,but I must ask two questions ,why is it allowed on stage? and why does the cast include - Ben Caplan, Jack Chissick, David Horovitch, Daisy Lewis, Ruth Posner, Samuel Roukin, Jennie Stoller, Susannah Wise, Alexis Zegerman..many obviously jewish names? -it is very strange -anybody know?

Alex Bensky

If it's not an actual blood libel it's as close as makes no never-mind. It also won't do much for Caryl Churchill's literary reputation because, to paraphrase jack Kerouac on Allen Ginsberg, it's more typing that actual writing.

On another thread many of the commentators tell people to calm down, the streets aren't going to be filled with howling mobs. Perhaps not, but the signs aren't good.

This is reason number 2,592 why I have long since identifying with even the milk and water left. By every declared leftist principle the left should be solidly pro-Israel, especially given Israel's enemies. Emancipation of women, freedom of speech, toleration of gays, etc., Israel has all of this and the Arabs have none.

Yet the left is wildly pro-Palestinian. If I were a cynic I'd say it's because of certain ethno-religious characteristics of the Israeli population, but no doubt there's a more innocent explanation. Anyone know what it is?

Nick Smith

There has always been anti-Semites such as Caryl Churchill. The worrying thing now is that they find it so easy to find an audience for their hateful Jew-baiting. Worrying also how easy they find it to convince themselves that they are not really Jew haters.

boxermk

i hope this is publicized. This really is nothing more than an incitement of hatred of Jews. There is something dreadfully wrong with British Society.

Pete Hoskin

Alex Bensky: the 'typing' jibe was said by Truman Capote of Jack Kerouac.

poetcomic1

The Jewish genocide of the Palestinians is one of the least successful 'genocides' in history. The 600,000 or so 'Palestinians' through years of brutal Israeli oppression and genocide have been reduced to a pitiful remnant of 4 million. There are MORE Arabs who are Israeli citizens now than there were 'Palestinians' in 1947.

Boxermk

I have a question, what does a kill ratio have to do with anything? What about the Kill ratio of Arabs to Arabs? Why are those numbers never discussed? What was the kill ratio in Hiroshima or Dresden? And what about the millions slaughtered just in the past few years in the Congo, in addition to the millions slaughtered in the Sudan, and the thousands in Sri Lanka?
Or how about the history of forced conversion, enslavement, massacres, imperialism, and colonialism of the Arabs? All the Jews expelled from Arab lands?
And for all the political correctness in Europe, I guess we can assume open Jew hatred and libel, attacks on Jews, and fire bombing of Synogogues are politically correct. But lets persecute Gert Wilders for accurately quoting the Koran.

Jason from AZ

With all the Jew hatrad in the UK, it seems you won't be happy until all Jews have emigrated, which is is starting to happen. Guess who your Muslim citizens will come after and scapegoat when most all Jews have left?

stanley Jerusalem

It's sad that we are all talking to one another and repeating ourselves. Welcome to the "Titanic deckchair rearranging Action Group"
Come and join me in Jerusalem. it's much safer here.

ahad ha'amoratsim

Richard Lawson, thank you for proving the point -- holding British Jews responsible for the real or imagined deeds of Israel is nothing other than anti-Semitism. Period.

Like any other nation, Israel is not above criticism. But when someone uses his criticism of Israel to justify anti-Semitism, there are strong grounds to believe that his distaste for Israel is based more on his own anti-Semitism than on anything Israel did or failed to do.

BullCats

"What are these twisted people trying to achieve?! "

The entire destruction of Israel, Hitler style.

Brian Moshe

First of all I felt physically sick after reading the article above and Caryl Churchill's hideous words. Then I felt disbelief without total disbelief....

In the course of last week I lost the long-running friendship of three old friends: one a fairly well-known London-based journalist, one a professor at Oxford, and one a doctoral student in London.

The journalist doesn't argue, for him it's self-evident that Israel is in the wrong and I'm just a propagandist for a state no decent person can support.

The Oxford professor clearly didn't like having to confront Melanie's article on the current plight of Britain's Jews 'The Jihad Against Britain's Jews" (Feb 6, 2009) and the spineless behaviour of the university towards the intimidatory anti-Jewish thugs who mounted a sit-in.

The curt response was "we both read different media; there is no problem with anti-Jewish or thuggish behaviour at Oxford".

The research student asked me to read e-mails containing all sorts of malignant nonsense about Israel (some of it by Jews). When I sent her a copy of the Hamas Charter she stopped the dialogue.

The main reason I mention this series of losses is because I can actually envisage all three of these people going to see Caryl Churchill's 'play' and probably emerging from the theatre feeling better than when they arrived.

As for the Jewish actors associated with the production (if that's what they are), whom phil mentions above, what is there to say except that while Mel Gibson was regarded with contempt by most of the Hollywood establishment and most of the US media for his anti-Jewish rants, these luvvies will be hailed in Britain as a courageous little grouplet ('good Jews').

Caryl Churchill's 'play' will appeal not just to the morally bankrupt 'left' but also to Muslims and neo-nazis. I am almost tempted to imagine it might become another runner like 'The Mousetrap', but even if it runs for a few years the time will come when the Islamic street patrols decide theatres need to be closed (probably the actual linear descendents of the Muslim and semi-Muslim feral street gangs that today infest the estates and byways of parts of London and other major British cities).

Forty five or so years ago in Wentworth St market in Dalston in the East End of London there was a Jewish cafe called the Israel Cafe. I used to think it was a sign of our freedom and tolerance that an East End cafe could bear such a name and be left in peace.

Arnold Wesker wrote a play about a Jewish family who had a stall in Wentworth St market and the father wanted something better for his son. That market was a hive of Jewish life and activity in those days.

Four years ago I was back in that vicinity and went to have a look around. No sign of any Jewish presence, no Israel Cafe. Even four years ago, I felt quite relaxed about this, Jews had gone to nicer places to live - to North London, to South Hertfordshire, to Redbridge. Arnold Wesker's play had more or less come true.

With Churchill's 'play' it seems to me that in a sense everything's gone full cycle. The disappearence of Jews from an East End street market and its surrounding businesses is a microcosm of what one day is going to be replicated on a much vaster scale in the areas Jews have settled in such as North London, South Hertfordshire, etc., except next time it won't be an entirely voluntary journey away.

Even in the worst days of the 1930s when the Blackshirts were on the loose did any London theatre show a specifically anti-Jewish play?

Straydingo

Richard Lawson,

And what is your point?

Are you saying that when two peoples go to war that side that manages to kill more of its enemies forces is in the wrong?.

Well if I follow your logic through to its Delusional conclusion that means the Allies were in the wrong and we should hand back Europe and Asia to the Germans and Japanese.

Your mind must be a very scary place :)

Wm. Hazlitt

All Jews are not Israeli; and not all Israelis are Jews. The state of Israel is distinct from the people of Israel, and even more from the Jewish people around the world. Anti-semites blur the distinction. It no doubt helps them spread their poison. If the playwright has made this mistake, and you think is worth your attention, then point out the error. However, Melanie Phillips herself seems to perpetuate this conflation of the Jewish people with the state of Israel, as in previous articles. This is surely not the correct thing to do.

Michael B

Andrew Bostom today should not be missed:
Mr. Obama, Speak First at Touro.

Much as Peres recently, at Davos, struck - precisely - the right and necessary chord, Andrew Bostom likewise marshals precisely the right spirit, tone and probity. It is still a bit too early to say with absolute certainty, nonetheless the new administration has evidenced - rather than his much touted "change" - the same old status quo sympathies, malignancies and self-delusions. What Obama actually DOES in this vein - no matter his RHETORIC - will be highly indicative of who he actually IS and what we can expect in the longer term. The indicators to this point are not at all propitious of a deep-seated integrity, backbone and accompanying vision; still, only time will tell, though it is likely that time will very quickly tell whether we are beset with Jimmy Carter II, or something more substantial - i.e., real change and not "change" as a campaign and political slogan only. A well grounded, sober minded "hope" is one thing; self-delusion on a societal and political scale is another thing entirely.

Augustus

The Royal Court's Elyse Dodgson said that the play 'was not an attack on anyone, it is a cry of grief.'

Warmongering jihadists aren't interested in truth. Left-wingers and extreme left-wingers accuse Israel of war crimes. Those accusations are partly based on information from the UN. But who are the representatives of the UN in Gaza? They are practically all Palestinians. They say that a UN school was attacked on 6th January, and that 43 Palestinians died as a result. But according to the Canadian Globe and Mail newspaper that school wasn't attacked at all, the casualties occurred in the street. According to UNRWA it was the UN organization OCHA who spread the story. But OCHA originally said that Israeli mortars landed close to the school. This falsification was necessary in order to stoke up the prevailing hatred of Israel. It is on this sort of false propaganda which left-wing westerners now use to accuse Israel of war crimes.

We don't actually know exactly how many Palestinians were killed in Gaza. Just as we don't know how many citizens lost their lives through Israel's actions, or those of Hamas. If Israel is able to investigate every incident, and if war crimes are unearthed the perpetrators should be punished. But what is really a war crime if criminal jihadists offer up their own people, including children, for the sake of a media-jihad against Israel? They are so base as to even be prepared to murder their
own people to win a media war and extra publicity. So Jews in Europe now have to put up with the consequences of this vile propaganda campaign. Hamas is a criminal organization which rules Gaza with an iron hand. But Israel is the devil and Hamas is good, Amen! In the meantime a 70-year old left-wing playright is allowed to desecrate the history of the Jews. For what, The honour of criminals?

logdon

This is from a man Ken Livingstone regards as a great and moderate Muslim. So great in fact, he was invited to London at the behest of the vile ex Mayor. I shake my head at the blatant way in which this undoubted antisemitism is bursting forth under the thin excuse of Cast Lead. We should all email bomb the ones who are in charge starting with 'Community Tzar', Hazel Blears. Google or the Guardian site provides email addresses for all MP's. No insult. No threat, leave that to the militant Muslims. Merely tell it how it is. And how we feel. We are reaching a point where something has to be done. Protest is worthless when we chatter amongst ourselves. Maybe this will wake up those of whom are unaware of the taqiya in which one thing is told to a western audience and a totaly different one to the compliant Muslims. This so called scholar is a star in the Middle East where his words, beamed from al-Jazeera are devoured daily. This is what he says.

'Sheikh Yousuf Al-Qaradhawi: Allah Imposed Hitler On the Jews to Punish Them – 'Allah Willing, the Next Time Will Be at the Hand of the Believers'
Following are excerpts from speeches delivered by prominent Sunni scholar Sheikh Yousuf Al-Qaradhawi, which aired on Al-Jazeera TV on January 28 and 30, 2009.
To view this clip, visit http://www.memritv.org/clip/en/2005.htm.
January 30, 2009: Hitler "Put The Jews In Their Place"
Shei kh Yousuf Al-Qaradhawi: "Throughout history, Allah has imposed upon the [Jews] people who would punish them for their corruption. The last punishment was carried out by Hitler. By means of all the things he did to them - even though they exaggerated this issue - he managed to put them in their place.
"This was divine punishment for them. Allah willing, the next time will be at the hand of the believers." [...]
January 28, 2009: I Will Die As A Martyr Shooting Jews
Al-Qaradhawi: "To conclude my speech, I’d like to say that the only thing I hope for is that as my life approaches its end, Allah will give me an opportunity to go to the land of Jihad and resistance, even if in a wheelchair.
"I will shoot Allah’s enemies, the Jews, and they will throw a bomb at me, and thus, I will seal my life with martyrdom. Praise be to Allah, Lord of the Worlds. Allah’s mercy and blessings upon you."

Saul

I was reading Philip Roth's "The Ghost Writer". There is a young woman who, having survived the camps, is fostered in England. Out of wanting to know about her experiences, the teacher asks her. "Why is it that people hate the Jews?", to which she replies "Why not ask the Jew-haters"?
So, maybe Richard Lawson has directed his question at the wrong person. Maybe he is better off asking an antisemite if they think antisemitism is a consequence of what Jews do? I am sure they will give him a full and frank answer about how it has always been a reaction to Jewish acts and thoughts. After all, antisemites blame the Jews for everything, including, of course, their own antisemitism.

It is a pity that so many responses here have responded against deminisation of the Jews with a corresponding demonisation of Muslims. To oppose one form of racism does not mean accepting and propogating another.

Ellien

Thank you, Melanie, for bringing this to my attention. I thought we have laws in this country against such incitement to hatred. A play like this would never be staged if it concerned any other ethnic group. If I lived in London I would go along in order to shout Boo. Would I be lynched?
It is very convenient to scapegoat Jews when there is an almighty economic crisis, especially when so many believe that the Jews control The Money. Whilst the Arab/Muslim world rely on the teachings of the Koran and the Protocols of the Elders of Zion to justify their hatred, Churchill has two thousand years of Christian hatred to justify hers. I am mystified about the managers of The Royal Court Theatre allowing her play to be shown. Perhaps they, too, have inherited the same roots of hatred for the Jewish people as she has. As for the Jewish names in the list of performers - there are many ethnic Jews on the Left, but I suspect that some among them are driven by fear; if they are not seen to be one of the crowd they may just find themselves out of a job, unemployable, so they sell their soul to the devil.

What Would Wingate Do

Please tell me this loathsome creature is not one of the Spencer Churchills.

Jewish New Yorker

As an American I would like to extend a welcome to British Jews looking to emigrate to avoid vilification and violence. America is largely devoid of the congenital anti-semitism that exists in Britain and Europe. It is time to leave once again. That is Britain and Europe's loss and a gain for the USA.

How many British know that Jews were twice ethnically cleansed from Britain in the past 800 years? Both times as scapegoats for economic problems. Even though the pretense for current surge of anti-semitism is Israel the reality is the economic crisis is the major reason that non-Islamic British are raging against the Jews. It's the same old song and dance.

HarleyDavidson

Brian Moshe
It is very apparent from your post the lines between "old" friends have stretched beyond the breaking point. It takes a strong fellow to stand apart. Perhaps most disheartening about your post is that truth is not self evident to the far left. Nor can it even become truth for truth sake as one of your friends stated they don't read the same media. Perhaps this is not the case of all who think likewise but I have found their version of the truth is built upon so shaky a foundation they are completely unable to debate, argue, nor even contemplate the indignity of being questioned about their ideology much the same as those who pushed the Nazi ideology short years ago. Different people same ideology.

They fear being questioned to the point of lashing out at those who would dare question them. These are dangerous people who would silence anyone who would dare to think differently. That is what extremism is and this is the face of British extremists.

I read the writings of many wonderful British people on this blog, yet I can't help but wonder is Britain slipping away on your watch? Are those who write here willing to confront this extremism outside of this blog or have you given in and only write about the "Jew" troubles from the safety of your homes not daring to speak up in public? How many in your nation have been frightened into silence? And with the current economic problems sweeping across Britain and Europe things are going to get a whole lot uglier for Jews. It always does in bad economic times like it did in the past.

From my vantage point across the pond I'd suggest Jews in Britain and Europe give serious thought to moving over here or to Israel. You'll be safe with us as you will in Israel. Over here our police forces don't run away when confronted by Muslim extremists and their extremists supporters. Nor do our citizens run from extremists we confront them and defeat them where ever we find those animals.

This play is no mistake. The writers know exactly what they wrote and know the message they wish to send, antisemitism. However, the writers also know beyond a doubt that in Britain they are the normal and this is who Britain has become. They know there is a large and growing home grown audience for antisemitism. They do indeed know their audience. They will even make money while doing so. Amazing!

Manuel Escott

i know columnists haved a fire-at-will mandate, but even they should strive for some factual underpinning, especially when throwing figures around, and especially when it's an emotional topic such as gaza and israel. she says that most of the gaza dead after the israeli attack were male terrorists, where did she get that figure? israel estimates that 450 hamas fighters were killed, but again, how did they arrive at that figure. the true fighter-civilian death ratio may never be known. manny, toronto

Adam B.

Brian Moshe,a very moving post. I can only say that perhaps the next and better move Jews can make (and perhaps one Arnold Wesker did not foresee) is away from the UK altogether. Then the Caryl Churchills of this world can stew in their propaganda whilst bringing about their own demise by encouraging the Islamist radicals. We are witnessing Britain committing suicide in slow motion - unless it wakes up soon, the poison will have no antidote.

Adam B.

One has to wonder how Caryl Churchill got this play staged - presumably, if it refers to operation Cast Lead, it was written in the last couple of weeks. How does one write a play, get it cast and staged in two weeks - unless the "message" is so fashionable that any old garbage with an anti-Jewish message would get accepted and staged at such short notice?

Francis

Socialism has destroyed creative art as well as reason and morality, I can't help but observe. I have to disagree with "Jewish New Yorker" this is not an old barbarism but a new one born of the rejection of everything that made Britain civilised - not least its people. I fear there is a storm coming that will reach to the gentlest village of the sleeepiest shire where yet civilisation remains.

Terry

The left has joined the fascist right in the one thing they all agree on - promoting antismeitism and Jew hatred. History goes on and nothing changes.

I call the leftist Jew haters leftofascists. To all intent and purposes they are fascists, but they cloth themsleves in touchy feely human rights terminology.

The greatest threat to civilised values, the thing most likely to usher in a new Dark Age, is the unholy sharing of the same bed by the extreme right, large parts of the left and islamist war on the west.

I'd say that we have about half a minute to learn from nazi appeasement, or we'll end up with WW3 by default. That's how WW2 started, by default. No-one wnated another world war, except the nazis. And they weren't going to be denied any more than the islamic nazis are today, with help from the leftofascist movement (which also hates western democracy and wishes to destroy it).

We Jews have Israel. Ultimately Israel may become Sparta, but a victory for the forces of darkness will come a devastating price this time.

Alix USA

I didn't read all the blogs so I don't know if this was mentioned. Prior to Israel being given the land in 1948 one must remember that the "so called" Palestinian's (actually from Trans-Jordan) were offered half the land by the UN. The Palestinian's turned it down because they hated the Jewish people so much they wanted to kill them not live next to them! They wanted all of the land or nothing. So they got NOTHING! During the latter part of Clinton's Presidency, Ehud Barak offered Arafat around 90% of the land he was asking for and Arafat walked out of the meeting. So it has NEVER been about the land but the extreme hatred of the Jews!
And the part about the Iraeli's killing Palestinian children is nonsense. The Palestinian cowards hide behind their women and especially their children for one reason only-to parade their dead bodies through the streets to garner sympathy and pull at the heartstrings of people who like myself actually love my children more than life itself and knew from the moment they were born they I would always protect them and that I would also die from them! I can't fathom how parents expect their children to die for them! Of course, a lot of the terroists "nail bombs" soaked in rat poison (so the blood won't coagulate) are placed in areas where Jewish children are (school buses, malls, etc). I read somewhere that someone was once asked when the violence would stop in the Middle East and he said: "When the Palestinian's start to love their children more than they hate the Jews"!
It is so sad what is happening in Britain againt the Jewish people!

Michael Paul

Alex Bensby Feb 8th 5.12pm
You ask “By every declared leftist principle the left should be solidly pro-Israel… Yet the left is wildly pro-Palestinian.”
Looking back down the decades it is obvious to me that any individual or Institution that stands confident and self-propelling, engenders anxiety in a proto-left individual. The anxiety that the source of confidence has inadvertently given rise to turns to anger against the source – because the source has revealed a vulnerability within the proto-lefty. If a child is raised in a very comfortable home in post War middle England, with all provision and thinking supplied without question – then that child’s wits and awareness have become dulled to understand the elementary ways of living for survival.
Marxism is a complex defence mechanism used by some in the middle class to shield themselves from their own fears by attacking things they don’t understand that have caused those fears. Bringing down those generators of silent reproach to their sense of timidity and pride, gives them feelings of equality. Unfortunately, the said generators are providing the means of survival to proto-lefty. And therein lies the enigma. A drowning individual whilst panicking tends to pull the rescuer under the water.
It’s not just Israel being undermined by this self-contradictory metaphysical force, but in the UK, e.g. successful schools, and prevention of crime. Poor standards of education and empathy with criminal behaviour that threaten the ability to keep civilisation in good condition, satisfies the inner struggles of proto-lefty. But there’s the rub - if civilisation goes down, then dependant proto-leftyman goes down too.
How do we provide the liberal intelligentsia with the appropriate education to save themselves and all others?

Linda Smith

Just seen on Daily Mail website "A high-ranking diplomat at the Foreign Office has been arrested after allegations that he launched a foul-mouthed anti-Semitic tirade.,,,After a complaint was made to police, Mr Laxton was arrested for inciting religious hatred...."

davidka

Jews are seen traditionally only as victims when they DO NOT defend themselves against persecution.
that is the nature of judeo phobia and it has been transferred to the Israeli nation as a whole.
Anti Semites are furious that the Jews in Israel defend themselves and scream about disproportionate casualties which they would never dream of applying to British troops wherever they are involved in conflict.
the sad fact is that the Churchill woman and her tribe will never ever realise just how antisemitic they actually are.

Jason

I agree with HarleyDavidson. Jews in Europe should strongly consider emigrating to the USA or Israel.

There is no escaping the rsmpent Jew hatred in Europe, which has been exacerbated tremendously by your unfettered immigration of Muslim extremists and sympathizers. Remember, there is strength in numbers, and Jews would be able to fight antisemitism if they were not so spread out across the globe.

Of course, I am biased, but I believe the US is the safer choice, as poor Israel, located in the worst neighborhood in the world, will forever be subjeced to Jihad and terrorism.

Barbara

America may be SAFER than Europe at the present moment, but Jews here are not completely safe, either. We belong to a Reform temple in a university town, and for the last eight years we have not been able to attend services without police protection.

It started after the Arabs began their riots in 2000. We walked into High Holiday services that year and my eight-year-old son asked me, "Mama, why are the police here?" What could I say? That we Jews were not safe in our own country because of the Moslems on campus who were threatening us? I told him something soothing, and over the years we have gotten used to being guarded, to having to lock our doors at all times, to having to use a code to get into our temple.

Our children are dropped off and picked up when going to religious school, even if we live a block away. Our Jewish camp bus had its brake lines cut overnight once, which, thanks be to God, was discovered before the kids got on board. Hate emails and threats are our constant lot.

There are two mosques I know of (there are probably more), and they never have to be guarded because their worshipers are not at risk.

And I haven't even discussed what happens to Jewish kids on campus.

gary

Too many people don't recognise antisemitism when it's stuck right in front of their face. One reason for this is that the Holocaust has become known as the defining event of antisemitism, so anything less is not viewed as real antisemitism. Maybe it's time to drop the word "antisemitism" and use the plain English term "Jew-hatred" to release the concept from muddy associations in people's minds.

Janet Davis

Alex Bensky asks why the left wing are anti-Israel. I think it's because they're anti-captitalism, and the US symbolises capitalism - and the US backs Israel. So I suppose they see Israel's enemies as the oppressed underdog. (If ethno-religious factors were their main motivation, they'd probably hate the Palestinians too! The west's relations with Islam have, after all, not been historically harmonious.)

gary ashton

ultimately weather you accept it or not, israel is home for jews and safer than anywhere else. it's also home to non jews and would welcome contributions from creative and constructive minds regardless of religious background or race. israel is multicultural and secular, it embraces sex, technology and innovation. it has plenty of enemies who would like to crush her and its peoples, but they will never do this as israel has already won, without deceit, lies or manipulation. it's won by being an open healthy, vibrant and inclusive country that has done what it needs to do to survive and protect its citizens. what else can one want from it's governments. perhaps english people are just so bitter and twisted they cannot bear this successful tiny slither of land, perhaps they are jealous that in their 1000 year old history they are at the point where they are falling apart after being invaded silently, while israel is only 60 and strongly defiant and protective of its culture and the ideal of life over death. israel is not a utopia by far, but it's certainly amazing given it's history and the attention it receives. let the english left wing stew in their juices when the jews have left, the fundamentals can attack gays, artists, buddhists, and sooner or later the robotic socialists that cannot think for themselves. let the caliphate engulf europe but there will forever be a small slip of land where it will not reach.
israel.

Janet Davis

'Jewish New Yorker' asserts that: 'America is largely devoid of the congenital anti-semitism that exists in Britain and Europe' and that 'the economic crisis is the main reason that non-Islamic Britons are raging against the Jews'.

My understanding is that violently anti-Jewish feeling is confined largely to the UK's Islamic community, whipped up by anti-Israeli media leftists. The typical Briton-in-the street is undisturbed by the relatively small and assimilated Jewish community - which has not yet attempted to suicide-bomb him to smithereens!

The economic crisis has may have increased resentment of foreigners, but this applies mainly to the huge numbers of recently arrived migrant workers from Europe and Asia - who are felt to be worsening unemployment - not to long-settled Jews.

Historically there has been anti-semitism in Britain, but on the whole I'd say we've been a more tolerant nation than most. Growing up in the UK in the 60s, I recall no particular anti-Jewish feeling.

Many Jews fled here from persecution in other nations around the early twentieth century. We even had a Jewish-descended prime minister - Benjamin Disraeli - in the nineteenth century. (Has the US has a Jewish president yet?)

I've heard of anti-semitism in the US - that, for example, Jews have been denied membership of elite clubs. But no doubt you will set me right if I have got this wrong!

Robert LaFortune

Melanie,
I'm in the strange position of at the same time agreeing with you and wondering why you spend your time attending to situations thousands of miles away from you while ignoring those on your own doorstep.

What ever happened to the British people? You used to rule the world. Now, you allow the immigrant Islamists to dictate national policy and cower you into submission. (Islam means submission!)

We in America have plenty of sorrowful problems, but we could surely use an ally with a backbone.

I'll accept your criticism of us in the spirit of trying to be helpful, but I recommend you also not be so focused on looking outward that you miss what's happening behind your own back.

Archie

Well quite, Miss Phillips. I comfort myself with the thought that for every puny intellect such as Caryl Churchill and the Richard Lawson present here, there is a giant among men - Shimon Peres - who retaliates beyond measure.

Miranda Rose Smith

Dear Richard Lawson: The 100:1 kill ratio figures came from Hamas-not my definition of a reliable source, and I don't remember any upsurge in anger after the Russian invasion of Chechniya or the Sri Lankans crushing the Tamil Tigers uprising.
Dear Pete Hoskin: I believe the "That's not writing. That's typing" crack was made, about Jacqueline Susann, by Truman Capote.
Dear What Would Wingate Do?: I also wondered if she was any relation to Winston.
Dear Augustus: Does Elyse Dodgson feel any grief for the thousands of Israelis killed or wounded in terrorist attacks?
Dear Petecomic1: BRAVO! Did it ever occur to you that people who accuse the Israelis of committing genocide against the Palestinians must think the Palestinians are starfish? If you rip a starfish apart, you get two starfishes.

jen don

Alix - Do you realise that what you wrote is almost the entire last speech of the play?

I think this is why these things need to be discussed.

Gary O

Caryl Churchill gets lauded for writing an untruthful propaganda against Israel. If on the other hand, she had written a truthful account of the racist and genocidal Hamas, she would be in the hiding from them at this minute.

It's an open season on Israel.

Janet

Well, well, well, The Royal Court Theatre....Hamas Court
Theatre more like it...the greatest theatre in the world...
to all those poor, pathetic
so called actors and actresses
participating in such a disgusting, Hamas production..I wonder how much they are being paid....don't worry though...
their day will certainly come...
no doubt about that...you are
like puppets on a string..being
manipulated..doing Hamas's dirty
work and in the name of Royalty
at that.....maybe the Queen should be invited, or is she too afraid that while she is out
of the Palace, Hamas might just
by chance drop in for tea.....
but decide to stay longer than
anticipated......

Alex Clarke

How depressing a lot of these comments are. What a sad world we live in if the minute you attack or condemn Israel's actions you are automatically labelled an anti-semite. Maybe they should stop and think that it is actually a respect of all the amazing things the jewish people have achieved and the terrible things they have endured and a love of the complicated jewish soul that also makes it important to challenge and question Israel's present actions. To NOT question, to NOT
oppose sometimes - that would be the real betrayal.

Shy Guy

Meet Rowan Laxton.

Pete Hoskin

Miranda Rose Smith: Capote may have deployed the barb more than once (and, you're right, some think he aimed it Susann's Valley of the Dolls), but it was definitely aimed at Kerouac/the Beat writers first.

Here's the full, original quote, made on a US TV talkshow in February 1959:

"None of [the Beat writers] can write, not even Mr Kerouac. What they do ... isn't writing at all - it's typing."

Anyway, don't want to derail the thread...

John Thomas

"Even in the worst days of the 1930s when the Blackshirts were on the loose did any London theatre show a specifically anti-Jewish play?" (Brian Moshe, 8/2/09/ 8.15) - No! I'm sure the difference is that then it was an underclass (Moseley's supporters were working class) who were anti-Semitic; now, it's the Establishment, with access to the media (well, rulership of it). This fact makes it much worse. So, a 1930-like situation, presently - so we have about 10 years' to go, on that reckoning. Yes, apalling, dreadful.

phil

BRIAN MOSHE -do not be too sad you did not lose friends ,real ones prove themselves when times are tough ,you are better off without them .

Nannette

Churchill's play is no different than the blood libels in Europe where Jews were accused of using gentile children's blood to make matzot (unleavened bread).

I, like many other Jews are planning to leave Britain, which has become tolerant of antisemitism, and few, if any attacks are reported in the national media. And yet, any "Islamophobic" attack makes front page news!

We know where we're not wanted, but history has also taught us that when a country is completely Jew free, that country will suffer the consequences.

Britain will become no more than any Arab country, ending up with a majority of Muslims, forcing shariah law onto the nation and bringing it in line with the 7th century.

stanley Jerusalem

Brian Moshe - Sorry Wentworth St market is in Stepney and is known as Petticoat Lane. Ridley Road Market is in Dalston [not the East End!] My dad had a fish shop there in the 40's.

JohnW

Surely these are justified reasons for prosecution under the Religious and Racial Hatred Act of 2006? Why are these people not being pursued under the law?

stanley Jerusalem

Was it something I said, JohnW?

phil

Alex Clarke there are also many of us who listen to legitimate concerns of our friends ,but it surely unsurprising that in these difficult times people react defensively -you only have to read some of the crazies who post here to understand that . I have friends who are not Jewish and have criticised the Gaza war ,they are not anti -semitic ,they would not be my friends if they were ,but some are terribly misinformed or cant be bothered to research deeply what is happening .The BBBC helps neither Israel or the Palestinians it manages just to prolong the pain .

stanley Jerusalem

Go on Pete. You know you want to!

Ronnie

JohnW, is it not the case that the police must first receive a complaint? So, why is no-one making a complaint?

gary

"What a sad world we live in if the minute you attack or condemn Israel's actions you are automatically labelled an anti-semite."

I'll repeat what I already wrote - Too many people do not recognise Jew-hatred when it's stuck right in front of their face. The quote above is a prime example, even though it's dressed in a complimentary context. The play is simply an updated version of "The Protocols of Zion", a vile pretence about how one generation of Jews passes on their nasty habits to the next.

Maurice, MD

To Alex Clarke -- The issue is not criticizing Israel or even opposig some Israeli policies.

The issue is lying about Israel, and making false accusations.

There is a difference between disagreement and slander.

Raymond Joseph Douglas

Why does the world increasingly hate ISRAEL ? The same reason why family life is breaking down, why education is going down the plughole, why violence is such common currency on our streets. It is because of our wholesale turning away from the God of Israel, revealed to us In Jesus Christ. It is the Jews who first brought to us the Revelation of the true nature of God. That is why we hate them so much !

Miranda Rose Smith

Dear Alex Clarke: Questioning or condemning Israel's actions does not make you an anti-Semite. Lying about Israel and comparing the Israelis to the Nazis when Israel, like every country on the planet, does nasty things to stay alive, does.

Miranda Rose Smith

Dear Pete Hoskin: Thanks.

Miranda Rose Smith

Dear Jenny: Would Ms. Churchill dare to put a homosexual levitating couch into a play about Mahmoud Ahmadinajad?

Sarah

Alex Clarke, February 9th, 2009 9:54am, Melanie Phillips’ post is not concerned with not questioning Israel’s actions. It is to do with Caryl Churhcill telling blatant untruths.

Question away, but don’t make things up, Ms Churchill.

JohnW, February 9th, 2009 11:25am, the Religious and Racial Hatred Act of 2006 is one of the most poisonous pieces of legislation ever thought up by Parliament. Apart from the slim chances of any prosecution ever being successful, any such prosecution would hand the ghastly Churchill a PR victory because it would be trailed as her freedom of expression being put under attack.

So long as she does not directly incite violence let this appalling woman say what she pleases, but she must not expect people to stay silent when she poisonously twists of the truth.

That someone should present such disgraceful untruths is bad enough but the reason why people need to complain to their MPs and the Arts Council is because The Royal Court (as with so many institutions with a strong anti-Israel bias) is a publically funded organisation.

This dreadful Churchill woman has spent almost her entire career feeding on state handout-funded theatres. Let her put on this rotten play in the free market by all means, but why are we all being roped into subsidise her filth?

Sharon Klaff

I am frozen – I tried all my life to understand how the Holocaust happened, what was it that allowed the systematic murder of 6 million people and now I see it returning in my lifetime, me a child of ’48 born at the dawn of Israel seeing my life play out as did the ashes of my ancestors. I am frozen and cold that a mere 60 years after never again it is again and again and again, I am frozen and cold and dazed to immobility at the notion that there is nothing I can usefully do to say no it is not me, it is not my people that will deprive you of your soul, you are mistaken and yet deaf to hear what the path in front holds for you if you persist in embracing this inversion, a convolution to Dhimmitude to subjugation and eradication of yourself, let alone me, the me you so despise who gave you your purpose and your Lord.
I am frozen and I see no way to thaw the chill.

stanley Jerusalem

Miranda Rose Smith
February 9th, 2009 1:53pm

Dear Jenny: Would Ms. Churchill dare to put a homosexual levitating couch into a play about Mahmoud Ahmadinajad?

OK here we go.
I have to ask this. What is a homosexual levitating couch?
Will it disturb the horses?
When I used to walk past the back of my college in Euston the 60's they had a permanent unpunctuated sign - 'PART TIME CLEANING LADIES WANTED'.
Is it going to give hours of pleasure in the analytical anticipation of further meanings?

Banksy

Is it just me but is this woman phillips taking the p*ss - I mean can any sane person be this paranoid? It all sounds like it's the work of someone satirizing the bizarre, insanse inner world of someone who sees anti-semitism everywhere - it's in the trees, the tea leaves...why even the clouds are looking at me funny! Nurse - the screens!

Sarah

Stanley, there is a publicly funded (the public would never willingly fund what goes on there) theatre called the Royal Court in London, which once upon a time used to have some decent plays that were, I suppose, ‘edgy’. But then the next generation of playwrights came along and they didn’t do drama so much as propaganda.

When Caryl Churchill decided to write about George Bush and Tony Blair, she didn’t write about the two of them by name but about an American male and a British male having a homosexual relationship and the audience was left to infer it was reflective of Bush and Blair's relationship (you see why this theatre has to be publicly funded) and the play ends with the two characters sitting on a sofa, which is then hoisted into the air. You aren’t missing anything in Jerusalem, are you?

This play was so unutterably dull that many people struggled to keep their eyes open. Indeed, so sleep-inducing was the whole, dreadful thing, that for some viewers the nausea may have induced in them a phantasmagorical blur of what was happening on stage such that once they woke up after it was all over they may, indeed, have thought they had been watching a homosexual, levitating sofa.

If Ahmadinejad ever hears of such things, he will no doubt buy up all of World of Leather’s remaining sofa stock and have them stoned to death.

I doubt Caryl Churchill – or anyone else at the Royal Court – even knows who Ahmadinejad is. And, I mean, imagine the global furore there would be if it was falsely suggested that a Muslim leader was a homosexual. As long as it’s not an Islamic culture you’re writing about, you can kick seven shades out of it at the Royal Court. Hell, they’ll even give you taxpayers’ money to help you do it.

Brian Moshe

stanley Jerusalem writes:
February 9th, 2009 11:10am
"Brian Moshe - Sorry Wentworth St market is in Stepney and is known as Petticoat Lane. Ridley Road Market is in Dalston [not the East End!] My dad had a fish shop there in the 40's."

Stanley, you are quite right about the location of Wentworth Street: in memory I had thought Wentworth St market was off Ridley Road, Dalston. The market I described and remember was in and off Ridley Road and the Israel Cafe was in a street off Ridley Road. This is where I found myself four years ago after an absense of over forty years and wrongly thought it was the market in Arnold Wesker's play.

You say Ridley Road isn't in the East End. As I understand it, Kingsland High Street is the western boundary of the East End and Ridley Road is east of Kingsland High St.

I expect accuracy in posters so am happy to make a correction.

ahad ha'amoratsim

Amazing how many posts can be summarized as "You damn Jews are complaining again and you all have it coming because Israel did this and that, and what's more you brought it on yourselves by falsely accusing anyone who critizes Israel as being an anti-Semite."

ahad ha'amoratsim

Janet Davis -- as to Benjamin Disraeli: Disraeli's father converted to C of E in order to avoid social discrimination, and there was tremendous opposition to letting Disraeli take his seat in the House oc Commons, based on his Jewish ancestry, notwithstanding his membership in the C of E.

Lynne T

Manuel Escott
February 8th, 2009 11:59pm
[...] she says that most of the gaza dead after the israeli attack were male terrorists, where did she get that figure? israel estimates that 450 hamas fighters were killed, but again, how did they arrive at that figure. the true fighter-civilian death ratio may never be known. manny, toronto

An Italian journalist writing for Correio de la Serra exposed Hamas's lies about the numbers dead and the proportion of armed combatants vs unarmed civilians. He relied on information gathered from Gazan doctors and other sources -- NGOs, that also disputed the propaganda being disseminated by Hamas. I guess they didn't relish being embarrassed the way they were during the Israel-Hezbollah war of 2006, when it became evident that Israel's actions were focussed on military targets embedded in a 10 block radius in Beirut.

Zkharya

Banksy,

Phillips is discussing the text of a play, not 'clouds', 'tea leaves' nor 'everywhere'.

You resort to exaggeration and hyperbole, which are the essence of the 'satirizing' of which you accuse her.

And, unlike Phillips, you in nowise discuss the play or its text.

BTW, are you the Banksy who painted a hole in the West Bank Barrier that, realised, would have been perfect for the suicide bombers that were sent to kill as many Israeli Jews as possible, including women and children, during the 2nd Intifadeh?

Penny

Bullcat - I would most strongly urge you to forward the letter you recieved from Dr Spiers onto the LibDem leader, Nick Clegg.

Dr Spiers remarks are ugly, inflammatory and need reporting. They would do the LibDem's considerable harm if they got into the public domain.

Please inform Clegg - point him towards the harm being done to British Jews, not just by his own LibDem activist and politician but in the wider world.

Rob-NY

The BBC is a corporate sponsor of The Royal Court Theater along with Hugo Boss which designed all those smart SS uniforms for the Nazis so they could scrap those vulgar Brownshirts which they used to wear. Ah, the things some do for fascist fashion and fascist theater.

Mags

Well Banksy, Melanie's blogs might sound like that but I can really assure you she is a very astute person.

She sees the reality which is why she does it, and is NOT afraid to speak out. In fact you should check out a few of her other blogs if you can consider/accept that the world's politicians etc are devious and of course other countries have their own Agenda.

I have been watching Melanie for quite a long while now, and boy has she been right on so many occasions.

She hits the nail on the head, just has she depicts in the Obama blog.

One would do well to read, digest and then go check out the news and do research ..... you would be amazed at what you can learn - I know I did;)

Penny

I'm afraid you just can't win.

As I grew up I watched TV documentaries on the Holocaust. I listened to people saying "Why on earth didn't the Jews see it coming? The writing was on the wall for years!!"

When the Jews went to their deaths in the concentration camps, people wondered why on earth they didn't put up some kind of fight. Why did they behave so meekly? Warsaw excepted.

Then Israel came into existance - a place where it was hoped Jews could live in peace without bothering any other nation. A tiny state, a 1/1000th share of the Arab land.

It is mostly condemned because it isn't meek and is determined to fight for its survival and to remain a place where Jews can either live or return to - just in case the unthinkable happens.

Today, when Jews hear of the anti-semitic waves hitting the UK with increasing frequency, remember the persecutions of the past and wonder if they should get out while the going is good, they're deemed paranoid, delusional and even hysterical.

You just can't win, can you????

stanley Jerusalem

Sarah- Many thanks for the explanation. I believe my preconceived notion [in sheer ignorance] was much funnier, but entertainment could not be the purpose of the Royal Court, could it?
Brian Moshe - Those of us who were 'priviliged' to have left the East End proudly distinguish between 'Oxton, 'Aggerston. Befnull Green and Stepney on the one 'and and Dalston, Clapton and Stoke Newington on the other.They tend to be aggregated under the title of 'North London'.
Kingsland High Street is London's North-South bisector [A10] and Ridley Road joins it on its eastern side. Don't be misled by the E8 postal District. Remember E4 is Chingford which is more than 10 miles away!
Ahad Meha'amoratzim [I really doubt that!] - Disraeli's dad converted to christianity after have a flaming row with the senior members of Bevis Marks Synagogue in the City. They wanted him to pay a fine of about £20 two years running for refusing an expensive honour in the community he was well able but disinclined to afford. He showed his disapproval by proceeding to bat for the other side - NO not that side!
He got his entire family baptised [Like Mahler but not to be able to be appointed Director of the Vienna Court Opera or Otto Klemperer for similar reasons] Unorthodox jews do really unorthodox things which sometimes come back to bite their bums.
Caryl Churchill is a Patron of the Palestine Solidarity Campaign so aside from her self-evident bias one wonders precisely what she is required to do to justify her patronage. Perhaps stand in front of a rocket launcher in Sloane Square.

Richard Aubrey

It appears that of all Muslims killed in conflict in the last half century, three tenths of one percent were killed by Israel. You'd think there'd be some interest in who killed the other 99.7%. Wouldn't you? I mean, if it's the fate of Muslims that you're worried about. Right?
No? Whyever not.

Hugh Brennan

I can guarentee you 100% that if you emigrate to the USA you find the huge majority of your gentile neighbors will be glad to have you and adamant in protection of your rights. Shame on Britain! I am an Irish American. I am neither personally connected to any Jewish family, nor am I one of those zionist evangelicals, but it is well known to most of us that Jewish Americans have been amongst our most productive, patriotic and creative citizens.
SO if the Britons prefer Muhamad to Moses, come on over to the land of Irving Berlin, George Gershwin, Aaron Copeland, Leonard Bernstein, Jonas Salk, Judge Brandeis, Kirk Douglas,Stephen Spielberg and a few dozen million others.
Why not? We're always looking for talent!

Dave M

What can you say? Britain seems to be losing out more and more over its stubborn adherence to tolerance of Political Islam. Not only are many Jews leaving but the so-called Special Relationship with the U.S. is in tatters. That's because the U.S. has had a gutfull of this current Labour Party breeding terrorism within this country. Indeed, there has now been a threat to cut intelligence ties with the U.K. if there's any concrete steps taken to turn Guantanamo Bay into a stage for anti American propaganda. The Russian Federation is likewise irate London is being used to shelter countless Chechnyan radicals. Last but not least, the last I heard Carol Thatcher has fled to take refuge in Sweden merely for using the term "golliwog" in jest. Fuuny how the Beeb will dig up trivial accounts of apparent racism while ignoring more serious anti semitic rants over here by mullahs in U.K. mosques!

toad

Well if the anti-western trends continue in England I predict that by the end of the year London will be another set of co-ordinates in the football.

Chris A

Having not seen Seven Jewish Children, I don't really feel I can comment on the play or the Royal Court's intentions for staging it.

But I did go to the Royal Court tonight to see a brilliant show in their upstairs studio; Shades, which dealt with tolerance and the challenges between the traditional and liberal members of the British Muslim community.

I therefore found it amusing that many comments on here say that theatre's would never touch plays about Islamic issues. When there is one currently on at the theatre you are discussing! Maybe people should check the facts before writing somewhere off, based on one thing they do you don't like.

Brian Moshe

To - John Thomas
February 9th, 2009 10:40am
"Even in the worst days of the 1930s when the Blackshirts were on the loose did any London theatre show a specifically anti-Jewish play?" (Brian Moshe, 8/2/09/ 8.15) -

(quote) "No! I'm sure the difference is that then it was an underclass (Moseley's supporters were working class) who were anti-Semitic; now, it's the Establishment[...]."

I am not trying to nit-pick John Thomas, but I cannot entirely agree with your analysis. Yes, Mosley's Blackshirts were mainly working class, many of them unemployed and many of them had probably no first hand experience of Jews other than those Mosley supporters in the big cities.

Mosley had many middle and upper class supporters including AK Chesterton (nephew of GK Chesterton) and other Establishment figures including a leading car maker and particularly in the aviation industry and the RAF, also senior army officers at various General levels.

In fascist imagery the 'airman' was a sort of proto-superman. Mosley himself invested money in the aircraft industry in the 1930s and claimed he did so because Britain's airforce was being run down. One of his investments was in the aircraft production of A.V. Roe who later helped design and produce the Avro Anson jet used I believe by the RAF after WW2.

You suggest that in the 1930s it wasn't the Establishment that was anti-Jewish, unlike today. Between 1932 and 1939 the Daily Mail frequently published articles by Mosley, supported Mussolini and Franco, and was in favour of a peace with Hitler. Lord Beaverbrook's Daily Express occasionally published articles by Mosley (but was a great fan of Churchill). The Times was in favour of what we now refer to as appeasement. In 1939 the communist Daily Worker backed the totally unexpected Hitler-Soviet peace pact and told its supporters that this was a dirty capitalist war. Only when the communists' beloved Soviet Union was attacked by the nazis in June 1941 did the communists start supporting the war against Hitler - so 'left-wing' support for Jew-haters is nothing new.

Mosley certainly understood the use of modern media as a political weapon as he tried to launch a private radio station based abroad (Luxembourg?) but I am unsure what happened to it or whether it ever actually broadcast.

Edward in the USA

I'm guessing that Lord Ahmed, who threatened with a mob of 10,000 to oppose the appearance of Dutch parliamentarian Geert Wilders of the film Fitna, will have comp tickets at the box office for any performance of "Seven Jewish Children".

AF

History repeats itself...but not with the Jews...never again.

Alexia Calderone

For what it's worth I just sent a not very nice email to the Royal Court (who I will no longer be patronising when I'm in Londonistan). Here is their email if you'd like to give them a piece of your mind.
press@royalcourttheatre.com

I cheerfully await Ms. Churchill's fate in the Englandistan of the future. It won't be pretty.

stanley Jerusalem

Chris A
February 10th, 2009 12:34am
Congratulations on extrapolating the content of two disparate performances with their only point of congruity being the location of the performances.
Concert critics please note "ALL performances at the RFH are great!"
The pity is a perfectly good point is subsumed by this rubbish.

susie

Melanie's own "mystery play" presented here is so full of falsehoods about the Palestinians that one doesn't really know where to start. And it is just ridiculous to describe Caryl Churchill's play as "a 10-minute blood libel". Melanie hurls this accusation around so often, rather than focusing it on examples of real vicious anti-Semitism, that it loses all force or meaning. "Many of the Arabs living in Israel in 1948 when the state was established had only arrived there in the preceding decades on the back of the Jewish immigrants." Please! Try telling that to the hundreds of thousands of Palestinians dispossessed in 1947/48whose ancestors had for centuries lived in their towns and villages, many reduced to rubble by the Israelis. No mention either of the well-documented Jewish terror, including massacres, that "encouraged" Arabs to leave their homes in droves. And so on and so on.

Laura

Chris A [February 10th, 2009 12:34am] nobody has claimed to have seen this new play. What we have been able to see, though, is version of the script. If the extracts from that script bears any resemblance to what appears on stage, then why shouldn’t people comment on it?

Caryl Churchill clearly felt that version of the script was good enough to put in circulation.

But then, myopia comes easy to you: “I therefore found it amusing that many comments on here say that theatre's would never touch plays about Islamic issues.”

Where are these ‘many’ comments? I can’t see them.

All I can see is this: “I doubt Caryl Churchill – or anyone else at the Royal Court – even knows who Ahmadinejad is. And, I mean, imagine the global furore there would be if it was falsely suggested that a Muslim leader was a homosexual. As long as it’s not an Islamic culture you’re writing about, you can kick seven shades out of it at the Royal Court. Hell, they’ll even give you taxpayers’ money to help you do it.”

You think this is wrong, Chris. So enlighten us all to the Royal Court play that goes into scathing detail on A’jad’s reign.

No one said the Royal Court “would never touch plays about Islamic issues”. All they did was point out that the Royal Court is quite happy to stage a play about the Bush/Blair relationship via two homosexuals, but that they wouldn’t do the same thing if it was Islamic leaders they were writing about. You seem to think they have, Chris A, so give us the name of the play that does that then.

And stop making things up.

Eddie

Some stories have moved from the screen to the stage. "Mary Poppins", "The Producers", "The Lion King".

Will the Royal Court theatre mount a version of "Fitna"?

Katrina M

Chris A, that rotten theatre has spent years getting third-rate playwrights to write off George Bush and anyone else who speaks up for the free world, so don’t tell me it can’t take some criticism back.

Caryl Churchill has plainly secured taxpayers’ money to write whatever she’s written so why shouldn’t we be allowed to talk about a document that is circulating in a publicly funded building?

It may well be amended by the time it is staged, but the plain fact is this document is in there and we have all been forced to contribute towards it in its current state through our taxes.

Having helped to pay for the damn thing, we’ve every right to pass comment on the extracts presented here.

zkharya

“The full text can be downloaded from 10 February from http://www.royalcourttheatre.com ”

The release date for the free download of the script has been pushed back to February 11th.

It looks like a hasty re-write is in progress.

phil

susie on this magazine you have licence to say whatever you will apart from libel ,but if you are to be believed you need to provide evidence ,that evidence to be from neutral sources .otherwise you will be written off as just another hate monger ,surely you are not one of those -lets see your evidence please .

Scipio

Did not the Royal Court Theatre show that hideous play "My Name is Rachel Corrie" directed by Alan Rickman as well?

Penny

Susie

A few things you may wish to check;

1) The actual term of Arab rule in Palestine.

I think you will find it was but 22yrs and occured in the 6th century. At other times the land was ruled by Romans, Greeks, Turks, Brits....but, as mentioned, only 22yrs by the Arabs (Syria).

2) The distinct language of the Palestinians. The distinct culture of the Palestinians. The history of the Palestinian people. The names of any distinct rulers of the Palestinians prior to 1967.

I think you will struggle as there are no known records.

3) The following statement:

"Yes, the existence of a separate Palestinian
identity serves only tactical purposes. The
founding of a Palestinian state is a new tool
in the continuing battle against Israel ...
-- Zuheir Muhsin, late Military Department head
of the PLO and member of its Executive
Council, Dutch daily Trouw, March 1977

The term 'Palestianian people' had no academic or international credibility prior to 1967.

If you wish to check the veracity of my statements, the following site might prove useful:

http://www.eretzyisroel.org/~jkatz/

Dr Richard Lawson

My point is that the 100:1 kill ratio contradicts the Just War rule of Proportionality, and that this disproportion, (added to the effects of the blockade, and the destruction of civilian infrastructure)is a cause of increasing anti-Israeli feeling, which leaks out into the totally repugnant anti-semitism in some emotionally unstable and cognitively challenged peoplewhich Melanie is writing about. So the ugly and unacceptable outbreak of anti-semitism cannot be ascribed solely to anti-Israel media bias; it is also due to the disproportionate force exercised by Olmert's Government. Militarism is the problem, not the solution. I, like everyone here, dearly want to see both communities living together in peace, and I advocate the Water Project as a way to help to arrive at peace

Adam B.

susie, unfortunately your own post is a mystery play, and you have gleaned your "facts" from propaganda which has been repeatedly exposed to you over the years. If you want to see the vicious type of anti-semitism you so hate, look at Palestinian society.

Adam B.

Chris A, the point is that the Royal Court theatre would not show a play critical of Hamas, the Palestinian Authority, Iran, Syria or radical Islam in the West. You know it.

Adam B.

Dr Richard Lawson, your kill ratio argument is ridiculous. War is not a precise science, especially in circumstances where civilian shileds are actively being employed. And in any case it isn't 100:1 - from where do you get your figures? And as for your awful argument that the Jews are bringing anti-Semitism on themselves... nothing new. Both communites do want to live in peace - the problem is that one of them doesn't want the other to exist. Guess which?

Adam B.

Dr Lawson, are you so naive that you believe that the Nazis of Hamas, who advocate the extermination of every living Jew, will be impressed with your Water project? I genuinely wish they were, but it is simply living in cloud cuckoo land to believe that this will solve Hamas' genocidal impulse.

Adam B.

Dr Lawson, you argument that if only the Jews acted differently, there would be less anti-Semitism is akin to saying that if only a woman acted differently, she wouldn't be raped. Do you not see how grotesque this contention is? The blame for anti-Semitism lies with the anti-Semites. Period.

Linda Smith

Dr Richard Lawson (10 Feb 5.25pm) You posted: "Militarism is the problem, not the solution.....I advocate the Water Project as a way to help to arrive at peace."

Israel has been castigated by partially informed onlookers like you for "a disproportionate response to a few harmless rockets", for blocking aid, etc. Gaza is governed by Islamic Fundamentalist Hamas whose 1988 Charter, which they have not revoked, calls for murder of the Jewish population of Israel as a religious duty and incites worldwide genocide of Jews, blaming Jews for all the "evils" of the world, including the French Revolution. Hamas is armed by Iran who seek to develop a nuclear capability. It is important that casual onlookers like you are properly informed of Hamas's objectives and activities - including their thefts, ongoing murder and terrorizing of the Gazan civilians - verifiied by independent sources, so that you can make an informed opinion on the conflict.

Hamas are militant Islamic fundamentalists. So when you write "I, like everyone here, dearly want to see both communities living together in peace, you have to understand that Hamas don't want peace. The only hope for peace is to remove Hamas from power. Unless Israel uses what you call "disproportion", there won't be any Israel.

PS If you know anything about psychodynamics, you will know that the "repugnantly antisemitic" people use Jews and Israel as a convenient and traditional cultural scapegoat. See my comments on this on another thread: The jihad against Britain's Jews.

Linda Smith

Dr Richard Lawson (10 Feb 5.25pm) You posted: "Militarism is the problem, not the solution.....I advocate the Water Project as a way to help to arrive at peace."

Israel has been castigated by partially informed onlookers like you for "a disproportionate response to a few harmless rockets", for blocking aid, etc. Gaza is governed by Islamic Fundamentalist Hamas whose 1988 Charter, which they have not revoked, calls for murder of the Jewish population of Israel as a religious duty and incites worldwide genocide of Jews, blaming Jews for all the "evils" of the world, including the French Revolution. Hamas is armed by Iran who seek to develop a nuclear capability. It is important that casual onlookers like you are properly informed of Hamas's objectives and activities - including their thefts, ongoing murder and terrorizing of the Gazan civilians - verifiied by independent sources, so that you can make an informed opinion on the conflict.

Hamas are militant Islamic fundamentalists. So when you write "I, like everyone here, dearly want to see both communities living together in peace, you have to understand that Hamas don't want peace. The only hope for peace is to remove Hamas from power. Unless Israel uses what you call "disproportion", there won't be any Israel.

PS If you know anything about psychodynamics, you will know that the "repugnantly antisemitic" people use Jews and Israel as a convenient and traditional cultural scapegoat. See my comments on this on another thread: The jihad against Britain's Jews.

CFB

Oh, sod Caryl Churchill.

leo solomon

O.K. guys...listen up!!! It appears we have dispropotion here.We've got this debit column to erase so-who will volunteer.....We need about 1000 to bring it in line.....nobody?...O.K.-you,you,you,you ,you ,you, you,you ,you,etc.,etc.,etc,...,

Lee Laurie

John Thomas.....in the 1930s wasn't it the working class who attacked Mosleys lot.Different times now though.

Henry Weiss

There is rich and sick irony throughout the play in that the way in which "the Jews" are shown talking about the "unhuman" arabs is taken directly from the way in which Jews are protrayed in the state sponsored media, of many Arab states anmd of course Hamas itself.

An irony to which Caryl Churchill is completely blinded by her irrational hatred.

The artistic director of the Royal Court says, again apparently without any irony, Churchill, 70, has tackled a huge subject in "an incredibly distilled and economical way". It is indeed distilled and economical. Distilled hatred and economical with historical truth.

Shame on the Royal Court. Still I've got tickets. I've just got to see this hatred (put on in a bastion of the liberal establishment) first hand to believe it.

stanley Jerusalem

Dr Richard Lawson and your version of Utopia should know that when Israel evacuated the Gaza Strip over than 2 years ago they left $1,000,000.00-worth of hothouses in Gush Katif which our friends Hamas proceeded to bulldoze into oblivion on the grounds that they did not wish the population of Gaza to benefit from anything Israeli. Bearing this in mind how do imagine your Water Project will proceed? [Oh and have you watched the old edition of Blue Peter where they
make a box out of coloured cardboard and solve World Peace?

phil

susie are you another one who has disappeared as soon as relevant questions are asked -

Louis Lentin

Ms Churchill's rant is an un thought out piece of "anti semitic", shame on the Royal Court for staging it. The danger now is that as Msd Churchill is extremely well known other theatres perhaps through the world will pick it up. Isn't this a matter for the Board of Guardians ,, are they doing anything about it?

ahad ha'amoratsim

Richard Lawson, if you had lived a millennium ago, you would be explaining that the reason Jews were massacred because some Jew had broken into a church and desecrated the host, and that as much as you deplore the massacre, the Jew who desecrated the host shared the blame with the mob.

Dr. Gabriel Sivan

Re Caryl Churchill's Jew-baiting "play" at the Royal Court Theatre: "A Victory for Democracy", one episode in the BBC's "Yes, Prime Minister" TV series, poked fun at anti-Israel sentiment in the British Foreign Office. All things considered, would the BBC dare to screen that type of satire today?

Fergus Pickering

Caryl Churchill is a talentless marxist hack. I once had to sit through a FULL LENGTH play of hers because I was reviewingit. Actually I escaped at the interval. By the way, how does a homosexual levitating sofa work? Does it pinch boys' bottoms?

stanley Jerusalem

Fergus Pickering please read Sarah -
February 9th, 2009 5:29pm for her answer to this same question which I posed at an earlier posting.Sadly since the 60's the Royal Court has specialised in pointless dross like this that no other self-respecting theatre would stage.

Ann

"A Scottish Lib Dem MSP called Hugh O’Donnell launched a hate fuelled tirade against Israel in the Scottish Parliament on 8th January"

The degree of antisemitism in Scotland is shocking. The SNP is awash with it.

Lawson is talking drivel. I wonder what his PhD is in - probably water divination. There is no rule, law, convention or treaty of any kind that requires the attacked side to respond with a mathematically equal force. The attacked side has every right to respond with the force they deem necessary to stop the attck.

But then, some people simply don't like Jews defending themselves.

Ann

I feel for you, Fergus. Well done for walking out.
The Royal Court has become a refuge for hysterical Jew-bashing and USA-bashing - at my expense! What a bunch of disgusting &*^%.

Laurie Lee

Brian Moshe...."Avro Anson 'Jet' ?
Hate to nit pick but if you'd put a jet engine on the Avro Ansons I worked on in the RAF you'd have torn the b****y wings !
Makes you wonder about the "facts" in some other posts.

stanley Jerusalem

Laurie Lee- "
Straining at gnats and swallowing camels".

Pete, am I allowed to say camels?

Doctor Silver Lining

There is a silver lining to this dark cloud of a 'play'. We should thank Caryl Churchill for eloquently epitomising the illogical and sick antisemitism permeating Europe and now alas England too. In writing this she has provided a platform for Melanie to write a total refutation of the diseased 'thinking' about the Middle East in this brilliantly constructed riposte. Each piece of propoganda unleashes more and more devastating facts from Melanie Phillips. She could not have written this brilliant 'review' had the play not existed. Each hate-filled line by Caryl Churchill can be compared to a tennis ball being perfectly tossed up for Melanie to serve one devastating ace after another. No wonder this is one of her best pieces ever and Caryl Churchill should take some of the credit!

Chris

I wonder how many people posting have seen the show what I find excruciating is people screaming opinions without witnessing the event. I saw the piece last night after the stone (marvelous) and I have to say I thought it was slightly hammy and awkward but left me rather cold it didn't vastly change my opinions just showed me others. I don't think a ten minute play can change the world it is someones voice expressing an opinion like it or loathe it.

PF

Every line of dialgoue that Churchill writes I've heard spoken by Jews I've known in real life. In capturing the sentiments of the majority of Israelis and American Jews for sure, Churchill dares to put light on what's really happening. More genius and poetry from this exceptional playwright.

moflard

With all this ranting about "ANTISEMITISM!" I'd have expected the play to be filled with references to the "dirty joooos", but the bits quoted don't mention Jews once. The context is Israeli, but criticising Israel is no more antisemitic than criticising Australia is anti-Aglosaxon. Seems there's some hysterical people about who're feeling a mite defensive about their support for that particular nation.

As for the article itself - nice way to repeat mythology. The idea that the Palestinians are mainly recent newcomers because of the miracles worked by Jewish immigrants has been disproved so many times I've lost count - not least by the recent genetic evidence that shows they and Jews only diverged as a population 2000 years ago (i.e. when the ancestors of the Palestinians began to convert). I'd also really like to know what this "unique and historic" Jewish claim to the land is? If the idea's Jews only left because of the nasty Romans, well how can you have that AND a continuous Jewish population? Sorry again the history and archaeology's against this idea, many if not most Jews left voluntarily in effect as economic migrants.

And then we get to the identification Arab vs Palestinian. Well that's a joke. How many on here identify as Jewish? Should that mean the BNP could kick you out of your houses and say "well you're Jewish not English, and you've got Israel so get out"? No that would be antisemitic and basically wrong so how is it that Israel can kick people out of their own homes just because they disagree with their national identification? The there's the bit about Israeli equal ops - not in marriage there isn't, not in access to infrastructure, education or housing. All those are slanted towards one particular ethnicity. Israel gets some things right, but it doesn't get a free pass just because its Jewish, sorry. And "a land...a people" has nothing to do with all that nonsense about an indefinite article, it's basic oratory, reusing the same formation twice to create emphasis. God's you'd think a journalist would realise that.

Nah this is a hysterical response to a criticism of Israel and since the actions in Gaza are impossible to defend Zionists as usual go for crying "ANTISEMITISM!" at the top of their voices. Folks gotta tell ya, it's gotten a bit old, we've heard it too often and, like the Boy Who Cried Wolf, it isn't working any more.

Adam B.

Excellent letter in today's telegraph condemning this piece of anti-semitic dreck.

Thea

I have been heartened to a degree, after reading so many reponses supporting Melanie Phillips attack on Churchill's "play." In fact it is not a play but a sickening sycophantic piece of propanganda. During the middle ages there were forced "Disputations" whereupon Jews were forced to debate and defend The Torah to the Catholic Church who were persecuting Jews for heresy. The propaganda of the church at the time can be likened to Churchill's "play," the issue then was Jesus, now the issue is Israel. Churchill like those anti-semites before her presumes to be the "enlightner" while the Jews are the misguided, blaphemous evil doers. The "facts" espoused at the time of the Disputations, are as laughable as the "facts" Churchill presents in her play. She has created "Zionist Faygins," who like the caricatures of Jews in Hitler's time, encapsulate the stereotypical characteristics of Jews that were commonly and erroneously held as being true. The nazis proclaimed Jews were not white and european and therefore had no right to remain in Europe. Now Churchill and her ilk promote the belief that because Jews are white and european (and fascists it seems, as well) they have no right to be in Israel. Jews are still being told what they should and should not believe and where they should and should not live.

Mary

perhaps reading norman finklesteins papers as to the barbaricness and unjust disgusting and sly treatment of the palestinians that the isrealis impose will highlight why many thousands of people of all decrees and faith come together to condemn isreal and its illegal formation. these poeple also include orthodox jews and isreali nationals, can one argue that they are anti-semitic too. your arguments are weak and seem like a porpaganda fulled rant against any critism of isreal. perhaps its time for you to explore the truth of isreal wihhout crying wolf!!!

CraigC

I must say, that whilst appalled by anti-semitism (having written on it and been allowed access to the Board of Deputies archives) I am also equally dismayed by Israel's actions in Gaza. I recognise them as self defence, I despise the actions of terrorist groups such as Hamas, but the scale of the aerial bombardment was sickening and will only breed more terrorism surely. These are the concerns of most left wing thinkers that I know, the left that I experience isn't turning into a bunch of 'Jew-Baiters'.
On the play...its 8 minutes long, doesn't look very good, and has some uncomfortable, distasteful 'A'level drama/poliics views. I think that to use 'Blood Libel' is a bit strong and equally as distasteful.

Richard

Does Ms.Phillips admit to any shortcomings at all in the actions of the Israeli state or security forces. Her diatribes get to sound more and more like "Israel, right or wrong". Any dissent from that philosophy can only be anti-semitism.

David Ehrens

The blood libel has to do with tales of Jews turning children of the goyim into matzoh -- and in history blood libels have in fact been made against any number of groups, not just Jews. When a country kills hundreds of children -- as Israel did in Gaza -- or as the United States did in Iraq -- it's not a blood libel, but it most certainly is an international crime.

Joan Stuchner

I suspect many anti-Jews feel humiliated that they have to get down on their knees and pray to one of us. Why, you may ask, would they pray to a Jew if they hate Jews? Fear of 'eternal Hell Fire', of course. Superstition and ignorance both fuel anti-Jewish emotions.

Jillsy

ironic isn't it that Caryl Churchill shares a name with one of the most rpominent Englishman who knew precisely the dangerous and tawdry nature of Islam.