[lit-ideas] Re: 21. century European anti-Semitism
- From: "Judith Evans" <judithevans001@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: <lit-ideas@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Sun, 18 Apr 2004 19:05:24 +0100
The basic point made here about anti-Semitism (that it is not rising in the
manner some suggest) certainly accords with my experience of the UK and the
data I have seen. (I add that I have not, though, seen the Jewish Chronicle
survey mentioned on Theoria by David Myers.)
I do want to add three things both re the UK, the first also about this
article; and a third of a rather different kind.
1) >>>Rather, the largest group of perpetrators was made up of young, white
Europeans incited by traditional right-wing extremist groups.<<<
should be seen in the light of what I and the author of this piece believe
is anyway not a rise in anti-semitic speech and acts (in the UK; I think the
author speaks of Europe more generally.
2) The "traditional right-wing extremist groups" here - aka fascists -- have
learned that they must not campaign on an anti-semitic platform and indeed
must pretend not to be anti-semitic. They need to present some kind of
vaguely respectable face so rant on about immigrants (aka, often, Muslims,
but not necessarily so.
3)a) a Muslim's body was desecrated here (bacon draped over it) in a
hospital morgue. The hospital has not apologised (they don't, unless the
incident is very minor or they can be sure the people affected will shut up
or lack money); the family want to bring suit (they could probably get pro
bono laywers.
b) a Muslim graveyard was desecrated here -- as, you will know, a Jewish one
was.
4) But we should not be complacent. Certainly fascism/anti-semitism lurks in
the UK.
Judy Evans
jaye@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
-----Original Message-----
From: lit-ideas-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
[mailto:lit-ideas-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx]On Behalf Of Omar Kusturica
Sent: 18 April 2004 15:37
To: lit-ideas@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [lit-ideas] 21. century European anti-Semitism
Pro-Israel groups in the US and Europe have campaigned
to suggest the European Union is aflame with a "new
anti-Semitism," and to thereby stifle criticism of
Israel. But recently they've suffered several
setbacks.
A new 344-page study from the European Monitoring
Center on Racism and Xenophobia (EUMC) found that
there has been "a noticeable rise in reported
anti-Semitic incidents" in recent years. But contrary
to the findings in a EUMC report produced in late
2003, the new report concluded there was no evidence
that the increase could be attributed mainly to
Muslims and pro-Palestinian groups. Rather, the
largest group of perpetrators was made up of young,
white Europeans incited by traditional right-wing
extremist groups.
The earlier EUMC report was never officially published
because the EU concluded that its methodology was
flawed. Norman Finkelstein, a history professor at
DePaul University and author of The Holocaust
Industry, examined the earlier EUMC report and pointed
out that it defined almost any criticism of Israel as
"anti-Semitic." Examples of anti-Semitism cited in the
earlier report included complaints that someone wore a
keffiyeh at a meeting of the Italian Communist Party,
where books by Palestinians were being distributed.
Greta Duisenberg, the wife of the president of the
European Central Bank, famously unfurled a Palestinian
flag from the balcony of her Amsterdam apartment. This
too was cited in the original report as an example of
anti-Semitism.
The rest of the article is here:
http://electronicintifada.net/v2/article2582.shtml
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