Before I wrote this blog I looked up the definition of ‘Holocaust’ in five different dictionaries plus an online definition. Only one of the dictionaries defined it as ‘the destruction and loss of life of on an enormous scale.’ The other four sources had roughly similar definitions, but all went on to reference the ‘Jewish’ Holocaust in particular. What happened to the Jews was indeed an affront to humanity and an event which should be forever etched in the memory of mankind. But it’s not the only one. Indeed throughout all of history other races, creeds and peoples across the entire globe have been subjected to their own holocaust, the numbers, in my view are irrelevant. The Armenians at the hands of the Turks, the marsh Arabs at the hands of Saddam, millions of Russians at the hands of Stalin, the Kurds at the hands of the Iraqis, the Japanese at the hands of the Americans, the Irish potato famine, and the hundreds of thousands who are murdered each year in internecine tribal warfare in Arica. This list, alas, is not exhaustive by any means.
And yet what is interesting is that if you drop the word holocaust into any conversation it will be the Nazi’s persecution and attempted eradication of European Jewry that will be in the forefront of people’s minds. Fair enough, because the Holocaust you see has become the Jewish Brand. They alone have cornered the holocaust market and wear it with the same identity as the big yellow letter ‘M’ as displayed throughout the world by McDonalds. It has been, and is used to justify most of the policies adopted by the Government of Israel to this very day. It’s the ace that trumps all criticism.
And here’s a useful exercise for you. Take one hundred Jews and ask each one of them to talk about their country, its history, their culture and how Israel came into being. They will most likely begin by explaining how Palestine was a land without a people conveniently overlooking the small detail that the indigenous Arabs had formal registration documents to their land and legally held passports. But to a man, and indeed a woman, they will each reference the Holocaust because it was that terrible event out of which their nation was born. However, very few, if any of them at all, will mention the forced removal of Palestinians from their lands and homes in the embryonic Jewish state, their terrible living conditions in the occupied territories, and the suffering they endure therein on a daily basis, a suffering that is directly a result of the Jews pursuit of Zionism in the land once known as Palestine. Now I have nothing against Israel and their desire for a homeland, though at the rate of illegal expansionism and continued settlements I half expect them to show up in Kent, but it has been achieved at expense of another people. And I will admit to never having visited Israel, let alone the human zoos that are Gaza and the West Bank so I don’t know if the Israelis do irony, but you’d have to admit that it’s pretty ironic that a people for whom the term ‘refugee’ might have been coined, has created millions of others on its very doorstep. The best book I have ever read on this entire human tragedy is Robert Fisk’s ‘Pity The Nation.’ If you haven’t read it then at least place it on your list to do so.
And so this brings me to the political playing fields of England, where the current leader of the Labour Party, Jeremy Corbyn, has been accused of being anti-Semitic because he is not in one hundred percent agreement with the international examples of what constitutes antisemitism. And though I wouldn’t be in agreement with much of what dear Jeremy has to say, I’m with him on this one. Not least, because as the Israeli government turn the screw on the Palestinians with new state laws, it is more important than ever to make distinctions between legitimate critiques of unjust Israeli policies and hostility towards Jews simply for being Jews. Surely it’s our collective anti-racist principals which invite us to criticize Israel for its discriminatory policies, its dual system of justice, its segregated roads network and the recent Nation-State Law which basically entrenches ethnic inequality. Perversely labelling critics of this racism “antisemitic” also silences Palestinians who object to Israel’s historic and ongoing takeover of their land.
But also, I have always found the tyranny of the majority painfully disconcerting. In this instance it is the right on political, self-righteous brigade who’ve never spent a day of their lives under Israeli oppression who are apoplectic that Corbyn won’t be bullied out of his principled support for the plight of the Palestinians. So now they are running around with their pants down looking for words uttered by Jeremy when he was at playschool to prove he’s an anti-Semite though ignoring the fact that via military, financial and diplomatic support, western governments are deeply complicit in Israel’s violations. Now don’t get me wrong, there are some very uncomfortable attitudes towards the Jews throughout the Labour Party, Corbyn has kept some questionable company, and some dark individuals control its membership, not to mention more displays of casual, anti-Jewish racism than I could list here. But just because a few academics hunkered down and came up with eleven ways not to insult Jews doesn’t mean you have to agree with them, and it is simply untrue to imply Jewish communities are unanimous in their support of the IHRA.
On the contrary, by dangerously conflating opposition to Israel’s discriminatory policies with anti-Jewish racism, IHRA politicises and harms the fight against antisemitism as well as the struggle for justice for Palestinians.
These eleven definitions by the way were obviously penned long before the recent passing of Israel’s Nation State Law, a law which makes no reference to equality or democratic values in the legislation. It defines Hebrew as the country’s only official language, relegating Arabic to “special status,’ basically second class citizens. Not racism? I’d say so. Not anti-Arab? Certainly, and definitely not democratic. But because of the backdrop of the holocaust brand no country raises more than an eyebrow to such blatantly racist policies. It is profoundly wrong to label the Labour party “antisemitic” for refraining to adopt IHRA guidelines in their entirety. Criticising Israeli policies, and indeed the tenets of Zionism, must be allowed to be part of political debate. To be a holocaust denier is a crime, and rightly so. But to deny the existence of Palestine and a Palestinian the right to return to his homeland should equally be so. The Palestinians as we know cling hopelessly to this dream in much the same way as they cling in vain to their dream of a two-state solution. The de-facto position on the ground of course is a one party state, but if I may be allowed to paraphrase the late, great, George Orwell, the future of the Palestinians is thus: Imagine the boot of an Israeli soldier stamping on a Palestinian face …forever.
Laters
12th September 2018.
Corbyn’s stance is clearly a vote winner. Anti-Zionism has come to mean anything from criticising Israel (perfectly fine – most Israelis and Jews do so, some vociferously), to wishing for its destruction. Try reading some of the shocking comments posted on Times of Israel by ‘critics’ of Israel – a lot of Corbyn supporters.Unfortunately, he doesn’t seem to repel anti-semites.
I’m with you Derek. it is easier these days, anyway, to hate Israel rather than Jews, since you get the same frisson with none of the guilt.”And it is easier to equate criticism of a nation’s foreign policy with anti-semitism, since you can shut down the debate without having to prove the legitimacy of such censorship
equating anti-Israel with anti-Semite is wrong. This is what anti-Corbyn manipulators are doing. Equally manipulative is the idea that anti-Israel is pro-Hamas. Anti-Israel is clearly because the policies of the Israeli government break international law and deny Palestinians their rights. The policies of Hamas are also bad.
the reason people despise Israel is nothing to do with religion: it’s to do with land grabs, colonialism and mass murder. The Israeli ‘Defense’ Force is a despicable organisation – the way it used its high tech weapons to murder hundreds of young children, including babies and little boys playing football, last summer was despicable (not to mention all the women and OAPS also butchered). They’re terrorist cowards armed to the teeth with weapons paid for by other countries.
You are correct Derek that not all Jews agree on the IHRA definitions of anti-Semitism. To be fair I’m surprised there’s only 11!!!
Derek. You forgot to mention The IDF which does everything it can to avoid murdering or maiming anyone except for 1/ Women 2/ Babies 3/ Boys 4/ Girls 5/ Old people 6/ Men…..It also blows up houses and public facilities. That’s why it’s despised by everyone apart from lying Zionist propagandists.
The 1984 image is pertinent. It’s a tragedy beyond words that the Palestinians will NEVER have a state of their own worthy of the name.
I think the point about the Holocaust being the Jewish brand is a far point. a wicked tragedy on all points but a card which Israel plays again and again. Meanwhile the Palestinians have been experiencing their own since 1948???
That Corbyn would be virulently anti-Israel would be totally expected. Whether or not he is a true anti-semite is more difficult to say (they all have the same cliched excuses whenever the issue comes up). His age and the possibility of early dementia may explain a genuine inability to recall his troubling associations and statements. All in all, I think it is fair to say that Jeremy Corbyn can be a decent chap in the right circumstances, but he is likely not electable.
Britain ships over £5 billion worth of weapons to the Gulf dictatorships every year. The largest trade deal in the UK’s history was with Saudi Arabia – the Al-Yamamah arms deal, brokered by Margaret Thatcher. The USA supplies Saudi Arabia with advanced fighters and trains Saudi pilots at the Mountain Home Air Force Base in Idaho. Does the Israeli leadership ever condemn the US or the UK of threatening Israeli security? Of course not. Wonder why?
Corbyn is the most genuine, good bloke you could ever meet, the very best. He will save the poor and the middle classes. Lets be aware- many Jews agree with Jeremy – the JAG group, ‘Jews against Genocide.’
Good post. But can I add that Britain’s Conservatives and Republicans in the US supported Saddam’s brutal regime throughout the 1980s is never mentioned when Jeremy Corbyn’s so called “links to terrorism” are debated by Tory hypocrites and liberal concern trolls alike.
Nothing should divert us away from critical attention on Israel’s daily repugnant policies towards the Palestinian people – including the ever-expanding illegal settlements. Corbyn, after all, is no worse than those millions of self-hating Jews in his attitude towards Israel
Nobody has mentioned thatRonald Reagan went to the WWII graves in Bitberg, West Germany in 1985 which included 49 members of the SS, and described the German soldiers buried there as victims “just as surely as the victims in the concentration camps.” Reagan is remembered as “a great friend of Israel”.
Fact is, Jeremy Corbyn associates with horrible Jew haters, that’s reason enough to oppose him.
that’s reason enough to oppose him”It doesn’t seem to be working and that’s what’s worrying.
why don’t the media who makes the “guilt by association” case properly engage with the substance of what Corbyn believes on Palestine and indeed has devoted much of his life to (an end to the occupation; a Palestinian state; rights to land)? Is he wrong or right on that? Why don’t they challenge him on that for once? I suspect that the reason it is not much mentioned or even challenged is fear that if elected Corbyn will bring much more publicity to the issue than is comfortable to those who support Israel, right or wrong.
The old ‘anti-semitism- put-down is designed to silence discussion and is getting very long in the tooth.Ironically, more than 90% of Israelis are not Semites…most Palestinians are though.
Criticism of Mr Corbyn on grounds of guilt by association is asinine. Even vile people can lead organisations that, however unfortunate it may be, represent the very real grievances of disempowered people. Does it mean that full agreement is granted them out of sympathy for the position? – of course not and it is puerile to argue that it is. It is only if responsibility is taken on all sides and a recognition of the others’ innate humanity is recognised. The views of the people that Mr Corbyn met, it right to be expose for the vile nonsense that it is. However, Mr Corbyn and others continuing to meet these people and dignify them is actually very important. If your enemy’s humanity isn’t recognised then there is no hope of your enemy recognising your humanity.
Derek, Please could someone enlighten me as to when there was a country called Palestine? Who was its President? Where was its Government?Can someone tell me if Israel is murdering the Palestinians why there are more of them now than there were?Can someone tell me why there are Arab members of Parliament in the Knesset and the heads of many hospitals are Arabs? How is this apartheid? Why can Arabs live and work in any part of Israel? Yes, there are injustices – just like in any country but apartheid, murder – no!
Maeve, Perhaps first you could enlighten us all as to when there was a country called Israel? I don’t want to be too prescriptive; any time in the last thousand years will do fine …
Maeve. Perhaps first you could enlighten me as to when there was a country called Israel? I don’t want to be too prescriptive; any time in the last thousand years will do fine …
If Corbyn is opposed to the Israeli propaganda machine then he’s even more the man we need to lead the country. We need ordinary Israeli’s, Jews, Palestinians, Muslims and outsiders to come together and work towards peace based on equal sized states – it’s too often the politics that stand in the way.
Hi Derek. I have read Robert Fisk’s ‘Pity the Nation’ and can endorse it as essential reading for anybody who wants to learn about the tragedy which has befallen the Palestinian people. Great book.
I agree with much of this post but the trouble is you will not find an overt pro-coexistence movement on the Arab side – other than those PA Arabs who go to work with Jews every day. Note “PA Arabs who go to work with Jews”; of course Jews cannot go to work in PA Arab areas
In its way, as deplorable as the criticisms of Corbyn’s facial hair and sartorial choices. You may not like who Mr Corbyn has in the past associated with, but then neither did the ultra Zionist who murdered Yitzhak Rabin
Can I just get this right. So the Blairs can cuddle up to the worst dictators, despots, terrorists, gangsters, some of whom fund Hamas, and their slobbering acolytes give them a free pass, but Corbyn can’t engage in communication with the participants on one particular side of a conflict, as he has done since he was elected by his constituents in 1983?
The problem for Corbyn is that he would have been thrown out of UKIP for racism by now, however much his supporters might scream and shout at the suggestion. And the logic of that is brutal, assuming Corbyn does become leader. Either Labour are as bad, or worse, than UKIP, or they have been lying for years about racism. Take your choice.
Needless to say, accusations of racism against Jeremy Corbyn don’t have to be correct. They just have to be as correct as the Left’s accusations against UKIP. The recent retractions in the Mirror (e.g. the Nazi salute by a UKIP councillor that appears to have been nothing of the sort) should give Labour cause for concern.
Jeremy Corbyn is probably not an anti-Semite but his mono vision leads him to make some morally dubious decisions, like inviting the Israeli Islamist blood libeller Raed Salah to tea on the terrace of the House of Commons. To say he did so in the cause of peace is disingenuous. He was offering support, just as he has to the “exterminationists” of Hamas and Hezbollah – even though I am sure he doesn’t want to see the Jewish people murdered
His almost autistic level of consistency and tunnel vision leads him to absurdity and indeed moral obscenity. It’s also of practically no help to the Palestinian people either. However, I do agree with him over renationalising the railways etc., which is at least some compensation
Ken, Do you remember the time the Queen had Robert Mugabe over for tea at the palace…?
It is little wonder that Israel is reviled and is a pariah state in the eyes of right thinking people. It’s war crimes alone merit this. The bombing of UN schools, firing on Red Cross ambulances, the use of white phosphorus in civilian areas etc. That is before we even start on the bulldozing of Palestinian homes for settlements.
Do not insult Jews by trying to muddle up anti-Zionism with Anti-semitism.Anti-Zionism is criticism of Israel, a respectable political position held by Corbyn, and by many Jews.Anti-semitism is contempt and hostility for all Jews worldwide. Hardly true of Corbyn when important Jews have come forward to say Jews do not think he is hostile to them at all.Do not twist an ancient historical problem for Jews into a cheap weapon in local politics. It insults Jews very badly. Anti-semitism is a ghastly atrocity, not a toy to be used in political spin.
I am not anti-Semitic, but I am against any nation settling on land that is not rightfully theirs with total contempt for international law.
Sorry, but how far back in history would you go in your assertion the a land is not “rightfully theirs”By that logic all current Australian and American people should move out
How do you destroy any country without killing its inhabitants? Do you expect Israeli’s to roll over and say – here have our country. There would be mass bloodshed. It won’t happen. You really need to move on and realise Israel will not cease to exist. Staying stuck in the Arab pre-1947 mentality is really not going to bring any positive result in the conflict and is not an option to anyone who wants there to be a peaceful solution. The South African state wasn’t destroyed. There was a change in rulership and policies.I do find it breathtaking when people still assert that Israel is the cause of all wars in the Middle East seeing the carnage going on in the more distant Arab nations which don’t border Israel
Where there is a will to blame Israel there is a way. Iran is the only country Israel is specifically threatening with a full on war, but that could have something to do with Iran continually stating that they will destroy Israel and funding proxies to wage wars to do so.
This is a good article and is on the money.The left has a continually attacked Israel/Jews.Its a strange campaign.They are a minority.They have throughout history been badly treated.It is wrong to blame all Israelis/Jews for the Palestine problem.It needs a political solution not continual vilification of a race.
It needs a political solution not continual vilification of a race.Quite agree with you Benny. Someone has to stand up for the Palestinian semites.
Let’s all be clear. Israelis are not murdering people, and are not stealing land or passing racist laws. Wherever did some get that idea from?