Britain's timid Jews

Groovy Times

I completely agree with Mel's damning analysis. The British Board of Deputies represents no-one but themselves. They are more concerned with middle class table manners and high society etiquette than with fighting the corner for the UK's beleaguered and shrinking Jewish community.

Israel is the backbone of a proud and assertive collective Jewish identity throughout the Diaspora. By abandoning Israel the BBD condemns its own community to the same level of spineless servility, indecision and inaction.

LES SHUELL

I just wish people would stop calling the Board of Deputies "Leaders". They are un-elected and as far as I'm concerned they certainly do not represent me. Henry Grunwald is typical of the "keep our heads down grovel and hope for a nice photo" preferbly with Millipede. or some other self-hating Jew. They are no better than the kapos in the camps.As long as they can fraternise and be seen to be seen they are happy.But when their so called friends show their true colors who will they look to then? Jews like me who know what it is to stick the boot intbut we may be busy else-where

Let us not forget the hundreds of Jewish people from the UK who have served with the IDF and spent time toiling in Israel. I may be a Scots Catholic but I remember them well when I lived there and I hope this doesn't sound too peculiar but I felt very proud of them. British Jews suffer just like British Catholics, Christians and the rest from the secular intellectual view of Israel, a view that has no understanding of the imagination and passion, the wonder, the excitement of this country and the return to Zion - children of the promise Amen.

Celina

Yet another reason is that many Jews read the Guardian, Independent etc. and watch the BBC. They genuinely believe what they are seeing and hearing from others and begin to hate their own people.
I myself am in constant disagreements with those Jews who are taken in by this propaganda.
The printed word and TV has long held respect in this country and habits die hard.

Jason from AZ

As an American, I can say that I truly feel sad for the plight of British Jews and understand their timidness. British Jews are so outnumbered by antisemitic Muslims and leftists in the UK, there is very little they can do to improve the situation. And the constant drumbeat against Israel by British media, e.g. BBC and The Guardian, only exacerbates the situation.

Britain is well on its way to becoming an Islamic state anyway, so my only advice to British Jews is: EMIGRATE. Yes, emigrate to friendlier lands like the US, Canada, or Austalia for the sake of your children and future generations. They have no future in the once great, but great no longer, Great Britain.

Margaret Muller-Johansson

The problem with some British Yehudim is they forget their beautiful culture their tradition it is too bad some of them think and pretend they are English "Gentleman" and forget they are Jewish who their ancestry traced way back to their biblical fathers Abraham, Isaac and Jacob their mothers Sarah, Rivkah, Rachel and Leah bless them all..

Anne Wotana Kaye

I agree that the English Jewish establishment, i.e. The British Board of Deputies, is a self-serving group of conceited, self-satisfied egoists. I go further, and say that are equal to the Nazi selected and appointed Jewish leaders in the Warsaw Ghetto who blindly followed Hitler's orders to the letter. Kapos, no more nor less. Britain's Jewish community, like much of their Asian and Moslem fellow citizens, make up a large proportion of the peerage. Nu Labour is very discriminating when it awards peerages. This not only makes those honoured feel even more self-important, giving them credence as they waste their money on various political parties, in this case Nu Labour, but they think it makes them ever more British. The opposite is the case, Gerald Kauffmas, a great opponent of Israel is despised and ridiculed by the very people he toadies to, and there are others, too numerous to mention here. Decent Gentile citizens find such behaviour caddish and does not endear them to this Anglo-Jewish self-ordained hierarchy. They are pitiful and should develop back bones and pride in an ancient religion and culture.

Anne Wotana Kaye

I agree that the English Jewish establishment, i.e. The British Board of Deputies, is a self-serving group of conceited, self-satisfied egoists. I go further, and say that are equal to the Nazi selected and appointed Jewish leaders in the Warsaw Ghetto who blindly followed Hitler's orders to the letter. Kapos, no more nor less. Britain's Jewish community, like much of their Asian and Moslem fellow citizens, make up a large proportion of the peerage. Nu Labour is very discriminating when it awards peerages. This not only makes those honoured feel even more self-important, giving them credence as they waste their money on various political parties, in this case Nu Labour, but they think it makes them ever more British. The opposite is the case, Gerald Kauffmas, a great opponent of Israel is despised and ridiculed by the very people he toadies to, and there are others, too numerous to mention here. Decent Gentile citizens find such behaviour caddish and does not endear them to this Anglo-Jewish self-ordained hierarchy. They are pitiful and should develop back bones and pride in an ancient religion and culture.

Tas

Evangelical Christians tend to support Israel because they believe God's promise of the land to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob is irrevocable. If the evangelical church in the UK was as strong as in the US there would likely be more middle class support for Israel. It would help, too, if more Jews believed their own book.

Blokster

Spot on Melanie.

david elder

Mel, thanks for the kind words about us Australians. Thankfully serious antisemitism though not unknown here has not been common. Protestant Australia was generally favourable to the people of the Book, and Australia's Irish Catholics were not noted for antisemitism. Few things make me prouder as an Australian than our military support for the Allies in WW II against Hitler and his final solution. Support for Israel's basic right to exist is pretty bipartisan here at the political level. The main exception is, as you have doubtless guessed, the chattering classes who copy trendy overseas fashions, absorb BBC orthodoxies via our ABC, and tend to go beyond a desire for a two-state solution into historically ill-informed victimology intended to help the Palestinians. Such people typically have no idea that the Palestinians lost their land to Arab neighbours like Jordan in 1948 and that Israel offered the West Bank back to Jordan in 1967 in return for peace, which was refused. When the Palestinians get a decent leader - an Ataturk not an Arafat - then a mutually acceptable solution might eventuate.

Greg D

You talk of the "dread accusation of ‘dual loyalty’" and then urge British Jews to back Israel to the hilt without any irony. I suspect this includes spying and AIPAC-style lobbying. I don't follow your logic, Mel; doesn't your suggested course of action lead exactly, and legitimately, to that 'dread accusation'?

Terry

Melanie, I back you to the hilt from Middle England!

PW Virginia USA

I am saddened to read this report. I just watched a documentary on Jewish partisans in eastern Europe during WW2. In one instance the "elders" convinced some young Jews not to flee the work camp and fight in the forests because of the collective punishment that the Nazis would do. All were murdered anyway. There is never a time not to fight the forces of evil and it is clear to me that the Euro-leftists and Euro-intelligentsia are very, very evil...

Herbert Thornton

My earlier response doesn't appear to have been accepted, so I once again try to point out that the spinelessness of Britain's Jewish leadership which Melanie describes has a close parallel in the spinelessness of Britain's entire establishment.

It seems obvious, to me, that the British Establishment is just as eager to throw the British people under the bus as the leadership of the Jewish component is eager to throw the people of Israel under the bus.

Islam, aggressive and relentless, is united with its useful idiot ally, political correctness. Together, they are the common enemy.

It is in the clear interest of both Israel and Britain to come closer together to confront those two evils with much greater resolution.

terence patrick hewett

This English Catholic agrees wholeheartedly with Scots Catholic. Anybody who wants to get the Jews will have to walk through us. Try it on if you think you're hard enough.

Jerry

Re Greg D and Dual Loyalty

German Jews fought French and British Jews during World War I, but the German Jews received Hitler in payment.

British Jews have served Britain well and quietly. And what has it gotten them? Opposition to Israel's existence!

Loyalty is a two-way affair, don't you agree! Britain has screwed the Jews royally left and right at many crossroads. Greg, if you were Jewish, would you give your all to Britain knowing its history toward the Jews and Israel or would you simply try to maintain decent relations?

And if you were a British gentile of reasonable character, knowing the history of Britain toward the Jews during World War II and onward until today, would you expect obedience of the most servile nature from the Jews, indeed more than from others?

kate b

We never hear of the daily seizure of rockets and other weapons that the police/IDF recover. Rocks thrown at Jews wanting to pray at the Kotel, or Christian visitors denied entry to the Temple mount, again not reported over here. Rockets which are fired, miraculously fail to kill Jews and so they 'don't count', capture of terrorists, or is it insurgents are a daily occurrence globally, so this is another 'non-news' item, people are desensitized to evil.

I did expect to hear outrage, not just a tut-tut at the Goldstone report. Iran it seems can get away without any sanctions and as much time as they like to continue Ahmadinejad's plan to 'wipe the zionist regime off the map', (no street protests for sanctions/call for boycotting/universities crying for 'rights' there).

Whatever we allow to happen to Israel will happen to us, measure for measure.

redcliffe62

With a growing Muslim community in Australia the media dominated support for Israel is noticeably dropping off.
If I had to say a time when it happened, the Gaza attacks of last year were seen as a turning point.
The media coverage of the Iraq and Afghan wars has become very negative as the reasons to stay there to defend democracy haha) become increasingly unjustifiable even to neo con Americans.

Joseph

@Greg D

I disagree. Surely you support the cause of, say, a free Tibet "to the hilt". Does this mean that you harbour secret, anti-British loyalties vis-a-vis the Tibetans? Of course not. It simply means that you have the discernment to pick a side and the courage to express your opinion accordingly. It's the morally-relativistic fence-sitting that is exasperating.

GeoffM

The parallels are astonishing if you substitute Briton for Jew.

The British Government, similarly, is "first, congenitally supine and, second, historically ambivalent towards"... Britain.

You need to dig a bit deeper Melanie as the parallels are too similar to be coincidental.

Why should British or Jewish leaders be ambivalent towards the threat to the existence of your country and your people?

What ideology, fear or psychosis lies at the root?

Far from being anti-semitic many BNP voters see that both Jews and native British face the same existential threat.

If there is anti-Semitism in Britain it is certainly not coming from that direction much as it suits the Government, Opposition and left wing media to peddle that lie as a distraction and smear.

GeoffM

About 4 years ago I made a complaint about a broadcast on the Islam channel (Sky 813) which I discovered surfing the channels wherein they referred to Jews as dirty, pigs etc. They also used words like Kaffir, dogs etc to describe Christians,

I was so shocked that I made three complaints.

One to the Police who couldn't care less and referred me to OfCom.

OfCom sent me a risible reply wherein they acknowledged that the content my allegation was correct but that "as the imam was speaking from the pulpit (!) so to speak" they regarded the content as, somehow, acceptable.

I also copied my complaint to the Board of Deputies who sent me back a very nice email which basically said thanks for what you have told us but, hey, what can we do? It happens all the time....

There and then I realised that, like the British people, the Jews are led by donkeys.

Larry in Tel Aviv

As others have pointed out, there is a high level of self-loathing among British Jews, my uncle comes to mind.

Another thing, American and Canadian Jews are not really any better and have less excuse, since there is less open hostility to Jews in N America. Let's not forget, near 80% of American Jews voted for Obama, the dhimmi anti-Israel president. Given their far higher numbers (five or six million) American Jews would be expected to be more influential and supportive of Israel, yet considering their many numbers they do relatively little for Israel, and note I stress considering their numbers. I'm not talking about APIAC here, but more than that, they do very very little...

There is widespread self-loathing among Anglo-American-Canadian Jews (including Australian and South African), in other words Jews who have all too successfully assimmilated into the wider British culture and parts of her former Empire. I also include so many Ashkenazi Jews in Israel so enamoured and still pining and nostalgic for eveything European, forgetting why their ancestors came to live in Israel in the first place. People here would be shocked to know how widespread the cravenness and self-loathing among Jews is in Israel, especially in Tel Aviv (at least among the secular Ashkenazi "elite").

In other words the problems with the kapo British Jewish leadership infects Jewry as a whole and the Diaspora as a whole. It's not just the UK.

just Louise

As an ex-pat Aussie, who knows Isi Leibler personally and reads his wonderful "Jerusalem Post" pieces avidly, I've got two comments. First, that he's an uncommonly perspicacious, charismatic and clever person whose aliyah several years ago has left a vacuum in the leadership of the Jewish community of Australia, albeit far more vibrant and assertive than its UK counterpart. Second, I agree with everything that Leibler writes about the "trembling Israelites" of the Board of Deputies. Their dereliction of duty with regard to the Goldstone Report and cowtowing to Boy Miliband, with all its ghastly consequences, is truly and utterly contemptible. We need a representative of Leibler's calibre here.

just Louise

GeoffM, I had the same experience when I wrote to the Board of Deputies regarding Holocaust Denial I'd seen on PressTV, Iran's propaganda channel (incidentally from the mouth of a notorious Aussie Holocaust denier).
My latest communication to the Board concerns a dodgy potted history of Eretz Israel by CBBC, the children's arm of the BBC, on its website. In a section called "MIDDLE EAST: Who owns the land?" (which is headed by a photo of three crying Arab girls)they say:
"Both the Israelis and the Arabs claim they have a right to own the land.
In biblical times, the Jewish Israelis claimed the land, but it then came under Arab rule in 800 AD, and many Jews were forced to leave.
But the Jews still considered this historic area their 'homeland', and began moving back there after the Second World War (1939-1945), when Jews had been treated terribly by Hitler's Nazis."
This is the mendacious view of the situation that the BBC feeds to children, giving the clear impression that since the Dark Ages to the end of the Second World War the Arabs had sovereignty over the land and that the Jews started streaming in after the Holocaust.
I've yet to hear from the Board, but if they don't take this little matter up, I hope the admirable, much-traduced Jonathan Hoffman of the Zionist Federation will.

Liz

Melanie, you forgot to mention us here in South Africa. We're probably the most united and steadfast community in the disapora. Come and visit us, you'd be most welcome. By the way, perhaps someone should supply each member of the British Board of Depties with a copy of Amos Elon's marvelous book The Pity of it All. The BBD's obsequious toadying to political correctness is every bit the equal to that of German Jewry towards the 'Establishment' during the Enlightenment....and we all know how that ended up.

Muppet Pastor

I thought it was interesting that you censored my comment on your other article about engaging peaceful Muslims.
Perhaps it is the failure of the media, journalists and politicians to confront the truth, which has left citizens so disengaged. If you don't allow debate of all the facts and propaganda, you leave yourselves intellectually enfeebled, like the Guardian.

tiki

The article (jerusalem post)starts with the question why the current British and French JEWISH FM's are always the MOST harsh in their critic of Israel. This is nothing new because Jewish "leaders" in gentile governements ALWAYS feel the need to "prove" that they are more papal than the pope.They are always afraid of being accused of "dual loyalty" which must be a curse in their eyes.Isn't it astonishing that the MUSLIM "citizens" of GB/EU don't suffer from this disease at all.It's about time that the Jewish "leaders" of Europe start behaving like LEADERS and don't put their heads in the sand waiting for the storm to blow over. It won't, it will become a hurricane and destroy all. Being a Jewish politician doesn't mean a "non" loyal citizen.

elixelx

Unless I'm much mistaken it was the Pharoah "who knew not Joseph" who first launched this particular dual-loyalty slander against the Jews.
Isn't it strange that we Jews pray for the continuing strength of the Government of the country we live in, AND for the strength of Medinat Yisrael, and YET are accused of dual loyalty, when Hindus, Muslims, Christians pray for NEITHER, and therefore are not putative turncoats?
When was the last time YOU heard any one of the religionists mentioned above singing "G-d save the Queen"?
This dual-loyalty canard is just one more made to justify anti-Zionism, and THAT is what the BRITISH Jewish "leaders" can't bear to speak out against!
Stop being ashamed of the existence of Israel, you cowards!

soovey

Spot on, as ever, Melanie.

I live miles away from a Jewish community and do not belong to a synagogue. I tried once to enlist the BD's help about the increasing antisemitism in the press, and was told to route my query through my synagogue representative (the person had obviously not been listenting to a word I said - I began the conversation with the information I have written above.

It seems to me that the BoD needs to learn a lesson or three from the MCB, however misguided the latter may be, about loyalty to their co-religionists.

For myself, I think they are no more use than a chocolate teapot.

Freedmanslife

As a Brit in the throes of making aliyah, I entirely agree with Melanie's comments (as I usually do, other than when she and Dersh wasted too much time and energy airing their dirty linen in public).

Henry Grunwald's famous comment on why the BoD don't respond to the vile attacks on Israel with more force was "why shout when a whisper would suffice?"

I think that about sums it up. The correct riposte is "why whisper when we can and should shout it from the rooftops?"

The bottom line is that the Jewish community should be unafraid to voice its response loudly and with dignity, and expect the full protection of the law against the ugly responses it will unfortunately bring.

This is a critical issue for the community. If the police and state fail to protect us adequately when we exercise our democratic right to free speech (which no doubt we would do in a more gracious and logically argued, and less bile-ridden and aggressive way than the massed ranks on the other side of this yawning ideological divide), then at least we know it's time to emigrate.

Ultimately I suspect that the BoD and most British Jews know this dilemma is what faces them if they front up to the challenge, and they are not ready for it yet. Whilst I think comparisons to pre-war Nazi Germany where the Jews failed to believe the writing on the wall of their own shops and shuls, are still somewhat premature, I do think that on some level we should be aware that it's not a bad idea to be pro-actively seeking an alternative life elsewhere, whether Israel, America, Australia or (heaven forfend!) some other country where they don't speak English, rather than waiting until it gets really dangerous and (reactively) being forced to flee.

I look at my generation and I only know three types of Jew - the ones who have got out or realise they ought to, the ones who just keep their heads down and convince themselves nothing too bad will happen, and the ones too gormless to think about it.

Being in Israel for 2 months gave me a hundred positive reasons every day to make aliyah (check www.freedmanslife.com for some of them!).

Being back in Blighty for a few days, reading the JC and the daily papers, has totally reaffirmed my decision to leave in the first place.

Ariel Sharon got in trouble for advocating that French Jews should be heading for Israel. I'm more than happy to take the heat for proposing that UK Jews in their 20s and 30s should be doing the same, or at least buying a generation or two of reasonable tolerance by going to Oz, the USA or similar.

The British public, who love to define themselves as fair-minded, old-fashioned liberal, and jolly decent all round, need to understand that they are sacrificing us at the altar of appeasement, and all they are doing is buying themselves a few years of stability. I find it amazing that the Jewish communal organisations either don't get this or are actually offering themselves up as the bouc emissaire.

These days, being more British than the British in this way is something to be ashamed of, not proud of.

Nicole S

Greg D: Logic is not your strong point. British Jews back Israel against the Arabs and anti-semites who would destroy her, not against Britain, their much-loved home. There is no dual loyalty involved.

phil

Greg D your cynical remarks echo your thoughts on earlier columns,they may appeal to others like you but for most the thoughts will be treated with disdain -

The Jews of this nation are proud to be British and have no dual loyalty ,just a great feeling of pride that at last there is a nation of Israel and we will support it as we Brits always supported our "cousins" in AUSTRALIA , CANADA NEW ZEALAND ,etc---with affection !! .My family along with many other Jewish families fought for Britain in both world wars and we have contributed loyally in so many different ways for the benefit of the nation that we are proud to be a part of .

Your outrageous suggestion that Mel urges spies defines your mindset but thankfully you are a in a very small minority in our nation, and I have no doubt those suggestions will be consigned to the garbage cans where they belong .

phil

Freedmanslife first of all I wish you good luck with your aliyah,but yours was a sad post to read ,depressing even . You no doubt have been born and bred in our nation well fed and educated ,not subjected to attacks on your person and have enjoyed the benefits of a democracy where the vast majority feel freely able to express their opinions -yes just like me !

We are not living in a police state and although I do accept there are nutters out there who desecrate gravestones and daub walls ,they are few and far between .To even compare in any way to the nazis is emotion that has gone way over the top as is your description of us as gormless because we wish to live in the land of our birth -a land where we have a free vote,can join any profession ,where nothing is closed to us .Sorry you are just plain wrong ,but I hope you will find happiness and peace in Israel ,meanwhile the rest of us will have to struggle along as best we can in the land we love .

Greg D

Noahide goyim, you have no idea of what you are talking about. Perhaps I am Amaleki; and if I am, my critics know exactly why I raise objections. And, perhaps, you'd like to enlighten the gentiles as to why are fulfilling Noahide commandments #188 and #189.

logdon

About two years ago during the AUT boycott of Israel, I accused a friend, a lecturer and fully supportive of action against an 'apartheid state', of anti semitism.

His fury knew no bounds, how dare I suggest such a thing? This was tantamount to the biggest crime man can commit, racism, in his mind. It was as if I'd called him a Holocaust denier or worse, complicit in the murder of six million Jews.

That's how they are, living in a nether world where they see no shame in parroting the lies and slander of Guardianistas, yet when a truth of connection to anti Jewish racism is pointed out they fume and bluster.

His girlfriend of the time was actually Jewish so I naturally turned to her in the hope that at least one of the crowd would support my conviction.

Far from it, she supported his rant to the hilt and I was left dangling, the only one in the group who could see wood amongst the trees. In other words her allegiance to leftist principles trumped her very own ethnicity.

This is the symptom of a national mallaise and the outcome of a gross relativistic multi cultural attitude amongst academics and our educational establishment.

For them the new 'victim' is Islam. And the new 'oppressor' is anyone who voices the bloody obvious, that Islam is intent on global expansion and that Israel is the barometer as to where its heading.

Maximilian

Jason from AZ writes:

so my only advice to British Jews is: EMIGRATE. Yes, emigrate to friendlier lands like the US, Canada, or Austalia

Isn't there a country missing from your list, Jason? It begins with an I and ends with an L. Know which one I mean?

Mir

I'd make Aliyah like a shot if I weren't so terrified of Israel's neighbours. The thought of all diaspora Jewry returning to live together in Israel, while the likes of Hamas and Iran continue to threaten her with destruction makes my blood run cold. Through its feeble insipidness the 'whispering' BBD is forcing the former whilst encouraging the latter.

GeoffM

I'm no psychologist so I wont even begin to do what better qualified people can, and should, have done long before.

But I read a book a few months ago -"They F*ck You Up: How to Survive Family Life by Oliver James.

The writer is a self proclaimed Leftie but even so the insights into what makes people the way they are led me away from my purpose in reading it, to understand my Irish wife's family (don't go there!....), to getting an insight into what makes people hold the political/societal views that they do.

I began to see what may make people so self hating and make them turn against their own; a hatred of the father, mother fixations, the roles of parents and the absence of parents etc.

It made me realise just how sick some people are. How they are self destructive and seek some kind of moral high ground so as to rain down abuse upon others.

I can see now why UAF thugs can stand side by side with Islamists. I can see why gays and feminists may abuse Christianity/Judaism whilst having a blind spot, even seeking common cause with Islamists. My enemies enemy etc.

My recent reading of Comment is Free, as directed by this blog (I wouldn't ordinarily touch the Grauniad with a bargepole) has opened my eyes.

There are a lot of sick and cowardly people out there.

And they have the vote.

Penny

Greg - as far as I was aware there were only 7 main Noahide commandments but with sub-divisions stretching them out to 30. Where do you get 188 and 189 from? Genuine question, not a 'you're wrong!' comment.

Pete

The reason America's Jewish communities are more vital and innovative than here is that they have no Chief Rabbi - individual Jews and Jewish communities find their own paths through Judaism and Jewishness. And so American Jews are at the forefront of Jewish culture in the Orthodox, Reform and Liberal traditions as well as literature and the other arts.

The problem here is an age-old timid British middle class banality that seems to have infected the Board of Deputies too.

Phillips's trademark self-indulgent sniping from the sidelines adds nothing useful whatsoever to the debate. However, she does provide ample evidence for the old adage 'the squeaky wheel gets the grease'.

Avi from Jerusalem

One brazen manisfestation of the English establishment's contempt for the fawning Jewish Community in the UK is that the Head of State or someone from her family has never ever made a State visit to Israel.

I am an Israeli who who moved from the UK to Israel 35 years ago. It makes no difference to me, but I think that this ongoing snub is a grave insult to Jewish community whose contribution to life in the UK is out of all proportion to its size and whose individual members and communal bodies are by and large highly committed to Israel.

Even when one of the member of the royal family was here last year, they went out of their way to emphasise that this was not an official visit.

Abracadabra

"My only advice to British Jews is: EMIGRATE. Yes, emigrate to friendlier lands like the US"

America? Isn't that where a worker at the Jewish museum in your capital city was murdered by an all-American Nazi?

Where Mel Gibson vomitted his anti-Semitism (and has gone on making movies)?

Where then-president Nixon said, 'The government is full of Jews. Second, most Jews are disloyal...Bob, generally speaking, you can't trust the bastards. They turn on you. Am I wrong or right?")

And we needn't dwell on the historic bigotry of TS Eliot, Ezra Pound, Joseph Kennedy, the admissions officers at Yale, Harvard and numberless country clubs, etc, etc.

No, maybe I'll stay in the UK alongside such poor oppressed creatures as Stephen Fry, Sasha Baron Cohen, Simon Schama, Sir Jonathan Miller, Amy Winehouse, Lucian Freud, Peter Sellers, Pete Doherty, Mark Knopfler, Malcolm McLaren, Daniel Radcliffe, and our current Foreign Secretary.

Face it: the Board of Deputies is far more representative of Jewish opinion that you swivel-eyed haters.

Freedmanslife

Phil, firstly thanks for your good wishes. You are clearly not one of the gormless ones I'm referring to, because you have actually thought about it, and you should note that I specifically said NOT to draw comparisons to '30s Germany (yet!).

My point is that the country is GOING in a certain direction, not that it was when I was growing up, or that it is there yet. I did have the fortune of a vote, an education etc, but I have also been spat and sworn at for being Jewish, been escorted out of NUS conference back doors with other Jewish delegates because of threatening mobs lying in wait at the front, had to report suspicious people and vehicles (who later attacked other shuls) while doing CST at my local shul, etc etc.

The difference between us is that I think you either see this as a temporary aberration in the way the country defends us from this generation of anti-semites, or just the price we pay for being a minority in a country that provides all these other rights and privileges.

My concern is that this is not a dip but a downward trend, and is exacerbated and made far more alarming by the fact that all those decent, liberal-minded middle classes who might have sprung to our defense, are now the ones who think we have it coming because of the perceived behaviour of Israel.

I am distressed that the "British values" I held so dear and subscribed to, that meant I was one of a handful who used to answer the youth movement questions of "do you feel more British or Jewish" and "if there was an Israeli-British conflict, who would you support" with a firm "double British", have been subverted. I have had to accept that this is not a battle Jews will fight and win on their own, but one that real Brits have to recognise and do something about. As they continue to sleepwalk through it (or in some insidious cases, turn a blind eye to or encourage some of it due to a panoply of underlying prejudices and/or fears), and given the continued staleness of the institutions of Anglo-Jewry not just in terms of Israel but in terms of Judaism, I cannot see a future here for my generation, because the old-fashioned British values are fading and the need for modern Jewish values is not being satisfied.

I wish I could be more positive - perhaps I just miss my daily sunset swim on Gordon Beach!

Fabio P.Barbieri

It is not only the Jews, Melanie. Look at what the Catholics of England have for a leadership, and shudder. There has to be something in the air that just poisons people. And it is specifically in England: north of the border, I don't know about Jews, but the Catholic community has genuine Princes of the Church, who act as their role demands, in Archbishops O'Brien and Conti.

phil

logdon your description of the lecturers girlfriend reminded me of the old saying in Yiddish although it usually applies to a man "when the stechel heist the sechel geist " forgive the spelling I have no idea how to write in Yiddish -for any one who does not get the phrase ask a Jewish friend it will give you a smile and don,t we need one ?

phil

Freedmanslife -I think the real difference is that you have been deeply affected by certain events that you have described ,as I would possibly too -My student days are long past and I never saw the "educated" idiots that you clearly did -The buffoons in dirty tweed jackets pontificating odiously had not yet arrived -Guardianistas did not exist, but my nose bled and so did the bullies ,I had a mean left hook :) ,in those days we soon made friends -

I know it is different now but I still believe that the overwhelming majority if somewhat silent Brits are great people .You may yet find like my brother who also made Aliyah that it was not what you first thought -he lasted less than six weeks before returning -I truly hope this does not happen to you and that when you pay us a visit you will have some happy memories at least- shalom chaver

Millsenboon

I couldn't read on through the comments because I was too busy gagging at the un-named wonder who compared the plight of the Jews to British catholics. Am I missing something?

LES SHUELL

Abracadabra.....WHAT ARE YOU GOING ON ABOUT? The board of deputies areno more the represenatives of jewish opinion than the BNP represent ethnic minorities. Also apart from Stephen Fry and Baron Cohen I haven't noticed any of your other examples of British Jews stating the fact that they're jewish.

I'll tell you what...you keep your head buried in the sand with the so called leaders of our community and those of us who are not fooled by their "powerful whispers" will keep our powder dry

Trumpeldor

From Brussels,the eurabian capital,the situation is slightly less desperate...
Whereas Belgium is fast capsizing as a former free democratic Christian country,the Jewish leader Joel Rubinfeld, head of the CCOJB,never fails to call a cat a cat and sue whenever a proeminent politician insults Israel in order to get the ballots and sympathies from the "chronically opressed masses "
He was elected despite the usual downpour of lies,insults and calomnies from the left
See my British friends, if you want it,you will get it !

Am Israel Hai and Rule Britannia,

skydog

Tas:''Evangelical Christians tend to support Israel because they believe God's promise of the land to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob is irrevocable.''

There are those of us who are of an atheist persuasion who stand by Israel 100% too Tas. Israel is the one oasis of light in a M.E. hellhole that is being rapidly overshadowed by the Islamist fundamentalist umbra. Britain and Europe is slowly and surely creeping into the Islamic penumbra. This must cease if we are not to be swallowed into a New Dark Age. Israel should never give in nor concede a single inch to the forces of unenlightenment. We in the west should give Israel unremitting support of whatever nature.

Greg D

@Penny

See here:http://www.hasidicuniversity.org/index.php?page=hu_theocracy/th07_justice.htm

Abracadabra

I doubt if there's a better place in the world for a Jew to live than the UK. (It's certainly a damn sight safer than Israel or - considering its murder rate - the US.)

However, I'm aware that I'm missing the point. Britain's offence isn't antisemitism in any rational sense. It's just that in the eyes of the fools who congregate here, "antisemitic" equals "occasionally inclined to question the policies of the Israeli government".

Petronella

Abracadabra. It all depends how one defines a Jew. Is it by his race or his faith. None of that motley crew you describe are adherents of the latter. And before you get too smug about American anti-Semitism, you should put your own hatred in check, and look around and see how much anti-Semitism there is in England. Unless, you're too assimilated to notice...

logdon

Phil,

I Googled it in the hope that there'd be a translation.

You are famous!

Search Results

4 Nov 2009 ... of the old saying in Yiddish although it usually applies to a man "when the stechel heist the sechel geist " forgive the spelling I have ...
www.spectator.co.uk/melaniephillips/.../britains-timid-jews.thtml - Similar

logdon

Phil,

By the way those cretins are no longer in Logdon's address book.

We all put up with hypocrisy but those guys define the term.

And they teach our kids!

Fred

Its easy to damn the B of |Deps etc . It is not so easy to lead a community like the jewish community in the U K where everyone thinks that their image of what they want is the correct one.
If any of you think Henry Grunwald was too timid --the nearly emerging "lets be nice and pluralistic " ever increasing Reform and Masorti poltically left wing membership of the Board have recently elected Vivian Wineman who is active in Peace Now and so called "New Israel Fund " the jewish group that funds anti israel NGO s etc .
Fortunately many of the mainstream Jewish community who are avid supporters of israel and whose many relatives live there do not take much notice of Mr Wineman .
but this leads them not to play a role at the Board which does have some good "servants " i.e paid staff

BUT THE BOARD IS THE ONLY ELECTED BODY REPRESENTING THE UK JEWISH COMMNUNITY AND IT DOES DO SOME GOOD WORK despite some of its faults

Celina

My mother, a holocaust survivor, and I, went see a movie yesterday, to help us stop worrying about world problems.

However, the movie shook us to the core. It was about a 16 year old naive but intelligent girl who was conned along with her family by a "Jewish shyster".

The story was moving and well made, but nowhere in it did I see reason to mention that the male lead, the conman, was Jewish.
However, that was made central to the plot by intelligent teachers [authority bodies]and one came away disliking him intensely.
The film was called
'An Education'and I felt that we were being 'educated' to hate Jews - and ourselves if we happen to be one.
This was out and out anti-semitic propaganda, distasteful, and subtley introduced into an "art' film. It should be discredited as such.
It is little wonder that we doubt ourselves when there is constant 'evidence' of our own guilt.

Abracadabra

"The story was moving and well made, but nowhere in it did I see reason to mention that the male lead, the conman, was Jewish."

The conman was Jewish because the film was based on a true story - an episode from the life of the writer Lynn Barber.

Yehuda

People like Greg D. see nothing wrong in supporting foreign causes unless the cause is that of supporting Israel's right to exist.

just Louise

Fred, I agree with you that the Board does have some excellent staff. It would be churlish of me not to admit that, and also churlish if I didn't point out that at the time of Cast Lead, when Henry Grunwald was interviewed by the BBC, he presented the case for Israel with estimable clarity and vigour. Nobody could have done better, as I think I noted on here at the time.

Adam B.

Abracadabra, that's complete nonsense! Jews are more likely to suffer verbal or physical attack here in the UK than any other minority.

Maybe this is acceptable to you?

Your posting showns little understanding of the alienation many Jews feel in the UK today.

Adam B.

Abracadabra, many of the "Jews" you list are either not Jewish, or don't associate themselves with the Jewish community.

Hardly demonstrative of anything.

Furthermore, if you're happy here, fine. But don't presume to tell other people what they are entitled to feel.

Abracadabra

"Abracadabra, many of the "Jews" you list are either not Jewish"

Which, please.

Grumpy true Zionist Boykie

If you 'enjoyed' Isi Leibler article on brit Jewry, then you will love his take on the 'goldstone' report:

The UN Human Rights Council machers then recruited richard goldstone, a Vain south african Jewish judge, who despite being aware from the outset of the biased composition of the panel, permitted himself to be used as a fig leaf to provide credibility to the Israel bashers.

The depths to which goldstone, who purports to be a long-standing 'Zionist', totally identified himself with this crude anti Israel exercise, was exemplified in his recent NY Times op ed, in which he had the gall to compare Israel's defense against hamas to the atrocities committed in Darfur, where millions were displaced and over 200,000 civilians were raped and butchered.

Little Vain richard goldstone - a true south african treasure!!

phil

logdon-Im only famous in my own kitchen ,I make very good chicken soup :)

Abracadabra

"Abracadabra, many of the "Jews" you list are either not Jewish, or don't associate themselves with the Jewish community."

Strange,isn't it. In order to maintain your stance that Britain's Jews are oppressed, you have to attack our best and brightest.

Adam B.

Abracadabra, I never said "oppressed." You need to read carefully. Alienated, yes. Accuracy is everything.

Mark Knopfler and Pete Doherty are not Jewish. That's not to say they don't have Jewish antecedents, but what does that prove? Almost your entire list is made up of people who have nothing at all do with the Jewish community or Israel. Simply providing a list of "successful" people who do not identify with the Jewish community but have Jewish ancestors (often paternal in your examples) proves nothing. General von Manstein had Jewish antecedents - he was also a high ranking Nazi, a vicious anti-semite who murdered thousands of Jews. So what's your point? That the Nazis weren't antisemitic because he rose to the top?

If you're happy here in the UK, fine. Just don't be so arrogant as to berate those who have the audacity to feel differently to you.

Leslie

Timidity amongst the leaders and employees of mainstream Jewish organizations is common and understandable. They are employees with grand benefits and they want to keep it that way. Why rock the boat when you're not forced to? Self-interest almost always wins the day. Therefore, these people should have term limits to their positions, just like politicians do.

All Christian British citizens, as well as Jewish ones should be contemplating the future very carefully. You face a very bad situation, with demographics, nanny statism, dependance on Saudi money, and a feminized society. These factors bode very poorly for economic health, freedom of speech and religion, and personal safety.

If it's any consolation, the path that Britain has taken serves as a warning for other democracies as to what they shouldn't do. This ultimately may be a good thing for Western civilization.

Noah Aaron Bashi

Adam B, Thank you!
Abracadabra at the beginning of this year there were more then 600 incidents of anti-Semitic in Britain, in France there is some problems it was not long ago when Ilan Halimi been murdered by racist muslim gangs who torture him before they kill the poor innocent boy, I am not saying there is not some freaks who don't like Jewish people in America but the Jewish are better off living there, America is a country with warm friendly people, big and beautiful, but the lefties are blaming everything on America maybe they don't understand America is a continent and not a country like Britain or France, you could only compare America to Europe, the media don't report the problems that some people are facing. And antisemitism is high in Britain then it was before

Ben-Tsiyon (ha rishon)

Greg D, I am third generation born in the UK on my father's side and second generation on my mother's side, but SO WHAT ! I am old now, but I realised quite early on in my life that prejudice against and hostility towards my people are endemic among "indigenous Brits". I also came to the conclusion that the over-generous contribution that Jews have made and continue to make to this country is undeserved.

Unlike many of our Islamic, UK born, fellow citizens, Jews here do not preach treason, incite to violence or seek to impose our culture and religious laws upon this country or declare their intention to transform it into a Judaeic state, but it's clear that all that people like you are concerned with is those Jews here who have the courage to stand up and speak up for Israel and Jewish rights.

I have absolutely no problem whatsoever with allegations / accusations of "dual" loyalty. For me, that concept does not exist. Apart from "personal" loyalty to family and friends, and unlike the toadies that Melanie refers to, my sole loyalty is to my people.

Abracabra

"Mark Knopfler and Pete Doherty are not Jewish. That's not to say they don't have Jewish antecedents, but what does that prove? Almost your entire list is made up of people who have nothing at all do with the Jewish community or Israel."

Thanks. Now I understand. They don’t agree with you therefore they’re not really Jewish.

Actually, this is probably why they're winning the propaganda battle. It's because none of them come across as embittered losers.

Abracadabra

"in France there is some problems it was not long ago when Ilan Halimi been murdered by racist muslim gangs"

So Jews have been murdered in France as well as the US. Thanks. That’s another reason to stay in the UK.

Abracadabra

"All Christian British citizens, as well as Jewish ones should be contemplating the future very carefully. You face a very bad situation, with demographics, nanny statism, dependance on Saudi money, and a feminized society."

On the other hand we don't have the American rates of murder, infant mortality, life expectancy, prison population, poverty, health care and social mobility.

And the Anti-Defamation League’s accounts of violent US bigotry is pretty instructive too.

Thanks for the invite, but I won’t be heading there just yet.

Freedmanslife

People, stop letting Abracadabra wind you up. He knows full well that when he comes out with nonsense like "They don’t agree with you therefore they’re not really Jewish", it's not what you think. The reality is that the most outspoken group of Jews proclaiming and rallying against Israel, JFJFP, have a membership of about 1,500, many of whom are not actually members of any synagogue or communal organisation, and I suspect some do not identify as Jewish except when it is useful to do so.

The Anglo-Jewish community numbers about 285,000 so these people are 0.5% of the total.

To my knowledge, neither Pete Doherty or Mark Knopfler have publicised their opinions on the Middle East, or declared any Jewish identity.

Abracadabra probably knows all this, but it is most inconvenient to his trolling of this thread and your responses.

Instead, why not read this review and get the book:
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/11/05/books/review/Margolick.t.html?_r=1&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss

I think Abracadabra might have earned his own chapter.

Adam B.

Abracadabra, are you trying to be thick, or does it just come naturally?

Mark Knopfler and Pete Doherty aren't Jewish because they aren't Jewish. What makes you think they are? And where on earth did you get the idea this had something to do with "agreeing with me"? I don't even know what they think, and neither do you.

As for your comment about France, I don't think anyone here was suggesting emigrating to France - again you get the wrong end of the stick.

Please try to think logically.

Eddie

"Dual Loyalty"?

You mean you can't love your Mother AND your Father?

You can't love all your children?

You can't love God and country?

You must choose one to love more than the others?

Dipper

Israel is an independent sovereign nation with a democratically elected government that acts solely in the interests of the Israeli people. Why on earth would we Brits, Jews or otherwise, have any interest in Israel beyond our own strategic interests? And why should the British Board of Deputies start promoting the interests of a foreign power?

Abracadba

I have listed some of the UK’s many successful Jews. If one breathes the permanent sour stink of personal failure then their happiness is an affront. One has to demean them as a ‘motley crew’ or declare that ‘Almost your entire list is made up of people who have nothing at all do with the Jewish community or Israel.’

Now I have to decide who I’d most like to resemble: Fry, Cohen, Schama, etc . . . or you lot.

Greg D

Dipper makes a good point.

@Ben-Tsiyon-
Your sole loyalty is to your people? Good for you, pal - you should be serving in the IDF. But why in the name of Jesus Christ (sorry, I know He offends you) should Britain then have any loyalty to anybody but their own? Britain owes nothing to Israel. Brits have no duty to be 'righteous gentiles' and you have no right to expect that we should be. If Israel continues to be a strategic liability, well, go figure.

@Joseph. I don't support a "free Tibet" to the hilt. Tibet has a long and complicated history with China, and to be honest, it's none of my business as it doesn't affect the stability of this country.

@Yehuda. I have no problem with people supporting Israel's right to exist as Jewish state if they also acknowledge the right of other nations to exist as national states. How do you feel about Arab Israelis pushing for the rights of Palestinians and an end to Zionism? Now imagine if AIs were often very wealthy and influential; would it be fair to voice concerns about their activities?

Ben-Tsiyon (ha rishon)

Greg D, pay attention ! I clearly stated that I am old now; in fact I'm far too old for military service, or I WOULD have been serving in the IDF over 30 years ago.

Whatever gives you the idea that JC offends me ? He was a Jewish patriot executed by the Romans because of his alleged descent from the royal house of David, and their fear that he would inspire and lead his people to throw off the Roman yoke. They nailed a jeering sign to his cross, above his head: "Rex Judaeorum" (King of the Jews). I'm simply not a follower of the "new" religion that was created by Paul and others, AFTER JC's death.

You've also got the wrong end of the stick if you think I'm suggesting that Britain owes anything to Israel or that any support should be expected from Britain. Israel can manage well enough without any help or support from Britain and, in view of Britain's record over the past 80 years, certainly should not look upon Britain as a friend. As the late Golda Meir once said: "With friends like these, who needs enemies !"

Abracadabra

"in view of Britain's record over the past 80 years, [Israel] certainly should not look upon Britain as a friend."

With the Balfour Declaration, Britain created the state of Israel. In trying to stop Arabs and Jews from killing each other, its soldiers were shot in the back.

As people here keep pointing out, there's no reason why Israel should expect help from the UK any more than the UK has ever had the slightest help from Israel.

Greg D

Ben-Tsiyon

Apologies re: JC. That was an inappropriate and bellicose assumption on my behalf. But as for the latter part of your argument, I side with Abracadabra.

Have a nice weekend.

Edward

abracadabra said...
"As people here keep pointing out, there's no reason why Israel should expect help from the UK any more than the UK has ever had the slightest help from Israel."

Why would Israel expect help from the UK when the UK is more interested in the welfare, the "compassionate release" (AKA the "passion" for Libyan oil contract deals) of the bomber of Pan Am 103?

I belive the British defined the borders of several Middle Eastern states (Iraq for one) without regard to the native, tribal sensitivities.

As for what Israel did for the UK, read up 1956.

Adam B.

Abracadabra, how silly. You know nothing about me and my success. I despise the politics of sour grapes, and always applaud success and excellence, as I strive for excellence myself. So I don't know what you're driving at. I notice you have now backed off from cliaming Pete Doherty and Knopfler are Jewish - hurts to be proved wrong, but can't admit it, doesn't it?

This debate about Israel and the UK is a completely bogus one. There is no reason why British Jews, loyal to the UK, can't have fond feelings for Israel, the sole Jewish state. Any "discrepancy" here is manufactured by those who are indulging in the old antisemitic canard of the Jews supposedly exhibiting dual loyalty. Such "sensitivities" as exhibited by abracadabra and greg d are rarely levelled at Irish Britons, Pakistani Britons, Indian Britons, Afro-Caribbean Britions, or indeed any other Britons from a myriad of ethnicities.

Why, I wonder?

Abracadabra

"Why would Israel expect help from the UK when the UK is more interested in the welfare, the "compassionate release" (AKA the "passion" for Libyan oil contract deals) of the bomber of Pan Am 103?"

Here we go: whining that Britain favours Muslims over Jews. Meanwhile we have a Jewish Foreign Minister and British troops are dying in two wars against Muslim countries.

Ben-Tsiyon (ha rishon)

Abracadabra, the Balfour Declaration turned out to be not worth the paper it was written on ! The fact that Balfour was known to be anti-Semitic may have had something to do with that.

In any event, Britain reneged on the undertakings it had given in the Declaration. In the early 1920s, Britain hived off some 70% of the Jewish homeland (the whole of which was supposed to have been designated for the re-birth there of the Jewish nation state) to create Trans-Jordan for the Hashemites, who did not have any title to it !

As regards the sliver of land that was left, in its administration, Britain showed favour to the Arabs right down to the day it pulled out in 1948, including preventing Jewish refugees from Europe from entering the country and denying to the Jews there the means to defend themselves from Arab attacks. As for the 1947 UN partition resolution (i.e. for the SECOND partition of "Palestine"), which the Jews would then have been prepared to go along with, I believe that Britain abstained from voting, no doubt out of consideration for its Arab pals.

Britain behaved in a thoroughly duplicitous manner throughout. Just do your research before you start sounding off about virtues that this country did/does not possess !

Dipper

"Such "sensitivities" as exhibited by abracadabra and greg d are rarely levelled at Irish Britons, Pakistani Britons, Indian Britons, Afro-Caribbean Britions, or indeed any other Britons from a myriad of ethnicities."

Not true. Catholics have always been open to the charge of acting for Rome and not Britain. The recent vote on reducing the time limit for abortion was one such case when the issue was raised.

Abracadabra

"Britain showed favour to the Arabs right down to the day it pulled out in 1948, including preventing Jewish refugees from Europe from entering the country"

Yes, Britain feared that too much Jewish immigration into Arab lands would lead to unending bitterness and violence.

How wrong can you be!

Obe

Abracadabra

Mid 1916 the British were experiencing horrific casualties at the Battle of Somme; their shells were either not exploding or falling short.

German U-Boats were sinking merchant shipping bringing imports from North America.

Britain was in a desparate situation. Prime Minister David Lloyd George turned to a boffin, Professsor Chaim Weizmann, who developed a method to make a better, more efficient and easily made cordite. This cordite in the British shells and weaponary saw Germany surrender in November 1918. Many, Many lives were saved, as was Britain itself. This resulted in the Balfour Declaration. As already observed, "useless"

Again in WWII, Jewish brigades fighting for the British, infiltrated German lines in North Africa, contributing greatly to Britain winning the war. Yet Britain joined the Arabs in their war against the fledgling Jewish state. However, seeing which way the wind was blowing, they pulled out, but not before they had handed all their weaponary over to the Arabs.

Britain owes Jews an enormous debt of gratitude. It is about time they at least recognised this ... and publicly.

Incidentally, there has been more bloodshed within and between Arab States than there has been with Israel. Arab States are artificial creations drawn up by colonial powers, without any reference to the disparate peoples living within borders. People with great enmities dating back in history are forced to live together. Iran was stripped of a piece of its territory which was incorporated into Iraq.

I wonder how Arab States would have fared without their oil. They are among the wealthiest in the world, yet have the highest rates of illiteracy. They have deplorable human rights abuses, yet, en bloc, are among the most influencial in the UN. Rather makes the UN a parody , doesn't it?

Obe

Dipper,

You are probably correct. British colonial officers always acknowledged that the British treated the Irish in a way that they would never dare treat their colonial subjects.

Marian

"the Australian mainstream which identifies strongly with the plight of a nation embodying western values made vulnerable by the hostile forces that surround it"

You mean places like Tonga and New Zealand? Damn those Kiwis and their terrible anti-western values!!

gareth

Well said Celina - it is a brave person who will stand out from the crowd of israel-bashers who run our media. It's why Melanie's blog is so popular. Keep fighting Melanie, the support you have is based on common values shared by the common people.

phil

Abracadabra you write here some of the most nonsensical rubbish any of us have ever seen ,and yet miracles occur and you get responses -so do me the favour of telling us how the expulsion of Jews from the Arab lands made for less bitterness and violence in those lands .You seem to me to be an agent provocateur with much to say and little knowledge to impart.

Adam B.

abracadabra, what a revealing comment. You are anti-Israel, yet feel comfprtable in the UK. Surely this proves Melanie's point - that if a Jew is supportive or proud of the Jewish state, it is increasingly difficult to live in the UK, where the Israel bashing narrative has reached obsessive and bigoted proportions. Furthermore, your idea that the Jews have brought the several Arab attempts at genocide on themselves is grotesque.

Adam B.

Dipper, surely such accusations against Catholics are as disgusting as those currently being levelled at Jews, even by some on this blog?

Dipper

Adam B - "Dipper, surely such accusations against Catholics are as disgusting as those currently being levelled at Jews, even by some on this blog?"

yes, but that wasn't the point. My point was that you implied Jews were singled out for this accusation, and I was just expressing the view that others had also been similarly accused, not that the accusation was justified.

Obe

Churchill saw no conflict between Jews loyal to Britain, and the right of the Jewish people to have a homeland.

On February 8. 1920, Churchill wrote:

Some people like Jews and some do not; but no thoughtful man can doubt the fact that they are beyond all question the most formidable and the most remarkable race which has ever appeared in the world. ...

It has fallen to the British Government, as the result of the conquest of Palestine, to have the opportunity and the responsibility of securing for the Jewish race all over the world a home and a centre of national life. The statesmanship and historic sense of Mr. Balfour were prompt to seize this opportunity. Declarations have been made which have irrevocably decided the policy of Great Britain. The fiery energies of Dr. Weissmann, the leader, for practical purposes, of the Zionist project, backed by many of the most prominent British Jews, and supported by the full authority of Lord Allenby, are all directed to achieving the success of this inspiring movement.

... Palestine is far too small to accommodate more than a fraction of the Jewish race, nor do the majority of national Jews wish to go there. But if, as may well happen, there should be created in our own lifetime by the banks of the Jordan a Jewish State under the protection of the British Crown, ... an event would have occurred in the history of the world which would, from every point of view, be beneficial, and would be especially in harmony with the truest interests of the British Empire.

phil

Obe you are a star

Ben-Tsiyon (ha rishon)

Obe, on your reference to Churchill, regardless of his views and those of others , or what he and others may have written, British policy in the Middle East has always been formulated by the Arabists in the Foreign Office. Aside from that, prejudice against the Jews has always been endemic among the majority of "indigenous" Brits., so that the loyalty of Jews here to this country and the substantial contribution we have made to it are not, and never have been, properly recognised, and will never override that prejudice.

Flag-waving by people like Phil (bless him !) and repeated declarations of loyalty and patriotism won't make any difference.