Yes, it's anti-Semitism
By Jeff Jacoby, Globe Columnist | January 7, 2009

CRITICIZING Israel doesn't make you anti-Semitic: If it's been said once, it's been said a thousand times. Yet somehow that message doesn't seem to have reached the hundreds of anti-Israel demonstrators in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., who turned out last week to protest Israel's military operation in Gaza. As their signs and chants made clear, it isn't only the Jewish state's policies they oppose. Their animus goes further.

Demonstrators chanted "Nuke, nuke Israel!" and carried placards accusing Israel of "ethnic cleansing" and bearing such messages as: "Did Israel take notes during the Holocaust? Happy Hanukkah." To the dozen or so supporters of Israel gathered across the street, one demonstrator shouted: "Murderers! Go back to the ovens! You need a big oven."

The Arab-Israeli conflict induces strong passions, and the line that separates legitimate disapproval of Israel from anti-Semitism may not always be obvious. But it's safe to assume the line has been crossed when you hear someone urging Jews "back to the ovens."

The Danish website Snaphanen posted a photo the other day of a pamphlet being distributed in Copenhagen's City Hall Square. On one side it proclaimed: "Never Peace With Israel!" and "Kill Israel's People!" On the other side: "Kill Jewish people evry where in ther world!" The leaflet's spelling left something to be desired, but its message of genocidal anti-Semitism couldn't have been clearer.

Likewise the message in Amsterdam on Saturday, where the crowd at an anti-Israel rally repeatedly chanted, "Hamas! Hamas! Jews to the gas." And the message in Belgium, where pro-Hamas demonstrators torched Israeli flags, burned a public menorah, and painted swastikas on Jewish-owned shops.

Only marginally less vile is the message that has been trumpeted at demonstrations from Boston to Los Angeles to Vancouver: "Palestine will be free/ From the river to the sea" - a restatement in rhyme of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's call for Israel to be "wiped from the map."

Let's say it for the thousand-and-first time: Every negative comment about Israel is not an expression of bigotry. Israel is no more immune to criticism than any other country. But it takes willful blindness not to see that anti-Zionism today - opposition to the existence of Israel, rejection of the idea that the Jewish people are entitled to a state - is merely the old wine of anti-Semitism in its newest bottle.

The hatred of Jews has always been protean, readily revising itself to reflect the idiom of its age. At times, it targeted Jews for their religion, demonizing them as Christ-killers or enemies of the true faith. At other times, Jews have been damned as disloyal fifth columns to be suppressed or expelled, or as a racial malignancy to be physically exterminated.

In our day, Jew-hatred expresses itself overwhelmingly in national terms: It is the Jewish state that the haters are obsessed with. "What anti-Semitism once did to Jews as people, it now does to Jews as a people," the British commentator Melanie Phillips has written. "First it wanted the Jewish religion, and then the Jews themselves, to disappear; now it wants the Jewish state to disappear."

The claim that anti-Zionism isn't bigotry would be preposterous in any other context. Imagine someone vehemently asserting that Ireland has no right to exist, that Irish nationalism is racism, and that those who murder Irishmen are actually victims deserving the world's sympathy. Who would take his fulminations for anything but anti-Irish bigotry? Or believe him if he said that he harbors no prejudice against the Irish?

By the same token, those who demonize and delegitimize Israel, who say the world would be better off without it, who hold it to standards of perfection no other country is held to, who extol or commiserate with its mortal enemies, who liken it to Nazi Germany and apartheid South Africa, who make it the scapegoat not only for crimes it hasn't committed, but for those of which it is a victim - yes, such people are anti-Semitic, whether they acknowledge it or not.

Criticize Israel? Certainly. But those who so loudly denounce Israel in its war against Hamas are siding with some of the most virulent Jew-haters on earth. They may tell themselves that that doesn't make them anti-Semites. But it does.

Fair Witness Press Release / Churches' Responses To Israel's Attack on Gaza

Christians For Fair Witness on the Middle East

*Fair Witness Questions Church Leaders' Responses To Israel's Attack on
Hamas*

Christians for Fair Witness on the Middle East ("Fair Witness") is
greatly disturbed by the escalating violence in Israel and Gaza and the
tragic loss of innocent Palestinian and Israeli lives. As many church
leaders in the U.S. demand an immediate cease fire however, we challenge
them to acknowledge not only the human suffering, but the political
realities in the region.

"In November 2001, Hamas, which openly declares its commitment to the
destruction of the State of Israel, began a terror campaign launching
rockets from Gaza into civilian targets within Israel," says Rev. Dr.
Bruce Chilton, the Bernard Iddings Bell Professor of Religion at Bard
College in Annandale, New York. "It was Hamas that chose not to extend
the existing cease-fire on December 18, resuming hundreds of attacks on
the civilian population in Southern Israel. It is Hamas that chooses,
with the Israeli army sitting right outside Gaza, to continue to target
civilian areas in towns behind the army."

"Maybe people don't realize what has been going on in Israel for the
past seven years," says Rev. James Noland, Senior Pastor of Reveille
United Methodist Church in Richmond, Virginia. "I was in Sderot in
October 2007. Six Qassam rockets hit the town just before we arrived.
We saw three blimps in the air that circulate 24 hours a day seven days
a week to detect incoming rockets. When the sirens go off people have
twenty seconds to get into a bomb shelter. Kids couldn't sleep, everyone
was afraid to leave their homes, people died, people had their legs
blown off. It was especially disturbing to see these Qassams up close
-- they were built not to cause damage to
structures, but to kill and maim human beings. It was terrifying. How
many years are people supposed to live like that before putting a stop
to it?"

Rev. Dr. Scott Ickert, pastor of Resurrection Lutheran Church in
Arlington, Virginia, says "I have to put myself in the shoes of the
people of Sderot and ask if some foreign country started throwing
rockets at the town where my family and I live what would I expect my
government to do to protect me?
I think only after we answer that question in an honest way can we
presume to judge what constitutes an appropriate and adequate response
to Hamas'
provocations."

Rev. Dr. Peter Pettit, Director of the Institute for Jewish Christian
Understanding at Muhlenberg College says "Hamas has claimed its place
as the liberators of Palestine and the implacable foes of the State of
Israel
-- not only of Israeli occupation, but of Israel's very existence. We do
not condone or encourage violent resolution of political conflicts, but
we question some church leaders who condemn only Israel's military
action while ignoring Hamas' courting and conduct of this war. We have
to question church leaders who condemn Israel for a disproportionate
response, while failing to set this action in the context of a long-term
course of violent struggle to which Hamas has committed itself in
defiance of Israel's legitimacy as a nation."

--
Sr. Ruth Lautt, OP, Esq.

National Director

Christians for Fair Witness on the Middle East

475 Riverside Drive, Ste 1960
New York, NY 10115

(212) 870-2320

www.christianfairwitness.com

Corrected version and appended request from JCRC:

A Message from the President of the Jewish Federation of Greater Des Moines

Israeli ground troops are now operating inside Gaza in the next phase of Israel's campaign to defend its citizens in the southern part of the country from ongoing rocket attacks by the terrorist organization Hamas. Hamas' actions in breaking the cease-fire agreement and intensifying its rocket barrage are consistent with its stated mission of eliminating the Jewish state of Israel.

Israel has the right and the obligation to protect its citizens. The current US administration, President-Elect Obama and the international community support that right.

Israel is doing all that it can to minimize civilian casualties, including calling Palestinians in advance of airstrikes. Unfortunately, Hamas intentionally places its installations and launching pads in residential areas, and stores illegally-obtained weaponry from Iran in homes, schools, hospitals and mosques. Thus, some civilian casualties are inevitable. The responsibility for the safety of Palestinian civilians lies squarely with Hamas, which has callously chosen to place civilians in harm's way.

Please join me in praying for the safety of the Israel Defense Forces, its pilots, tank commanders and ground troops who are on the front lines, ensuring Israel's survival. Please also join me in praying for peace for Israelis, and for the innocent Palestinians who are the victims of their leaders' misguided fanaticism.

Am Yisroel Chai! The people of Israel live!

Neil Salowitz
---------------------------------------------
JCRC would encourage you to forward the above message from the President of the Jewish Federation to members of the general community, to discuss the message's content with friends and colleagues, and to consider writing letters to your local newspapers in support of Israel's defense against terrorism.

Sen. Grassley: Hamas should expect to be shot back at.

Senator Charles Grassley (Iowa) on Hamas' provocation.

 

The essence of Senator Grassley's response to a reporter's question on "The Talk of Iowa"  broadcast 12/30/08 on Iowa Public Radio.

 

Question:  Is Israel's response too much in response to Hamas rocketing into Israel?

 

Sen. Grassley:  Hamas presumably doesn't want peace with Israel, so whatever their logic,  Hamas tries to kill Israelis by lobbing rockets  into Israel. Now, if they'd stop, Israel would not strike back at them in Gaza.  But otherwise, what would you expect the Israeli government to do?  It would be the same thing you'd expect President-elect Obama to do when he gets to be president.  If Americans were being shelled, you'd expect him to defend America. If Israel is being shot at from Gaza by Hamas, Hamas should expect to be shot back at.  I mean, that's just the way the world works.

 

The results of the last "lull"

A Summary and Analysis  of the Situation  by Ami Iseroff                       http://www.zionism-israel.com/maps/Hamas_rocket_range_map.htm

"The increase in range of the  renewed Hamas rocket fire demonstrated how they had taken advantage of the truce to import arms, while all the while managing an international propaganda campaign about a supposed humanitarian crisis in Gaza."

 

In the fall of 2005, Israeli forces left the Gaza strip. By international agreement the Rafah border crossing was to be monitored by EU observers, to prevent the smuggling of arms. The Hamas, a militant, genocidal terrorist group, took over the Gaza strip after winning elections. A unity government between the Hamas and Fatah factions came to an end after the Hamas staged a coup and murdered the Fatah.

Hamas has announced repeatedly that they will never make peace with Israel. They insist that all of Palestine is a holy Waqf given to the Muslims by Allah. Their charter declares that negotiations and international conferences are a waste of time. Jihad (Holy War) is the only war. Their mission, as they declare, is to kill all the Jews, because the end of days cannot come before every Jew is slain.

Hamas and other groups began raining Qassam Rockets down on Israeli towns even before Israel left the Gaza strip. As soon as Israel left, the stream of rocket fire increased.   They were small home made Qassam rockets with a range of a few kilometers, that could reach the town of Sderot. Life became hell in Sderot. No self defense measures Israel took were effective. In June of 2006, Hamas kidnapped an Israeli soldier, Gilad Schalit, from inside Israel, in a planned terror operation. Rocket fire on Israel increased after the Hamas coup and became intolerable.

When Israel tried to cut supplies to Gaza, international pressure forced it to resume supplies.  In June of 2008, Israel concluded a truce agreement with the Hamas, mediated by Egypt, under pressure from the UN and Western powers. Hamas used the truce to smuggle quantities of arms into the Gaza strip. When they took power by force, they dismissed UN monitors from the southern border crossings and insisted that they must be able to bring in anything they wish from Egypt. Egypt sealed the border, but the Hamas dug tunnels that they used for smuggling everything from cigarettes to refrigerators to mortars, explosives and rockets.

In December of 2008, Hamas declared unilaterally that the truce would not be renewed unless Israel agreed to let them import whatever they wished. In a single day, December 24, Hamas rained dozens of rockets on Israeli towns.  Israel launched operation Cast Lead (Oferet Yetzuka) to stop the rocket fire. The increase in range of the  renewed Hamas rocket fire demonstrated how they had taken advantage of the truce to import arms, while all the while managing an international propaganda campaign about a supposed humanitarian crisis in Gaza.

Prior to the truce, in June of 2008, the Hamas rockets were homemade Qassams with a range of perhaps 10-12 kilometers.  Following the resumption of rocket fire, Hamas rockets reached about 45 kilometers into Israel, hitting as far north as Yavne and as far west as Beersheba.  If they are not stopped now, in a few months, Hamas rockets will probably reach Tel Aviv and Jerusalem.  

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------    

 It is recommended that you also refer to http://waringaza.blogspot.com , a blog initiated by Rabbi David Kaufman to help supporters of Israel  communicate intelligently about the situation in Gaza.

 

"Hamas knows one big thing, which it labels 'resistance' or, for Western audiences, 'ending the occupation.' Just what that means was made clear by Palestinian cleric Muhsen Abu 'Ita in a televised interview. "The annihilation of the Jews here in Palestine," he said, "is one of the most splendid blessings for Palestine." "

 

--  Bret Stephens,  December 30, 2008,  Op Ed, Wall Street Journal

 

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB123059693797741083.html?mod=djemEditorialPage

 

A letter from Ronit Salomon at Kibbutz Or-Haner  ------ near  Israel's Military Operation against Hamas in Gaza "We have been waiting too long, having absorbed these rockets attacks for more than 7 years. 7 years - too many. " -- Ronit Salomon, Kibbutz Or-Haner

Kibbutz Or Haner, December 29th, 2008  [The kibbutz is in the Israel Partnership Region of the Quad Cities Jewish Federation, and Ronit's letter is directed to the Executive Director of the Federation, Allan Ross, who has made the letter public. --MF]   Dear Allan,   It doesn't matter how you get prepared for the most difficult, complicated and hard to take scenarios.  You find yourself confused, terrified, scared......in one of the most unbelievable situation you find yourself involved.   We all hoped that something would happen. That there would be some kind of Israeli response and as soon as possible because we couldn't take it anymore - the missiles, the mortars, the snipers.....we couldn't think about ourselves but about our friends and neighbors in the kibbutzim nearby and in Sderot, a town where we used to do our shopping and feel the tension every day when we hear the RED Alert alarm, keeping our hopes that we would retaliate for the Hamas attacks.   We wanted our government to react. To give us answers that will make us feel that we are not alone in our way of life. That no one forgets our existing. We have heard the warnings coming from our minister of defense, our prime minister, our ministers who warned the Hamas leaders to stop their missiles shooting to our area every day despite the cease fire agreement. We felt like human targets for Hamas who upped the danger more and more..   And the reaction finally arrived Saturday morning.  The kids were busy with their Hanukah activities. We had been in the purple hall, enjoying famous musicians who came to sing here in the kibbutz despite the situation. Then started our Air Force's attack. Since Saturday morning our Air Force continues to bomb different targets in the Gaza Strip.   I must admit that despite these terrible voices of war, I feel more tranquil. I am trying to do my best to keep safe, taking care of my kids, hoping the older ones will know what to do when they need to. We all trust our army to do what is needed to bring the quiet to our area. We have been waiting too long, having absorbed these rockets attacks for more than 7 years. 7 years - too many.   Since Saturday we have been told to keep staying in safe places, protected and close. Indoors activities are welcome and the farmers have been told not to work the fields and keep staying indoors. We closed the kids houses and the students won`t get back to school tomorrow, when their Hanukahs holiday will end.   We are trying and doing as much as we can to send the kids out of the kibbutz, out of the area. We don't want them to stay here in this atmosphere, with these bomb sounds, with the fear of the rockets which are sent to us so many times a day.   Today we send the kids to Tel Aviv, to one of the Fun parks...Personally, I would rather  they will stay there and not coming back home right now. Last week the teenagers were invited to one of our northern kibbutzim and they stayed there 1 day. That was even before the operation in Gaza.   We have an emergency crew in the kibbutz and I am a part of it. My responsibility in this crew is to inform the community about any changes, any information, any note about the sensitive situation we are in. By messages via cell phones (SMS) or by the Beepers (which we all have in our houses), or a special channel on TV where the people can read the news and the notes we send them. The people should arrange whatever they need if we will have to stay at the bomb shelters, none knows for how long it will be and when. We are trying to arrange everything that might help to make our stay, especially the kids`s staying in these shelters - such as furniture, games for the kids, air conditioners, TV`s, everything that might make our time over there comfortable as possible.   Due to the army's orders we closed our dining room and the people can get food only once a day. The Clinic and Mini market is also closed. There are families which decided to leave the kibbutz for a while for relatives' houses in other parts of the country. I guess they will be back when things will calm down a little bit although we all know it will take much as needed to arrange this quiet we are all expecting and hope for.   We all hope that this operation will bring the quiet to our area for many days. We surely need that.   We pray for better days in the new year, 2009.   Thank you, Allan, for your encouraging and supporting and to all of you, our friends. We know you are with us all the time.   Love and Happy New Year to all of you.   Ronit Salomon, Kibbutz Or-Haner, Shaar hanegev Region, Israel.   ************************   ****If you get a chance, please send Ronit and Kibbutz Or-Haner a note of support to:  ronchili10@gmail.com.