Ardent Zionists v Enlightened Jews: An Assault on British Jewry
May 14, 2012 12:06 by Simon Plosker
Yasmin Alibhai-Brown has been critiqued regularly by HonestReporting over the years. The Independent columnist has a particularly vicious streak when it comes to Israel, which she routinely describes as a “racist” and “apartheid” state. Indeed, she has a propensity to view many issues through the framework of race.
In her latest op-ed, Yasmin Alibhai-Brown:
- Accuses Israel of charging its critics with anti-Semitism to shut down legitimate criticism.
- Fails to acknowledge that hunger striking Palestinian prisoners may have been detained for legitimate reasons, including terrorism.
- Portrays the majority of Israel-supporting British Jews as being “instructed to hate” Palestinians and lacking in integrity.
Read on to find out how you can take action.
In her latest polemic, Alibhai-Brown addresses the issue of Palestinian hunger strikers and administrative detention. To be sure, the topic is not a comfortable one and a healthy debate, as also occurs within Israel itself, is perfectly legitimate. But to Alibhai-Brown, referring to “hardline Israelis”:
Their country is protected from censure partly because of fears that any criticism of its actions is potentially “anti-Semitic”. Some anti-Semites do use Israel as a cover, but then Israel uses that fact to tar and warn all legitimate criticism. Its governments do what they damn-well want and claim perpetual exceptionality. Their darkest deeds are thus left unscrutinised.
We challenge Alibhai-Brown to furnish us with the evidence that Israel’s supporters use an “anti-Semitism card” to shut down all legitimate criticism. This is patently untrue and Alibhai-Brown’s charge is more commonly employed as a means to delegitimize the rights of Israel’s supporters to advocate for or defend Israel from criticism. As for the claim that Israel is beyond scrutiny, the amount of stories published on the Palestinian hunger strikers alone, not to mention the constant focus of the media and world on this part of the world, make this claim laughable.
If Alibhai-Brown were interested in a proper and balanced debate on the issue, perhaps she would have cared to mention the fact that those hunger strikers in her op-ed are members of Islamic Jihad, a vicious terrorist organization dedicated to the destruction of Israel and the murder of Jews. But no. To Alibhai-Brown:
The detained Palestinians are embarked on peaceful, Gandhian protest action.
Referring to Palestinian prisoners, Alibhai-Brown states:
To be a Palestinian, to want equality, rights, freedom and land is not a crime. Except that for hardline Israelis, it is.
Palestinian prisoners are not detained for seeking peace. Israel is not a sinister police state that arrests Palestinians for expressing legitimate aspirations. Israel takes appropriate action against those who carry out, advocate or incite terrorism or violence. Islamic Jihad is not an organization with legitimate political aspirations – its sole raison d’etre is to carry out acts of terror.
Alibhai-Brown is fond of noting that she has many Jewish friends, although these friends are invariably critical of Israel. Indeed, Alibhai-Brown likes to differentiate between “good Jews” and “bad Jews”:
The moralistic Chief Rabbi will not be on “Thought for the Day” expressing sorrow for the treatment of these prisoners. Ardent British Zionists will not be pressed to condemn those responsible for the state barbarism.
Who exactly are these “ardent British Zionists”?
Sylvie7
7:39 am
May 15, 2012
Oh, who has the patience any more for these ignorant writers who turn and twist reality to serve their hatred of Israel and the Jews. In Israel the second most popular pastime after soccer is commenting on the government, politicians, the economy, in fact anything happening. Are most of the Jews of Israel anti Semites because they freely criticize everything? Anti Semites are people like Alibhai-Brown who always imbue Israel with evil intentions. Any Jewish “friends” she has are pathetic.
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Tante Laeh
11:07 am
May 15, 2012
If I tell you the absolute truth about working in Europe for the past 28 years it is that the Brits are the worst and most vocal anti-Semites in all of Europe. Time for the Brits to clean house as Kate the someday to be queen is a Goldstein descendent.
Go get your DNA tested Brits you probably carry Jewish blood as does 20% of all of Europe.
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Nathan Zafran
1:05 am
Jul 06, 2012
Hail to Tante Leah! She has the integrity to speak God’s truth. As a survivor of the Holocaust, (yes you twits – it really happened), I came to England at the age of eight. Guess what! Within two years I became “a dirty Jew”, a “Yid”, a “Jew boy” or a plain “f…..g Jew”. Now these children, my age, weren’t born antisemitic so they must have picked it up from elders – probably their own parents. I also experienced antisemitic teachers, who just couldn’t refrain from showing their hatred toward Jews. Yes! The Brits are venomous antisemites. Not few Jews refrain from flaunting their roots in the UK
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Frank Adam
12:10 pm
May 15, 2012
The British are not particularly vocal nor over articulate. If anything they bumble along with if it works don’t fix it – till it does break down. Nor are the British over bothered where their monarch comes from qv 3/4 of their queens and princes consort were imported as pledges to a foreign policy deal.
The people who do get themselves into odd corners by being too reliant on rationality while forgetting about the tricky to spot premises and assumptions are the French.
The next big blow up in Europe could well be a civil war with Moslems and if they turn to car bombs and riots it will certainly sweep them onto refugee ships.
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Dave Watson
1:20 pm
May 15, 2012
Europe murdered 6 million Jews and replaced them with 6 million moslems. Centuries of enriching nations with their culture, intellect, the arts, scientific advancements were swept away and now await the inevitable medieval tide of sharia law.
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Frank Adam
1:28 pm
May 15, 2012
It is actually 16 – sixTEEN million Moslems, if not more already. Fortunately most have settled down to be good citizens but they will suffer badly if the Salafi minority of jihadis upset the apple cart.
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steve mann
2:09 pm
May 15, 2012
Frank-
If the majority were “Good” Muslims- they would more openly condemn the Jihadi groups that cause so many deaths- They would openly condemn the penalties of Stoning women, executing homosexuals, apostates and blasphemers within the Islamic countries that do so.
They would condemn Hamas for introducing the punishment of crucifixion in Gaza for consorting with Israelis-
They would condemn the death penalty for a resident within the PA controlled zone of Judea/Samaria for selling his property for a Jew.
They would be more understanding of Israels adversaries wanting -not peace- but to destroy Israel-
However most British Muslims are either Pakistan or Bangladesh- The nearest they have been to the M.E is to Mecca for the Haj-
And egged on by the far left in the BBC and other political papers and politicians . Sir Gerald Kaufman , to name but one-
They do not raise a voice and with the exception of a few- sit silently and passively behind their anti-Israeli brethren.
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Ruth Ben-Or
3:23 pm
May 16, 2012
Steve Mann, we have yet to see the equivalent of Reform Judaism or liberal Christianity in Islam and the few who put their heads above the parapet are in danger from their co-religionists here and abroad, however, that should not prevent us from engaging with those who are genuine.
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steve mann
4:12 pm
May 16, 2012
And to know who is genuine?
Just a week ago- The UK MP Sir Gerald Kaufman made sweeping statements- regarding another MP wanting to have all Kosher meat goods labeled as such- He raised his voice in indignation that his Jewish way of life was being interfered with-
This is the same MP who when Louse Ellman (Another Jewish MP and from the same political party) stood up to speak in the houses of commons said, not knowing he was near a microphone, Not those Jews again- To which afterwards he made a tongue in cheek apology.
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Ruth Ben-Or
4:22 pm
May 16, 2012
Steve M, Gerald Kaufmann is a classic example of what Lenin referred to as a useful idiot, you know it, I know it.What Jewish way of life he was referring to, I can’t think, since he is not notable for his piety or contribution to communal life! How do we know who is genuine? If they put their lives or livelihoods at risk to turn away from terror, I’d give them the benefit of the doubt.
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steve mann
6:35 pm
May 16, 2012
Regardless of how you care- They are going to think and say the things they do anyway-
When I shout back at them or write on the blog sites against them- I am not talking to them but those “Listening” -Hopefully those who are on the “Fence” those that are not sure- I must drown out the vicious voices and put the facts before them on how we view them- and how bigoted and twisted our detractors are!
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steve mann
4:31 pm
May 16, 2012
Fare comment- Yet I have reached the stage where now I dont care- I say what I feel and to who ever- No more hiding , no more being shouted at without shouting back. The days of being passive are gone!
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Ruth Ben-Or
4:48 pm
May 16, 2012
I don’t care either.Well, I do care, but not about what the antisemites or the ignorant think about me.
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Daniel
6:44 pm
May 18, 2012
Slightly offensive, though hopefully unintentional, Ruth Ben-Or. You seem to equate traditional Judaism, know to many as Orthodox Judaism, as somehow comparable to extremist Islam. May I respectfully point out that even the most strictly observant Jews practice a religion that does not concern itself with obligating those of other faiths in any way. Judaism, including the entire spectrum of its adherents, does not advocate jihad. It does not condemn as infidels worthy of death anyone who espouses another faith. Nor does it require others to give up their religion to gain an afterlife.
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Ruth Ben-Or
11:51 pm
May 18, 2012
Daniel, no that wasn’twhat | meant at all, although I think it is fair to say that the liberal wings of all religions are generally more interested in ecumenical acivity than the fundamentalist ones and are more likely to give each other the benefit of the doubt politically.Shabbat shalom.
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Frank Adam
4:19 pm
May 15, 2012
When dealing with immigrant communities not yet fully adjusted they are “good” for civic purposes if they are not misbehaving. Their (grand)children like ours will be the progressive activists. Nor do they need egging on by the BBC Kaufmann and others when they have so many backwoods imams like themselves from the hills of NW India. There are limits to asking people to swim against their childhood contexts.
Besides though the tabloids are less vocal for the gallows than they used to be, there are a lot of blinkered opinions too ready to seize easy answers from populists in the West as well.
This si why the jihadi salafis are political nitwits talking loudly about taking kaffirs to slavery and excusing themselves their bloody car bombs. They could easily cause an explosion in which the local Western population also turns feral as under the Nazis.
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steve mann
6:09 pm
May 15, 2012
I do so hope that you are right and I am wrong- However I have great foreboding-
All the immigrants that entered the UK and America from many different parts of the world assimilated “Fitted In ” should I say. Some kept their orthodox ways- but were always aware of them being a minority and paid great respect to their host country. And I do not just mean the Jews- There are the Irish, Italians, Poles, Hinus and Sihks from the Raj in the UK.
They arrived in the West and within a few years they helped make the success that these countries became-
Unfortunately I do not see the same type of integration with the bulk of the Islamic community.
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Rubin Katz
5:02 pm
May 15, 2012
There’s a classic one for you. All anti-Semites claim they have Jewish friends! Furthermore, who does Alibaba bear allegiance to? Certainly not this country, only Islam….
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Frank Adam
6:39 pm
May 15, 2012
First generation immigrants besides the bad hat percentage common to all populations usually do behave because they are relatively prosperous compared to their previous position or they would not have moved. The research on criminality and other social deviance in immigrant communities consistently points to the second generation who feel they belong but are not quite in either by accent, education or being still too close to “back home” and its diets, dialects and demons. Then there are the resentments at not being entirely accepted in the new ambience. This is all statistical averages and totals which cover a multitude of personal exceptions. My last piece was aimed at the, “Why are they not doing: a,b and c attitude of a piece before which was not entirely compassionate of the immigrant situation and second language limitations.
On the other hand there are just enough Moslem nasties in Europe who would be ambitious trouble makers where they originated – which is why they fled. Admittedly these are likely to stir up a lot of trouble because they are ideologues (theological stamp which is the worst) in a manner which the bullk of immigrants to the Americas and Australasia were not and did not. It is exceedingly necessary to distinguish carefully whom we ae dealing with to avoid self fulfilling prophecies, while all the same being careful. It is still a bit early to see if the fanatics have capptured the bulk of the younger local born Moslems but the antics of the jihadis is unhelpful and could also lead to self fulfilling results which would be tragic. Meanwhile remember how idiotic were some of the things said without foundation about Jews a century ago did lead to pointless bloodshed and the told you so anger that created Israel.
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steve mann
8:10 pm
May 15, 2012
The difference being- I have never herd or witnessed any other group of immigrants who said they wanted to “Take over the country”- Its been said so many times and I am not talking about young Muslems- “I am a Muslim living in England” “Not a British Muslim”.
This desire for a world Caliphate runs deep-
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Frank Adam
8:25 pm
May 15, 2012
Notwithstanding the Moslem imperialist tradition; the Spanish, Portuguese and British settlers in the Americas and eventually Australasia did arrive intending to take over and did so in no uncertain terms. If they did not succeed in taking South Africa it was compared to the Bantu peoples, for lack of Europeans thanks to the World Wars and an economic preference to migrate to more developed colonisation.
Of course nobody who was colonised liked it and they resisted so either book your passage out of the forthcoming war or train to fight it; but then like the Poles, Italians and others be prepared for some nasty long term residual hostilities as actually being caught in civil strife is more complex than them and us when you have to also make a living. Reagan won the south in 1980 because it was 115 years after the end of the Civil War “between the states” and the grandchildren of the combattants, those who had last spoken with the witnesses, had all died.
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steve mann
9:50 pm
May 15, 2012
Well I might be a bit past it now age wise- So time will tell- I just fear for the young ones-
And if anyone has to book a ticket- There will not be many places to g now!
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Craig Levin
9:37 pm
May 15, 2012
See my comments at the above blog.
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Moll
10:08 pm
May 15, 2012
Re: The polemist Alibhai-Brown’s glib polemics
There is a semantic similarity between the words “critique” and “anti-semitism”, and when each word is used the intention of the heart needs to be discerned. King Solomon wrote in Proverbs “all the ways/words of a man seem right to him, but G-d looks at the intention of the heart”; and the prophet wrote “the heart of man is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked”. Both the King’s and the prophet’s observations about man are dead-on.
Criticism has it’s valued place, but when the language is that of delegitimization, demonization and double standards, we are looking at anti-semitism. The act of writing is a behavioral expressive output action, following thoughts the writer has consciously entertained which at last give rise to written words expressed for public consumption. At that point, the writer’s life needs to be put under the microscope, searching for the confusion of cognitive dissonance amongst thoughts->words->actions.
Words are sacred. Words are the only vessels/containers in/with which we humans have to convey truth. If we use our words to mislead and deceive, we lose our ability to communicate with other humans, and in turn, we lose our credibility as communicators. Wise people mind their words.
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Brent Pudsey
12:07 am
May 16, 2012
Alibhai- Brown’s comments on the poltical situation are quite superficial and lack depth. More importantly they are promoting intolerance and a hatred of Israel. Words are a means of communicating and in using our words foolishly we teach others to hate. Thus the diseases of hatred ,biogtry and racism will flourish. This needs to be stopped.
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Frank Adam
10:48 am
May 16, 2012
We the Jewish People are one way and another going home. It is just that in best rabbinical traditon all argument and battlefield precautions have to be done in due and proper form not to bring down more trouble than we have to put up with.
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steve mann
11:28 am
May 16, 2012
Somehow that statement tends to say -”Keep your head below the paripit”.
Somehow I don’t think it matters- For reasons we could all discuss, it seams the Jew has been the “Scapegoat, portrayed as the villain and persecuted since the Roman invasion of Judea/Israel.
So it seems which ever or whatever we say or do- its heads we lose its tails we lose -
So to hell with it lets shout our heads off to all – and hope someone will listen.
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Ruth Ben-Or
2:10 pm
May 16, 2012
So, what is Ms Alibhai Brown saying? That British Jews cannot be trusted, except for the ones who only identify as Jews specifically to make anti-Israel comments? Would this be acceptable if another columnist were to doubt her credentials because of her religion or ethnic origins? Difficult not to see that as antisemitic, somehow.
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Ruth Ben-Or
2:20 pm
May 16, 2012
What did you expect? Same old canards in modern dress, Jews aren’t to be trusted, not truly part of the “host” community, etc etc.If somebody were to question Ms A-B’s credentials on the grounds that she is a Muslim and of foreign birth, how the feathers would fly in the liberal dovecote.That kind of sloppy journalism is not only bad for Israel, it is bad for Britain too.
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jlmsika
3:00 pm
May 16, 2012
I wouln’t qualify Ms. A-B ‘s pompous falsities as “sloppy journalism”, but rather as “Hateful Propanga” because she is not sloppy, but instead very careful and eager to build mountains of calumnies and lies! Shame on the “Independant”(?) (“independant” from thruth and reality maybe but totally “dependant”on ideological proto-soviet antisemite nonsense dogma!)
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Frank Adam
7:40 pm
May 16, 2012
Having done a very small bit of military it makes good sense to stay behind cover of any sort till we spring the ambush on them, instead of us being an easy target for them.
Meanwhile what do we shout at them? “Unfair !” Usually brings “Vae victis!” – woe to the losers.
If we want to make an impression we have to paint a prospect that is worse for the catcallers than the present one.
1) Israel is where it is because the Arab states rejected UN two state policy – and still does.
2) Israel is where it is because the cowardly powers refused refugee Jews – and still would.
3) Israel is where it is because it keeps 6 million Jewish potential refugees out of your hair.
4) Israel is where it is because the powers did not, would not, could not make Arab states accept their defeat in 1949 and sign a peace treaty to get on with the rest of their lives.
5) Israel is where it is because it is an easy scapegoat for Arabs to dodge facing themselves.
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steve mann
1:50 pm
May 17, 2012
From your list 1 & 4
My point is I shout so that those who are listening outside of the discussion know our side of the facts. Those that I usually argue with will never accept Israel.
Never go one to one with this kind of person unless others are reading or listening.
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Rafi
8:03 pm
May 17, 2012
These Palestinians, of whom Miss Brown is so protective, were once Jordanian citizens. Of the three recent occupations of the territories, Judea and Samaria, the last one before the currnt Israeli administration was Jordan. That country was formerly called Trans-Jordan from its creation in 1920 by Britai. It later grew, and croosed the Jordan river in an all-out war against Israel, siezed the territories and dopepped the”Trans* from its name. Britain alone welcomed this villainy and .formally recognized the land-grab of the West Bank of the Kordan and all of the Old City of Jerusalem – euphemistically referred to now as East Jerusalem.
The point of all this is that Miss Brown’s Palestinians are now, since July 1988, disowned by their Cambrige-educated King Abdulah who has sinced renounced his claim on the land. They have had their Jordanian citizenship revoked. Yes, even those now living across the River in Jordan are not Jordanians!. Why is Miss Brown not concerned about this?
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Daniel
2:24 am
May 18, 2012
This woman’s vicious assault on decent British Jews is somehow elevated to the status of a legitimate debating topic instead of being rejected as filth, for one reason. The waters have already been muddied by the gradual acceptance of biased reporting, and false reporting on Israel by the leading broadcasters, fist and foremost the BBC. The misappropriation of funds allocated to them frt he purpose of reporting in accordance with the terms of the BBC charter, and the use of those funds to de-legitimize, and slander Israel by a systematic unrelenting deliberate policy, is not only fraud, it is incitement. For approximately one hundred and fifty million people, the BBC is their mane source of “information”. It is where their opinions are shaped. The negative stance of so many toward Israel has conditioned them to accept as legitimate comment the vile rantings of people like Alibhai. The BBC has to be made self-supporting and it’s hands removed from the public coffers.
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Larry
2:45 am
May 18, 2012
This woman’s rants are barely worthy of the pixels it took to espouse them, but thank God, there are those willing to waste a few more to expose her pseudo logic as hate speech. How DARE Israel not lay down and be destroyed!
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LUIS FROM MEXICO
7:41 pm
May 21, 2012
Replying to the statement: “to be Palestinian, to want equal rights, freedom and land is not a crime; except for hardline Israelis, it is”………..I say: “TO BE ISRAELI, TO WANT TO LIVE IN PEACE, IN A SAFE COUNTRY, IN OUR LAND, IS NOT A CRIME, EXCEPT FOR THE ALL THE ARAB NEIGHBORS, IT IS!!”
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