Via Aaronovitch Watch (Incorporating “World of Decency”) comes Tony Greenstein’s account of the debate on anti-semitism between Aaronovitch (Zionist / warmonger) and Gilad Atzmon (jazz musician / somebody who if he isn’t anti-semitic, doesn’t do much to deny the charge). Aaronovitch himself was furious that in the choice between two evils, the audience took the side of the jazz musician, but as Greenstein says “the wars and blockades that Aaronovitch has supported in different parts of the world have killed upwards of 2 million people. Atzmon’s anti-Semitism has killed no one because, as far as I’m aware, death by boredom cannot be entered as a cause of death on a death certificate“.
His main point is made slightly later:
When you attack Palestinians and anti-Zionists, not least Jewish anti-Zionists, as being anti-Semitic, then what you do is let the real anti-Semites like Gilad Atzmon off the hook. When you deliberately confuse and conflate anti-Zionism with anti-Semitism it is not the anti-Zionists you hurt but the anti-Semites you help. The only reason Gilad Atzmon can pass himself off as an anti-Zionist, when he is politically at one with Zionism’s founding creed, that diaspora Jewry is a hideous thing and that being Jewish and Zionist is one and the same thing, is because anti-Zionists and anti-Semites are tarred by the Zionists with the same brush of anti-Semitism.
If you cry ‘wolf’ for long enough, don’t be surprised if people no longer believe or listen to you when the wolf makes an appearance. And that is the real contribution of David Aaronovitch and Zionism to the fight against racism and anti-Semitism.
I’m not sure how real this danger is; there have been various studies showing anti-semitism is on the rise in Europe (examples left as exercise for your googling skills) but many of those suffer from the same problem as Greenstein mentions, that they confuse criticism of Israel, anti-zionism and anti-semitism. Anecdotally there have been incidents here in the Netherlands where hotheaded demonstrators against Israel’s War on Gaza have shouted anti-semitic slogans, which have then been used to discredit legitamite attacks on Israel. It does make sense to assume that in a climate where anti-semitism as a charge has been devalued to the point that any criticism of Israel is anti-semitic by default, people will wory less about it as they see how ridiculous most charges are. It even makes sense that this will lead to more real anti-semitism.
From the point of view of the Israel boosters this may not even be so bad, as 1) it delegitamises genuine criticism and 2) it adds credibility to the idea that Israel is the sole defence Jews have against persecution and that therefore they should support it unconditionally. Which doesn’t mean this was a conscious goal of those that have made those accusations the most of course, just that it’s a not entirely unwanted side effect.
Omri
May 6, 2009 at 4:58 pmMeir
12 February 2009, 7:24 pm
http://www.hurryupharry.org/2009/02/12/echoes-of-the-satanic-verses/ :
devorgilla:
I’m from Amsterdam. It is no longer safe to wear a Kippah in large parts of Amsterdam West, East, Osdorp and Slotervaart. The local Rabbis have indicated that it is safer to take it off. I know several people assaulted, spat on and verbally abused – all by Moroccan youth.
We Jews have lived in Holland for over 400 years. We are now targets for nihilist racists. I’ve left and will never go back. They destroyed my co-religionists life in the city we used to call the Jerusalem of the North. When my uncle leaves, it will be the last member of my family stretching back 13 generations.
(end quote)
If you think this is “crying wolf,” I challenge you to take a stroll in Slotervaart while wearing a piece of Jewish insignia.
Martin Wisse
May 7, 2009 at 1:47 amYeah, right. Anonymous comments on a website well known for its Islamophobia are so reliable. what’s next, some taxi driver agreeing with you about the menace of Moroccan youths?
It’s lies. There have been incidents of anti-semitism in the Netherlands of course, nobody will deny that but this sort of supposedly widespread aggression against Jewish or Jewish looking people? No way. It would’ve been reported in the national media, there would be debates about in parliament, discussed extensively in foreign newspapers, let alone Fox News and so on. You wouldn’t have to rely on dodgy blog comments.
Omri
May 7, 2009 at 7:42 amWell, if you don’t believe it, then you won’t have any problem strolling in Slotervaart with a Jewish skullcap, will you?
It’s a short bike ride from where you are. It’s an easy thing to put to the test.
Martin Wisse
May 11, 2009 at 3:43 am?? What the hell would that prove one way or another?
Avi Nofech
May 13, 2009 at 7:41 amI live in Israel and sometimes wear a kippa. Reading the concerns about safety of being openly Jewish makes me
feel that if I’ll travel abroad I’ll be wearing the kippah all the time so that everyone will know who I am and I would know who they are.
Martin Wisse
May 13, 2009 at 12:06 pmDon’t worry. The dangers of looking Jewish in the Netherlands (or really, anywhere in western Europe) are hugely overstated. There have been a few incidents yes, but largely they have been dumb teenagers shouting stupid slogans to show how tought they are during football matches.
Omri
May 14, 2009 at 11:44 amIf they are “over rated” then you can easily prove this to yourself by strolling through Slotervaart with a Jewish skullcap. Your reluctance to just do it is very very telling.
Martin Wisse
May 15, 2009 at 1:38 amWhat is it with you and skullcaps? Is that some kind of fetish for you? If so, I’m sure there are websites for that kind of thing.
Omri
May 15, 2009 at 10:14 amWhy are you in denial? You claim Holland is perfectly safe and friendly for Jews and that the reports of violence and harassment are exaggerated.
Well, the proof of the pudding is in the eating.
If you are right, then you should have no problem putting on a Jewish skullcap and visiting Slootervart. It is not a long way from where you are, it’s a perfectly pleasant bike ride, and there are places to stop for food there. You can go there, come back, and report to the world at large that Holland really is free of antisemitism.
Or, you can admit, to yourself, and to your readers, that you know perfectly well that if you did this you would run the risk of violent assault. But to claim that things are fine when you are obviously reluctant to put it to the test, that’s shameful.