A craven response

catesby

I am sceptical whether Cast Lead or media reportage has much to do with it. I predict that with hindsight we will discover that over the longue duree the level of antisemitic incidents will rise and fall in close correlation with the number of Muslim males aged 16-30 in the UK population. I appreciate that wouldn't account for sudden rises since 2006 etc, but I am confident it will explain the general trend.

Mr Rogers

I now understand how the Jews of Berlin in the 1930s deluded themselves into believing that nothing untoward was going to happen. It seems history does repeat itself.

john

I'm afraid that now all other prejudices are strictly taboo then antisemitism is all that remains for lefties to legitimately express the darker side of their mean spirited natures. Add the fact that the left will support any cause seeking to undermine Western civilisation then the current state of affairs was inevitable.

Look for a change back towards reality next year when socialism gets voted out of office.

Jeremy Jacobs

Nice to know I'm in none of those "three" Melanie.

Dave B

"it is (and has been for several years now) a mainstream position in conservatively-minded Middle Britain."

I think you're wrong there. The rise of Islamic terrorism/fascism makes it easier for Britons to see common-cause with Israel, and harder to see Palestinians as innocent underdogs.

Ruairidh

Get some perspective.

The BCS estimated 207,000 racially or religiously motivated incidents in 2007/8 of which 57,055 were reported to the police. 609 incidents over 6 months sounds a lot in isolation. Put in a national context and you realise it represents somewhere between 0.5 and 2% of all 'hate' crime. An anti-jewish wave is not sweeping the country.

jaz

"Largely as a result of the way Israel’s Operation Cast Lead in Gaza was presented by the media"

Surely that should read " Largely as a result of the way Israel’s Operation Cast Lead in Gaza was conducted by the IDF"

A Deputy

Wineman's views will be anathema to many on the Board of Deputies and he is likely to face a vote of no confidence at the next meeting

Joshua

Mr Rogers, the vast majority of Jews in Berlin didn't delude themselves at all. The reason why many more German Jews, along with Jews elsewhere in Europe, didn't escape in time was because the gates of the world were locked against them.

Dr Michael Gracie

Regarding the demonisation of Israel and Jews generally, I think the BBC role has been very significant and malevolent.

Miranda Rose Smith

So "darkness is closing in on Israel's reputation in Great Britain." Well, since dawn will only break on Israel's reputation in Great Britain when the Israelis sit down quietly and let themselves be murdered, its a very good thing that darkness is closing in.
Operation Cast Lead made putting the case for Israel all the more challenging for Diaspora communities because the Diaspora communities are stupid enough to try to defend the right of Jews to stay alive, imagining that they're dealing with decent people, instead of telling world opinion and the world media and the U.N. to all go (expletive) themselves with a fire extinguisher.

PauL

Dave B and Catesby are getting at the truth of it, methinks.

I see that british police women will have to wear head dresses when entering mosques. Doesn't this mean our law is playing second fiddle to their religion? You know what? How dare we even have women serving in the police?

Daniel Mann

I also remember that panel discussion (i was the chap moderating) Wineman just didn't answer my questions even when pressed. When I saw that he was in the running to lead the BOD (let alone win) my heart sunk. British Jews seem to be on a one way ticket towards something clearly unpleasant. Where is the fight? Perhaps we're all too bust planning a holiday or buying a new car.

Michael Taylor

Melanie, antisemitism remains an unbreakable taboo in this country - it puts the hater outside the limits of social discourse. Clearly, a stream of Islamo/fascists are happy to locate themselves there, but I don't think anyone else is. Even your bog-standard Israel-hating leftie isn't going to admit, even to himself, that he has an anti-Semitic thought in his head. Jews have had, do have, and will have a full and honoured place in Britain's society - and I see no evidence at all that this is changing in any way.

C Powell

Ruairidh: I have lived in North London since I was a child and whereas now it is routine to see guards outside synagogues, I don't recall ever seeing this when I was a child. (BTW I'm not Jewish.) This is a change - and for the worse, which I find quite appalling. Even worse is the fact the authorities seem so unwilling to provide protection from such threats. The police should be guarding synagogues etc if they are under threat and they should be arresting those who carry out attacks or who threaten, plan them etc. Why aren't the Jewish community making a stink about this?

Catesby and Dave B have it both right: one reason why the rise in anti-semitic incidents is downplayed is because this would force the so-called intelligentsia to note the anti-semitism routinely displayed and preached by their favourite ethnic/religious minority and force them to confront the fact that that religious minority is hugely intolerant, anti-semitic and some of its members are prone to praising/justifying and in some cases practising terrorist violence and not the oppressed minority of their patronising imagination. But the more thoughtful amongst us do understand exactly what Dave B has described.

John Thomas

What is distressing about the present situation (which such as Dave B should note) is the unholy alliance between the hard Left (and the middle-of-the-road Middle class "Liberal" Left) with Islamicism/Jihadism - such that even moderate Left people are prepared to damn Israel, and not worry about the fact that they're thereby supporting Islamicism/Jihadism that operates via Palestine.

Carl

There certainly are some obsessive people around but you really need to look an awful lot closer to home to find them.

Stefan Denis

On the 2006 Parliamentary Report on anti-Semitism:
"Consider the methodology deployed for demonstrating a new anti-Semitism. The report defines an anti-Semitic incident as any occasion “perceived” to be anti-Semitic by the “Jewish community”…In the category of inherently anti-Semitic pronouncements the report includes “drawing comparisons of contemporary Israeli policy to that of the Nazis” (only comparisons of contemporary Arab/Muslim policy to that of the Nazis are permissible) and “theories about Jewish or Zionist influence on American foreign policy” (even if Jewish and Zionist organisations boast of such influence). Much of the evidence of pervasive British anti-Semitism stretches and strains credulity. The lone item listed under the ominous heading “The Blood Libel” is a Syrian television series “that would be possible for viewers of the UK to see…if they had suitable satellite equipment.”

“The police data on an increase in anti-Semitic incidents in themselves prove little because, as the report concedes, the spike might be due to more incidents being reported and a coarsening of British life generally, as well as the “spillover” from the Israel-Palestine conflict…In addition there is little evidence of “organized,” “politically motivated” anti-Semitic attacks; there is apparently no evidence that perpetrators of anti-Semitic attacks are disproportionately Muslim; and most of the suspects were adolescents. For 2005 the report cites a couple of incidents that were “potentially” life-threatening…It cites no comparative data for other minorities in Britain, although tacitly acknowledging that “the level of prejudice and discrimination experienced by Jews in Britain remains lower,” a considerable understatement…On a related note, it deplores that “less than one in ten [anti-Semitic] incidents reported to the police resulted in a suspect becoming an accused”…but cites no comparative data indicating whether the ratio is aberrant.”

Nannette

Ruairidh, get back to the Ha'aretz comments section and shill for the Palestinians like you're paid to do.

There's less than 300,000 Jews in the UK - and Yes, an anti-Jewish hatefest IS infecting this country, perpetrated mostly by Muslims.

Liz

It is a matter of uncomfortable fact, that the religious communities of London, Manchester and Gateshead are looked upon with as much fear and suspicion by many of the 'pragmatic, middle of the road' Jews to whom Melanie refers as from any non-Jew. A mote in the eye, if you like. However, the religious community knows that Jews will never be truly accepted in the diaspora - wherever they live. Strictly Orthodox Jews are obvious to non-Jews; they dress differently and they live separately because of their observance of halachic laws. They are different, and that's that. However, secular Jews should never kid themselves that they're safe just because they've 'assimilated'. Once their 'identity' is discovered the battle lines are drawn and age-old prejudices revealed whether is be from the Establishment or from the erstwhile mate at the pub. It has been and will always will be thus. Perhaps instead of wasting time trying to ape Western 'culture'and wondering why anti-Semitism still exists, more Jews should read the Chumash and learn about how they should be living.

Nannette

At last, Melanie provides an authoritative take on neo-kapo Vivian Wineman, a so-called leader of a small, neo-kapo community, because he certainly doesn't represent me or anyone I know!

He's a pro-Palestinian, ex-head of the far left anti-Israel, New Israel Fund...

NM

"it represents somewhere between 0.5 and 2% of all 'hate' crime."

So, Ruairidh, how many Jews are there in the UK? What percentage of the UK population does that make it?

When you've finished doing your simple maths, and then studied the research into legitimate extrapolation to take into account the incidents *not* reported (all-too common with 'keep your head down' Jewry in the UK) and I think you'll realise that it *is* a big deal.

Merlyn

Reading over someone's shoulder the Independent on Saturday, I saw a large photo of of Amin al Husseini shaking hands with Hitler. At the end of the piece "Israel uses Hitler picture to sell its settlement expansion", it suggests "Few now dispute that he was an anti-Semite; whether he is still relevant is debatable." Did anyone volunteer to debate that? My offerings at the Independent brought me great grief.

gary

The new secular religion called Humanitarianism has decided that Jews are aligned with evil. It's inherited parts of its theology from mediaeval Christianity. History repeats itself.

Den

Melanie has missed out a fourth category of British Jews - those who have upped and gone on aliya. They have got well away from British antisemitism. Despite the pundits of the BBC and Guardian who would like you to think otherwise we all feel much safer and more at home here in Israel than we did in Britain.

Edward

I am constantly surprised by the deference shown to Islam in Britain by Leftists, Leftist controlled media, who matter of fact belittle, demonize, Christian and Jewish people of faith.

It would be nice if the Left held Muslims to the same high standards they hold Christians and Jews.

Drakken

Well I have seen it all now. The Balkanization of Britain is now complete. The battle lines are drawn, the left in suicidal fashion will side with those that want to repeat what happened in the late 30's, and us on the right that say never again. They say history repeats itself, I am inclined to believe it.

Michael

Jews in Brittan have to protect themselves as Israeli do instead of
whining...

Rob

Every blog post seems to be about Israel or Obama. Any chance you could write something about Britain?

Miranda Rose Smith

So "darkness is closing in on Israel's reputation in Great Britain." Well, since dawn will only break on Israel's reputation in Great Britain when the Israelis sit down quietly and let themselves be murdered, say no to jewish supremacism its a very good thing that darkness is closing in.
Operation Cast Lead made putting the case for Israel all the more challenging for Diaspora communities because the Diaspora communities are stupid enough to try to defend the right of Jews to stay alive, imagining that they're dealing with decent people, instead of telling world opinion and the world media and the U.N. to all go (expletive) themselves with a fire extinguisher.

C Powell

Ruairidh: I have lived in North London since I was a child and whereas now it is routine to see guards outside synagogues, I don't recall ever seeing this when I was a child. (BTW I'm not Jewish.) This is a change - and for the worse, which I find quite appalling. Even worse is the fact the authorities seem so unwilling to provide protection from such threats. The police should be guarding synagogues say no to jewish supremacism etc if they are under threat and they should be arresting those who carry out attacks or who threaten, plan them etc. Why aren't the Jewish community making a stink about this?

Catesby and Dave B have it both right: one reason why the rise in anti-semitic incidents is downplayed is because this would force the so-called intelligentsia to note the anti-semitism routinely displayed and preached by their favourite ethnic/religious minority and force them to confront the fact that that religious minority is hugely intolerant, anti-semitic and some of its members are prone to praising/justifying and in some cases practising terrorist violence and not the oppressed minority of their patronising imagination. But the more thoughtful amongst us do understand exactly what Dave B has described.

Liz

It is a matter of uncomfortable fact, that the religious communities of London, Manchester and Gateshead are looked upon with as much fear and suspicion by many of the 'pragmatic, middle of the road' Jews to whom Melanie refers as from any non-Jew. A mote in the eye, if you like. However, the religious community knows that Jews will never be truly accepted in the diaspora - wherever they live. Strictly Orthodox Jews are obvious to non-Jews; they dress differently and they live separately because of their observance of halachic laws. They are say no to jewish supremacism different, and that's that. However, secular Jews should never kid themselves that they're safe just because they've 'assimilated'. Once their 'identity' is discovered the battle lines are drawn and age-old prejudices revealed whether is be from the Establishment or from the erstwhile mate at the pub. It has been and will always will be thus. Perhaps instead of wasting time trying to ape Western 'culture'and wondering why anti-Semitism still exists, more Jews should read the Chumash and learn about how they should be living.

logdon

We have created "Hate Crime" legislation in Britain, the upshot of which is, if a crime has an additional aspect of racial or homophobic motivation the sentence is considerably increased.

In addition, and this is a straight inheritor of the Lawrence Inquiry, the criteria which pushes the assault or abuse into this category is decided by the victim. In other words, if the victim feels that he or she is being persecuted because of ethnicity or sexual preference that makes it a hate crime.

When this bit of legislation was being hammered out, our politico's and socialist chattering classes were convulsed by a kind of hysterical wave of self loathing pushed by the likes of Doreen Lawrence, her lawyer, Imran Khan, the BBC, Guardian and any Uncle Tom Cobbley who could jump on the hand wringing bandwagon.

Like much of Labour's ill thought out takes on 'equality' where legislation is considered the panacea which will cure us all of all nasty thoughts this descent into the creation of 'thought crime' has not had quite the result intended.

Wading into these choppy waters is Labour's speciality but as per usual they invest their effort into the favourite client groups, blacks, muslims and gay people.

Not much focus on other disadvantaged factions or anti-Semitism there, although it could certainly be regarded as the most pernicious and oldest prejudice and certainly blows all the rest of the ‘victim’ nonsense away when one considers where it lead and the Final Solution strategy of the Nazi’s.

In other words a kind of pernicious pecking order of grievance has been created and because the architects of this so called ‘equality’ live their lives with eyes wide shut and minds fully open to their own prejudices, Jews are now an invisibility on the ‘hate crime’ radar. Or even worse, because of skewed reporting on Israel, actually shifted into the perp category.

Thus an unholy alliance between the left and Islamists is formed where Jew bashing is the sport du jour and staying a few millimetres this side of the law ensures that they get away scot free by the simple expedient of citing zionist colonialism as the target of ire rather than Jews per se.

And are Jews victims of their own success? Integrated. Self sustaining. Citizens who contribute massively to communities and country. Passive and accepting of the status quo and British custom. No boat rocking there and no affront to our nation. No Jewish marches with threats to decapitate all who insult Abraham. No hurling insult at returning soldiers. No ‘Lord Ahmed’ equivalent threatening a mob of 10,000 unless he gets his puerile way. And pertinently, no terrorists who will kill random citizens with zero remorse.

Has Britain descended into an ethical hell where moral equivalence, promotion of diversity and a multicultural free for all trumps all to the extent that fitting in is a self defeating exercise and that the winner who takes all is the one who screams the loudest, threatens us with a take over and despite all blandishments stubbornly refuses to meld with the rest?

History’s clear eyed memory will record this reversal of any semblance of true justice, self preservation or sanity with disdain.

After the discovery of the camps the world cried out in a shudder of collective horror, never again.

Well it looks like that again is firmly back with us. Yet again.

flabslab

I have a funny feeling that long after the Islamic State of Formerly Great Britain has been turned into just another poverty wracked, burka smothered, bacon, gay and jew free, third world dung heap by the Islamo-leftie-fascist coalition, Israel will still exist and indeed will be one of the few beacons of freedom and democracy in an increasingly dark and tyrannical world.

If they have any sense however, they won't be accepting any immigrants from the Nazi infested UK.

logdon

Here's an adjunct.

There's an 'performance art exhibition' in Scotland being enacted whereby participants are invited to deface pages of a King James Bible.

Last night's BBC news jumped through hoops justifying freedom of expression as a base of allowance. Yeah, right!

Where's the national Christian outcry? Where's that idiot upholder of the Faith, Rowan Williams? Or Sentanamu? They'll bang on about Gaza but when it comes to their own back yard, resounding silence. And where are the Jews in defending the Old Testament?

Imagine, just imagine if that Bible had been a Koran?

EDDI

In my opinion the Board of Deputies have failed the community in the battle to counteract rampant anti Semitisms and the attacks on Israel, which are often attacks against Jews by proxy. The Board’s approach to all this seems to be firstly, “don’t make waves, and secondly, work behind the scenes. Sounds good but it also looks craven to some of us. Whist a certain element of the Press begins to sound more and more like ‘Der Sturmer” and the BBC (a gross self perpetuating quango| never stops putting an unfavourable slant on stories from Israel, the Jewish Community remains almost silent. A much more active and aggressive stance isreally necessary in order to show the outrage felt by Jewish citizens of the country. There should be more marches, speeches and vigils to bring home our feelings to these people and the country at large.. Above all, we should be brave in the face of a serious threat that almost sounds like pre war Germany. That is why the hand wringing almost silent Board of Deputies land especially its Chairman ooks so pathetic. It is time, perhaps, that this Board should be replaced with something as active as some of the Muslim community organisations

Miranda Rose Smith

"(Say) no to Jewish supremacism," stuck in the middle of my posting, is from Liz's posting, not mine.

Ruairidh

Nannette: There is no need for the ad hominem attack. I am no Palestinian shill and I resent the accusation. It is childish.

I won’t rehearse my position on a range of issues to justify myself because it’s not relevant to the point except to say I think the media are biased against Israel but I do not think it is driving an anti-Semitic tide of violence. I think anti-Semitic violence exists in the UK but it exists as a small fraction of violence targeted against all minorities. The shrill alarmism of this post (and others like it) should be called out for what it is. I don’t think it helps your cause either as it generates a bunker mentality where you view the rest of the UK as the enemy.

NM: OK then let’s look at some basic maths. Let me know if you get stuck.

From the last census the total ethnic minority population of the UK is 4.6 Million. Lets make the assumption that none of the UKs 280,000 Jews are counted in that total. Therefore the number of people who could be targeted in a racially or religiously motivated crime is 4.9 Million. Jews represent 5.7% of that total.

So if we use your assumption that we should expect that hate crime is proportional to a given groups representation in the population we would expect a hate crime rate of 5.7%. Instead we see Jewish hate crime coming in at 2.1% (comparing the CST figures with the figures of all incidents reported to the police – therefore just to spell it out to you the issue of extrapolating to unreported crimes is not an issue as we are comparing reported crime to the CST with reported crime to the police. If anything I’d expect the CST figure to include some incidents not reported to the police). Furthermore because the Jewish population is comparatively small compared to the Muslim population (1:6ish) I’d expect the rate to be higher than 5.7% if anti-Semitic feelings were as common as anti-Islamic. That is because we are talking about the prevalence of those prejudices in the population at large which should not be proportional to the population of the minority – especially if the gist of Melanie’s article is accepted that it is the anti-Israel bias of the media that is driving those feelings. Once you've got your skinhead or Mulsim youth pumped up on anti-Semitic feelings they can go and daub their graffiti or send out hate emails without actually needing to find a Synagogue or actual jew.

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Luscus

The retrospective statistics compiled by the intriguingly named Community Security Trust are a fine example of the "lies,damned lies and statistics" pitfall remarked upon by the tolerably successful Benjamin Disraeli. In the two most recent months covered by the report " anti-semitic incidents " in fact fell from 102 to 96, and the CST reports that the level of such incidents has returned to "normal" after the sound and fury generated in immediate emotional and unreasoning response to the scenes of carnage in Gaza that filled the media at the beginning of the year.
To move from these belatedly publicised statistics to the predictable bias of the Guardianistas and the BBC and imply that a wave of anti-semitism and anti-Israeli sentiment is sweeping through Britain is frankly as alarmist and unreasoning as the illiterate graffitti of the teenage yobs who in the main are the source of the misplaced venom.

The lights are not going out in Golders Green - there will be no Kristallnacht in Stamford Hill.

If there are victims they are not on the streets of the United Kingdom.

wonderer

Excellent post, Logdon, except that I'm not so sure about "History’s clear eyed memory will record this reversal of any semblance of true justice, self preservation or sanity with disdain".

Who do you think will write the history if the Islamofascists prevail?

Our civilisation will probably get the same write-up as the Romans gave Carthage.

Kahina

well stated Eddie.

The Jews in this country are weak and scared to make waves. Any injustice involves a lot of tut tutting over the coffee table and finishes with pass me another bagel.

I lived in France, where the Jewish community (of North African descent) is strong and active. The various anti-Semetic attacks that the community have experienced in the past 10 years have resulted in mass rallies within hours.

I personally put it down to Ashkenaze/Sephardic difference in the UK (and probably USA too). The majority Ashkenaze community here are too assimilated and have a history of not making waves - even in the 1930's when there were the famous Cable St riots, the Board of Deputies advised the Jews to stay away. However, we have a growing Sephardic community in London, who are proud of their Jewishness. They have there roots in being expelled with just their suitcases from Arab countries and know the harshness of living under Muslim rule. They all have families in Israel and know THE TRUTH, not what the BBC and main stream media feed them. This is the only noisy community that will stand up for Jewish rights.

All I can say is, thank G-d for Melanie Phillips, because if the readers here had to rely on the Jewish Chronicle for Jewish news, we'd be as passive and leftwing as the rest of them.

Puzzled

Why are only those on the Left demonised as 'anti-semites'? Do you think BNP voters are friends of Israel?

Augustus

The Geneva-based World Jewish Congress has said: "Far-right parties and extremists have made gains across Europe amid protest votes and low turnout for the European Parliament elections... Support for centre-left parties and governments collapsed across the EU as fringe parties picked up protest votes." This, and other Jewish groups, are not alone in their concern about rising anti-Semitism in Europe, but their fear of the far-right often and conveniently obscures the indisputable fact that among the greatest threats to Jews and Israel in Europe today stem from the left side of the political spectrum. Indeed, it is no big secret that all across Europe left-wing intellectuals play a crucial role in making anti-Semitism seem respectable. Of course, they are usually careful to promote their hatred of Jews only indirectly. Modern anti-Semitism is usually disguised as
anti-Zionism and an unhealthy obsession with Palestinian victimhood.

This Judeophobia often takes on new forms of life such as anti-Semitic boycott campaigns and anti-Israel demonstrations, the growing intensity of which the left not only overlooks or obscures, but actively encourages and supports. It is then transmitted by Europe's biased left-leaning media, which has taken up the baton of
the postmodern and postnational ideological worldview, which believes in the systematic demonization of Israel, the appeasement of the wrath of the ever-increasing millions of Europe's Muslim immigrants, and the socialist myth of a multicultural utopia.

Sam Armstrong

Puzzled
July 29th, 2009 12:24pm

NEWS FLASH! BNP are far left, into redistribution. Also BNP are taking Jewish members. The BNP have the knives out for the Muslims now.

If you are going to come out with tired old left/right cliches, then do keep up.

It has been acknowledged many times that antisemitism is rife on both right and left. It just happens that at the moment it is the leftwing machine that is controlling world culture, media and politics and therefore it is that machine that is spewing out subtle and not-so-subtle jew hatred.

just Louise

Joshua,not sure I can agree with you there. Happily, most younger German Jews did manage to get out, but many of their elders, who had served the Fatherland in the First World War and bore such patriotic appellations as Otto and Siegfried, left it to the 11th hour - thinking that such madness as Nazism was a "temporary aberration" that would blow over.
Few could foresee that it would all end in murder. And once the war began the future victims of the Holocaust were trapped inside the Reich. Their hopes then pinned on the Allies defeating Nazi Germany as soon as possible.
Merlyn, The Mufti had blue eyes - and Hitler declared him an "honorary Aryan".
Anyhow, to address the current dire situation, my contempt for Boy Miliband grows daily, as he and his Foreign Office masters undermine the little Jewish State.
The fact that the "Daily Telegraph" has abandoned its long-held staunch support for Israel does suggest that the evil has spilled out of the realm of the Guardianistas ...
Remember September 11th? We might have been forgiven for assuming that now western public opinion would realise just what Israel has been up against all these years.
Alas and alack ...
At best, I fear the majority of the public - after years of media brainwashing, especially from Al Beeb - would say "A plague on both your houses".

EDDI

Who has share hodings in the Guardian and can they influence editorial policy ?

Rowland Nelken

I am utterly perplexed about Jewish Identity. Three of my grandparents were Jews. Some distant cousins, In Israel and elsewhere, continue to practise the faith. All my living first cousins, like me, are assimilated. Those who did not assimilate, and remained in Poland in the 1930s, were murdered in the Holocaust. My father was a secular Jew who read the Jewish CHronicle, but never went near a synagogue, and dreamed of 'returning' to Israel. My maternal grandmother was not Jewish, so, presumably, the Orthodix would not accept me as a member without a conversion ceremony. My knowledge and understanding of Jewishness is, in consequence, that of an outsider.
If Jewishness does not mean a belief in a return of the 'Kingdom' as expressed by all the OT prophets and a reestablishment of the ancient Temple rituals, what does it mean?

Yes, there are attractive ceremonies, family gatherings and scrummy recipes certainly; but are they not all, ultimately connected with a quite bizarre belief system?

I am sure that few, if any Jews, would applaud a racist warrior like Joshua, who, aided by his tribal war god, massacred the inhabitants of the Promised Land to make room for the CHosen People. This terrible model from mythic history, however, must underlie, at a deep and almost invisible level, the entire Zionist project.

Like the majority of Jews, the bulk of Christians and Muslims too, might be horrified at the implications of their sacred texts. Violent Jihad to spread the Truth of the final revelation to Mahomet, is one of the pillars of Islam. What is CHristian faith if it abandons a belief in the return of Jesus, and the ultimate triumph of CHristianity throughout the globe as foretold in the Book of Revelation?

In some interpretations this involves the rebuilding of the Temple where the Dome of the Rock now stands.

Perhaps a global 'Though for the Day' style religion, whereby sacred texts are sidelined, save where they express universal, humane and commonsense morality will one day supersede all the conflict that is inevitable when the separate 'Peoples of the Book' take their books too seriously.

A consequence of that, re. Israel and Palestine, might lead to a One State solution. I fear, though, that ancient myths, of the type that brought the world both Hitler and Stalin, Al Quaedr, the ethnic cleansing of Palestine in 1948 as well as President Ahmedinajad's fanatic outbursts re. Israel and the advent of the Mahdi, will retain their destructive power for some time yet.

Dave M

"I see that british police women will have to wear head dresses when entering mosques. Doesn't this mean our law is playing second fiddle to their religion?"

What astounds me in this case is the fact, so far as I'm aware, no woman has made a stand and handed the veils back. There is a perfect legal entitlement to do so on the grounds of discrimination. Any female officer who agrees to this is effectively undermining years of struggle for equality between men and women. It's tantamount to stating, "I as a woman recognise the inferiority of my gender and my guilt in causing males to be "tempted" et cetera et cetera. In a supposed modern democracy this is ludicrous. Why should the religious beliefs of some be forced on others and why, you ask, are women in the U.K. so ready to sacrifice hard-won principles? It seems like yet another instance of the wishy-washy nature of society over here and the overall lack of backbone.
Returning to the subject matter, is there really a comparison between modern Jews and those who lived in the thirties? The fundamental difference is Israel today exists as a formidable, militarised state, well equipped to defend itself. Prior to WW2 such a situation didn't exist (State of Israel).

SimonP

Hi Logdon,

"There's an 'performance art exhibition' in Scotland being enacted whereby participants are invited to deface pages of a King James Bible."

Such hatred of God and his word (KJV or otherwise) is shameful, isn't it. As a Christian I am deeply saddened by this. But I am not surprised at fallen human nature.

"Last night's BBC news jumped through hoops justifying freedom of expression as a base of allowance. Yeah, right!"

I don't expect the Beebs to express moral outrage on behalf of Christians or the Bible. They have no love for either. But if it were a Koran, yes the Beebs would express outrage "at this act of anger expressed against an ethnic minority" or for some other reason, and they would allow wall-to-wall Islamic spokespersons to do the same. It would be "news," after all. The lack of Christian outrage is not news. Nothing to report.

"Where's the national Christian outcry?"

Rest assured, Christians do cry and pray about such things. Some protest. And some will use it as a springboard for evangelising for their faith. Not this this is a Christian nation anyway. We're a minority here.

"Where's that idiot upholder of the Faith, Rowan Williams?"

Is Rowan Williams a Bible-believing Christan? I mean, does he believe all of it? He can't uphold what he doesn't have. He probably doesn't believe the parts which recieved the expletives and scribbles.

"Or Sentanamu?"

Now there's someone I have more hope for hearing something sensible from.

"They'll bang on about Gaza but when it comes to their own back yard, resounding silence."

Speaks volumes doesn't it, not to have anyone issuing blood curdling cries and vowing revenge because someone scribbled filth on a copy of the Bible. Speaks volumes doesn't it, not to have anyone using this incident as leverage to change our countries laws. Besides, if Christians tried to get British laws changed in order to protect their holy book, they would be laughted off and they wouldn't get it. But imaginine if it had been a Koran.....

"And where are the Jews in defending the Old Testament?"

They are probably keeping their heads down. The hatred was not explicitly directed at them, but the 'artist'. If it a fact that any of these sad people who went there to deface the word of God deliberately turned to the Old Testament (as we call it) because it is Jewish? Or did they do their wicked deed because it was "anti-homosexual" or "anti-feminist" etc. I didn't hear of anyone who said they took pen to paper out of hatred for the Jews. Not this time.

It would be interesting to compare the amount of abuse the "Christian" Bible got, with any "Jewish" Scripture if this exercise was repeated on against the Jews. From where would most of the scribblers come, lefties, Muslims or Christians? Would any Christian deface the Jewish Scriptures? I think not.

Are Jews more hated than Christians in the UK? Or, do more people hate Jews than hate Christians in the UK? Depends who you listen to.

"Imagine, just imagine if that Bible had been a Koran?"

Yes, we're all already imagining that.

But who would be stupid enough to try it? Law or no law to protect anyone's holy book, the 'artist' would get put in prison of some outraged, violent Islamist didn't get to him/her first.....

Christians don't do honour killings. Not even KJV readers like me.

logdon

So, it's come to this. We need to see the Balen report. Paid for by the licence fee, it's ownership is ours.

http://www.biased-bbc.blogspot.com/

Worlds Apart
>> Wednesday, July 29, 2009

For many years the BBC has been engaging in a two pronged campaign, on one front familiarising the British public with The Islamic World, and on the other steadily demonising Israel.

This is, after all, the British Broadcasting Corporation, so this flying in the face of Judeo-Christian tradition defies logic. The current BBC has been able to pull off a mass suspension of disbelief by taking liberties with the ‘old’ BBC’s reputation for virtue and impartiality acquired long ago.

It’s true that the instant we get a whiff of an unpalatable viewpoint we’re apt to shut down, so many people will have decided that what I’ve said already is not for them.
If anyone is still here, a spat, perhaps a cyberspat, has arisen which has brought another aspect of this sorry tale to the fore.

Vivian Wineman and Robin Shepherd both have slightly unisex names, so for your information they are both gents. Their disagreement is over the recent Community Service Trust report which concluded that antisemitism in Britain has risen alarmingly. Chris Huhne and several other MPs are aware of this and think it is intolerable.
Mr. Wineman, though, says it’s nothing to worry about, it’s not really happening, while Mr. Shepherd says it certainly is, and it’s very concerning.
Strange to tell, Mr. Wineman is a Jew, and Mr. Shepherd is not.

Mr. Wineman is the newly elected President of the Board of Deputies of British Jews, and he has expressed his controversial views in the Jerusalem Post in a ‘debut’ article. It was written in response to Robin Shepherd’s earlier article on the topic, also in the JPost, which took a different view, and which I mentioned here.

Mr. Wineman’s ‘nothing to worry about’ article has attracted many responses from a wide range of people who are appalled at his complacency, and who agree with Mr. Shepherd. who has in turn written about it all on his own blog.

The blame for this outbreak of racist hostility which is (or is not) increasing alarmingly, had initially been laid firmly at the door of Operation Cast Lead. However, on further examination all roads lead straight past this red herring and on to the real culprit. The BBC.
What has come to the fore, and something that clearly emerges from all this, is the way Britain and our state broadcaster are currently perceived around the world.

Alongside the increase in racially motivated incidents and covert hostility towards Jews, there is a growing worldwide perception that British Jews should watch their backs. The BBC is seen as antisemitic, Britain is seen as ‘no place for Jews’, and the BBC is seen as having played the most significant role in the fiasco that has led to this disastrous state of affairs.

logdon

wonderer
July 29th, 2009 12:09pm

My faith in the judgement of British people was jump started again after the expenses scandal.

We finally 'got it' and our somnolent character awakened with a vengeance, resulting in the result of Norwich.

The anger was quite unprecedented (and it still is) which indicates that we have not quite reached the herdable bovine stage which Labour was pushing us into.

Two sites offer a spine of spinless insight as to where things are at regarding the Islamic encroachment in Europe.

http://gatesofvienna.blogspot.com/

http://islamineurope.blogspot.com/

You'll see the backlash as councils and local organisations wake up to what is going on under the false flag of multiculturalism.

Both Italy and Denmark have moved rightwards and a more rigorist attitude is surfacing.

In The Netherlands Gert Wilders is now number two in national polls which shows what a lightweight buffoon Jacquie Smith was in banning him from our shores.

In other words we are in the early stages of counterinsurgency as Europe realises just what there is to lose. And what will replace it.

As for Britain, the last real attempt at a major reversal of the status quo was the miners strike where Scargill’s hidden agenda was to force communism upon us all.

He was of course defeated by the iron will of Thatcher but isn’t it salutory that many MP’s and in Labour’s cabinet were marxist and trot ideological supporters of his cause? This list includes Brown, Darling, Straw and no doubt the bulk of Scottish ex trade unionist MP’s and ministers. That’s a mighty powerful bloc.

They’ve obviously toned down the rhetoric but the agenda is still alive and well. Banning foxhunting was such a symbol. Anti christianity is another. And the desecration of our culture in favour of ‘diversity’ which is mere code for islamisation tops the lot.

Cameron has to recognise precisely what is going on. Then act.

The mood out there is as volatile as it’s been for decades. Even CiF posters are alight with anger which must tell us something.

All is not lost. Yet. That fat lady still has an encore or two up her voluminous sleeve.

Augustus

Dave M- Unbelievable about those police womens' head dresses. But the funny thing is that the Koran does not say that women should be veiled. It was simply invented by tyrannical men to suppress women, and God knows why British police women should take any notice of such views.

Puzzled

Sam Armstrong: The Left control the world's media? I thought Rupert Murdoch did that?

But it's true that Socialism rules the geopolitical roost. Why is that do you think? Too much democracy in action?

Jerrold L. Sobel

I’m really perplexed regarding the uproar over recent increased anti-Semitism in England. As an educator and writer of Jewish studies, I truly cannot comprehend what the fuss is all about. To be certain, long before there was an Operation Iron Shield, far pre-dating the question of settlements or Palestinian Statehood, and hundreds of year’s antecedent to the re-creation of Israel itself, England was and is a rabidly anti-Semitic country. This is by no means meant to be an Anglophobic statement; it is an historical and undeniable fact. For those who would blindly dispute this, just for starters I recommend you research the following years in English history and make your own conclusions:
1144-As a result of a ludicrous accusation that Jews attacked and killed a young Christian boy, William of Norwich to drink his blood at a Passover Seder, mobs attacked and put to the torch many Jewish settlements. This was the first of several blood libels that would cause many pogroms on the Jewish community.
1189-At the ceremonial coronation of Richard I a rumor was spread that the king did not want Jews at the banquet. On the evening of September 3 a mob set upon the attending Jews and burned down many of their houses. That same year, in order to finance the Third Crusade, while comprising .0025 of the English population, they were inordinately taxed ¼ of their movable property while the Christian population paid just 1/14.
1190-Anti-Jewish riots and massacres in York.
1194-The Exchequer of the Jews catalogue was created to allow the Crown to expropriate higher taxes on Jewish resources.
1210-King John arrested all wealthy Jews and demanded a ransom for their release.
1215-Once again anti-Jewish riots in York and other cities throughout England.
1218-Henry III, under pressure of the papal legate and some 800 years prior to Hitler, adult Jews were forced to wear an Identifying “badge of shame” on their clothing.
1235-More massacres throughout England.
1255-Riots once again due to false blood libel.
1290-Expulsion of the Jews by Edward I that lasts for 350 years.
This anti-Semitic theme perpetrated by the people, the Anglican Church, and successive English governments has continued for hundreds of years. Even Disraeli, amongst the most famous of England’s Prime Ministers, was taunted with anti-Semitic invective both in and out of the government. With the exception of Lord Balfour and the eminently pro-Jewish Churchill family; both Lord Churchill and his son Winston, the Jew and Jewish causes have never been looked upon favorably in England. The strident anti-Semite Clement Atlee didn’t waste much time resurrecting traditional Judeophobia post his rise to power in 1945. So traditional anti-Semitism goes on today in England as she joins her pusillanimous “allies” on the continent and buys into the pro-Arabist European Arab Dialogue.
To me or anyone with a cursory knowledge of English history viz a Vis the Jews it’s laughable to read a quote such as; “Britain is setting a shameful new record in anti-Semitic incidents this year.” When I read that there were only “609 anti-Semitic incidents” in the country this year, based upon history, I said to myself, it looks like Jews are having a good year.

Jerrold L. Sobel

LES

Hi Mel

I've ofte wonered who exactly are the members of the Board of Britsh deputies? How do they get appointed ? If hey're eected no-one ever asked me to vote and hey certainly don't spea for me.

As far back as I can remember they're attitude has been one of "Keep yu're head down and it wll all go away" WELL WON'T.

As an ex-memberof the IDF and a veteran of three wars I do not want these pacifists ad collaborators speaking for me or my family.

What do they think? That because they keep their heads down and grovel to the left-wing appeasers that they will be excluded when the jew-hater come? They'll probably be the first to go.The Judenrat mentality won't save them.

I don't need a bunch of unelected lefties to speak for me.

KEEP TELLING IT LIKE IT IS MEL

Adam B.

In the UK, in the 21st century, Jewish children go to schools with bomb resistant windows.

Which other minority lives like this?

Marcus

AdamB,

I have Jewish friends and colleagues in London who are indeed living under the strain of increased security at the moment, including taking part in synagogue security patrols. I also have Muslim friends and colleagues who have experienced violence and abuse, including one family who over a very lengthy periods took turns at staying awake through the night in case of firebombs being pushed through their front door. I merely want to raise this to make the point that it is not the case that only one group suffers or has suffered from intolerance, prejudice or racism.

Marcus

I should add that I would not an to set up some kind of competition or league-table of suffering; rather, to suggest that it is helpful to be aware of the experiences of groups including and beyond than one's own.

Dave M

"But the funny thing is that the Koran does not say that women should be veiled. It was simply invented by tyrannical men to suppress women, and God knows why British police women should take any notice of such views."

The gesture is pretty much meaningless. Clearly these women officers aren't themselves muslim converts. Therefore putting on a veil sends out the wrong message in the sense only gender equality gets knocked for six. Besides why would any religionist want someone else of secular belief to live a lie under the guise of "not wanting to cause offence"? I'm afraid I find all of this stuff pathetic for want of a better word. It's even more laughable the powers that be claim to be fighting a war to bring democracy and freedom to Afghanistan when they fear defending western liberalism within their own borders. Nothing seems clearer than the stark fact the United Kingdom is losing the most important war of all right on their door step. The alternative, of course, is simply to send in genuine muslim female officers but these folks have to make a drama out of the situation and go to every possible length to appease extremists. Could you seriously imagine the Russians or Japanese bickering about whether to wear veils or not so as not to cause offence? Do these people over here have any backbone or are they jelly fish in disguise you wonder? What a lot of plonkers!

Adam B.

Marcus, of couse other minorities suffer abuse, which is disgusting, but who do you think perpetrates the majority of he abuse aimed at Jews, and who perpetrates the abuse aimed at Muslims?

I therefore reject your equivalence argument.

I don't believe that Muslim schools have bomb-proof windows.

Ruairidh

Yes Adam I too reject the equivalence argument.

On the numbers provided by the CST the evidence is that the Jews in the UK are on average subject to less violence and abuse than other minorities. That there is no darkness closing in and that the small flash in the pan in Jan-Feb has already passed. However I think there is a good reason for the perception on the ground to be otherwise.

The perception is different though because of the threat of something worse. By this I mean there is a very real threat that an AQ inspired attack could take place against any Jewish target at any time anywhere in the world. This threat extends to non-Jewish targets as well but experience tells us that with Jewish targets that much rarer outside Israel and with AQ style attacks definitely targetting them they are at a higher probability of attack.

I think this shadow of terrorism adds an edge to the verbal abuse they do get. A Muslim getting abuse on the way to prayer probably doesn't worry that the youth who shouted at him in the street is planning to blow up his Mosque. A Jew in the same scenario might and even though the probability is very small it gives the incident an added edge that no doubt adds to the stress and feeling that the walls are closeing in.

Marcus

Hi Adam: I actually went out of my way to avoid claiming equivalence: my point is that it's surely good to have an enquiring mind about how it is for groups other than one's own and that not to do can lead to ignorance and a kind of tribalism.

Linda Smith

To Rowland Nelken who is utterly perplexed about Jewish Identity. Forget about faith. Forget the chicken soup,

A person may identify himself as a Jew without believing in God or the stories about divine revelation and without following any of the rituals and customs. The heart of Judaism are its core values and a person's moral behaviour in this world. The myths and stories can be read like Aesop's fables. I suggest you read the Ethics of the Fathers. Then you might start to understand what is meant by Jewish values, principles and ethics, and what a Jewish Identity is.

Rowland Nelken

Thanks Linda SMith, for recommending a book on Jewish ethics. I have ordered it today. I am intrigued to discover what ethics might be consideed quintessentially Jewish; presumably not the genocide of Joshua. In practice, though, as you know, Linda, almost no one defines their Jewishness in that way. What would anyone make of someone with no Jewish family and no connection whatever with a synagogue who declared that, on the basis of a set of ethical values, they had converted to Judaism and were rearing their family as Jews. (with not shabbas or pesach meals, no scriptures, no reference to Israel) Would any of the world's Jews accept them into the fold? I wait to read the book, but I fear that, however noble and uplifting the ethics turn out to be, your definition of Jewishness will remain a lonely fantasy.