Fiamma Nirenstein Anti-Semitism can’t be fought with lip service The EU’s message with regard to the settlements grants tacit permission to blame and hate Israel and, by extension, the Jews. To combat this, words are not enough; action is required.
Anti-Semitism turns truly dangerous when it becomes the organizing principle of society. This occurred during the past century under Nazism and communism, and it is occurring again today.
Unrelenting bias against Israel, Zionism and thereby the Jewish people has become progressively interwoven with institutional power. It has penetrated the mindset of all those living under the “intersectionality” roof, i.e., those who feel oppressed and who harbor social frustration in various forms. Zionism and by extension the Jewish people are cast as oppressors, and this view has been granted political legitimacy by organizations such as the European Union and United Nations.
Ethnicity, gender, culture, etc. – are have become commingled. And all – feminists, university professors, members of the LGBT community, Hollywood directors, child-rights advocates – attack Israel, for reasons that can vary from “pinkwashing” to white supremacy to neo-colonialism. There are seemingly infinite themes available. This commingling not only animates but also strengthens bias. This stream of thought holds the State of Israel to be warmongering, colonial and racist in nature; Judaism, which generated Israel, is held responsible. The simple idea that Judaism includes the entire Jewish people then closes the circle of anti-Semitism.
The most important institutions in the world today push this line of thought, even if not explicitly. The parents of contemporary anti-Semitism are the same ones appearing in conferences, institutions, synagogues and even in Israel to proclaim their campaigns against anti-Semitism.
So what can be done? The generally accepted International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) definition of anti-Semitism is a positive step because it ties anti-Semitism and “Israelophobia” together. Yet it is not enough. Only policy action, not blame or promises to teach the history of the Shoah, can combat anti-Semitism. This is why US President Donald Trump’s Executive Order against anti-Semitism is so essential; it is composed of political steps that destroy the paradigm of political anti-Semitism.
There has been some progress in Europe as well. Hungary and the Czech Republic made great strides against anti-Semitism by abstaining from the UN General Assembly’s 2017 vote condemning Trump’s recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital. Six EU member states (including, once again, the Visegrád Four) also took a stand against anti-Semitism earlier this month by opposing a resolution by EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell calling for a joint European condemnation of Trump’s “Peace to Prosperity” plan. By their action, they opened a real discussion about Israel’s security needs and the legality of the settlements.
France, Germany and the United Kingdom, after long defending the egregious 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) agreement of the P5+1 nations with Iran, showed a willingness to challenge Tehran when they set in motion the deal’s dispute resolution mechanism, potentially leading to the reimposition of sanctions.
Iran and its threats to eradicate Israel are a particularly important element in the modern institutionalization of anti-Semitism. As long as institutions don’t remonstrate with Iran for repeatedly expressing the forbidden threat to exterminate the Jews, there will be no stopping anti-Semitism, and “Never Again” will remain empty words.
Anti-Semitism also cannot be defeated as long as the European Union continues to legitimize anti-Israel incitement based on the fiction of the settlements’ “illegality” and the presentation of armistice lines as state borders. The settlements are not illegal; they are disputed. They are an essential part of the cradle of Jewish history, and by completely ignoring this point, the European Union promotes the libel of Jewish colonialism, and by extension all of the associated anti-Semitic canards.
The European Union’s message with regard to the settlements grants tacit permission to blame and hate Israel and, by extension, the Jews. The European Union thus reconnects with the ancient tradition of murderous European anti-Semitism.
The only way to fight against this is through policy action. Such action must include stopping the discriminatory labeling of Israeli products sold in Europe, abolishing blacklists of businesses active in the disputed territories and banning the BDS movement.
When French President Emmanuel Macron came to Jerusalem in January to attend the Fifth World Holocaust Forum, titled, “Remembering the Holocaust, Fighting Anti-Semitism,” he gave a moving speech, full of tragic memories and good intentions. However, during a visit with Palestinian Authority leader Mahmoud Abbas, he appeared utterly oblivious to the fact that Abbas denies the Shoah, makes anti-Semitic statements, incites terrorism and refuses to recognize the Jewish state. This myopia is a policy failure that prevents France from fighting anti-Semitism.
In short, to combat today’s institutionalized anti-Semitism, battles are required on two fronts: Iran and the disputed territories. (It is no coincidence that US President Barack Obama’s last executive move against Israel was at the United Nations, with Resolution 2334 in December 2016.)
While a decisive battle against discriminatory labeling of Israeli products on sale in Europe has not yet been seen, despite East European countries raising opposition, the US policy action enabling Israeli sovereignty in Judea and Samaria, on both security and legal grounds, is an effective antidote to European Union and United Nations claims. It cancels out the idea that Jews are the illegitimate, cruel, colonialist and illegal usurpers of the land of Israel.
Unsurprisingly, European opposition to this American attitude, and to US policy on Iran, have been incredibly robust.
As long as Macron can shake hands with and pat on the shoulder Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif, he cannot be a real warrior against anti-Semitism. His actions legitimize the mad vows of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei to destroy the Jewish state.
EU foreign policy chief Borrell says, “Iran wants to wipe out Israel; nothing new about that. You have to live with it.” With this cavalier attitude, anti-Semitism is institutionally promoted.
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