Hatred Of Jews Comes Full Circle

Washington, D.C.
• I is an old cliche': you can be so

know better, barely protested.
And it was evident on the streets of
Washington last month when pro-
far to the left that you end up
Palestinian groups protesting the
on the political right, and vice
annual meeting of the pro-Israel lobby
versa. In today's churning
got a boost from anti-global-
world, that reflects a reality
ism activists in town to
that has Jewish leaders deeply
demonstrate at meetings of
worried.
the World Bank. Young sub-
Across the globe, groups are
urban demonstrators swapped
converging around an issue
signs protesting poverty in.
that can unite even longtinie
Guatemala for ones likening
adversaries: antagonism
Israel to the Nazis.
toward Israel. And just behind
The anti-globalism protes-
that is blatant anti-Semitism,
tors
seemed to mimic the
or at least a tolerance of this
JAM ES D.
style
of 1960s left-wingers,
brand of intolerance.
BES SER
but
their
movement is so far
There may be an element of
Spe cial
left
it
goes
full circle and
overkill in the response by
Comm entary
comes out on the right; in
American Jewish leaders. The-
reality, they have more in
Jew haters are not about to
common with the nativist, anti-Israel
influence U.S. policy; in this country,
former presidential candidate Pat
the new convergence could actually
Buchanan than with a civil rights
marginalize some of the Jewish corn-
movement with which they claim kin-
munity's traditional opponents.
ship.
Still, it represents an explosive new
This week, a different facet of the
mix on the world scene that could
new convergence was on display out-
•
erupt in unexpected ways.
side the Israeli embassy, where sup-
The jelling of an international anti-
porters of the neo-Nazi National
Israel, anti-Jewish alliance is evident
Alliance demonstrated. The fact that
on a number of levels, starting with
they were hurling invective against
headlines that bring to mind another
Israel was no surprise; the fact that
era in European history. Once again,
they were supporting the Palestinians,
synagogues are being torched, ceme-
who are hardly examples of Aryan
teries desecrated, Jewish institutions
purity, was surprising.
vandalized, Jewish schoolchildren
In Europe, the Sept. 11 attacks
attacked.
- Some of this is the handiwork of
Islamic extremists steeped in the new
anti-Semitism spread in religious ,
schools and mosques. But some of it
is also coming from the neo-fascist far
right, always a ticking time bomb just
beneath the surface of European
affairs.

against the United States brought
neo-Nazi and Islamic extremist groups
together, authorities say, to pursue a
common anti-American, anti-Israel
agenda — despite the fact that the
fascists generally hate Islamic immi-
grants almost as much as they hate
Jews.
Groups such as Hezbollah have
adopted some of the ideology of
American and European rightists,
including a fascination with The
Turner Diaries, the anti-Semitic con-
spiracy-oriented novel that has
inspired far-right "militia" groups
here.
The Internet, according to the Anti-
Defamation League, has helped these
diverse groups make contact with
each other and share their bigoted
views.

Beneficial Alliance

This convergence doesn't mean storm
troopers are poised to strike Jews in
America, or that Europe is on the
verge of a new Holocaust.
Especially in this country, the
strange new alliance may actually
serve to further marginalize some of
Israel's enemies. Neo-Nazis have never
gained much traction here, and
extremism has been especially out of
favor since Sept. 11; if pro-Palestinian
forces are seen as in league with neo-
Nazis, their already-paltry political
clout will decline still further.
Mainstream Americans may sympa-

thize with the plight of West Bank
refugees, but they may turn off that
sympathy if pro-Arab groups hook up
with far-right extremists like the
National Alliance.
Islamic immigrants may cheer the
anti-U.S. fervor of the far right, but
they're unlikely to completely over-
look the neo-Nazi loathing of immi-
grants and non-Aryans.
To their credit, some Palestinian
groups joined a counter-demonstra-
tion protesting against the neo-
Nazis rally at the Israeli embassy
this week.
Still, extremism and anti-Semitism
are always explosive and unpredictable
social pathologies.
The trend is more worrisome in
Europe, where both the anti-globalist
left and the far right have bigger
bases, and where antagonism to Israel
runs deep and strong.
It means that in international
forums, Israel will be under growing
attack from the most rabidly anti-
Zionist forces. Durban was hardly an
anomaly; it will be repeated over and
over again, with even more outra-
geous anti-Semitism mixing in with
the criticisms of Israel.
At home, the convergence means a
strange and unpredictable new under-
tow that may increase the background
noise of anti-Semitism. Abroad, it
may represent a genuine boost to
forces that want Israel wiped off the
planet and Jews once again put in
their place. 111

Perspectives on Israel: a continuing series

BALANCE vs. ACCURACY

.

Far Left s Role

'

But the far left is increasingly part of
this strange-bedfellows coalition, as
well.
Much of that was evident last sum-
mer at Durban, South Africa, when a
United Nations meeting on racism
was hijacked by Arab and Muslim
forces intent on turning it into an
anti-Israel spectacle. Some of these
groups disseminated openly and ven-
omously anti-Semitic tracts; interna-
tional human rights groups and
European representatives, who should

James D. Besser is a Washington-based

correspondent. His e-mail address is

jbesser@his.com

Even-handedness"shrAragnoehlito

conflict which often ends up giving the anti-Israel forces a "hand-up,"
and the pro-Israeli forces, "the back of the hand." "Balanced" cover-
age often gets in the way of providing accurate coverage. Some
examples:
• Palestinian claims and Israeli counter-claims about Jenin were
given equal attention well after the truth had been uncovered,
and no massacre had.
• Media coverage of a pro-Israeli rally requires a "balancing" corn-
ment by an anti-Israel spokesperson.
• The number of Israeli civilians killed, and the Palestinian attack-
ers killed, are reported in the same total.
• Suicide bombers, and Israeli actions to prevent suicide bomb-
ings, are both seen as escalations of conflict.
Such reporting increases the danger that people will think "a pox on
both their houses," and advocate ending American involvement in
the Middle East. A recent University of Maryland survey showed just
that, with 58 percent of those surveyed believing that both the
Israelis and the Palestinians are responsible for the failure to reach a
peace agreement.

To attempt such a "balance" in American foreign policy, weighing the

one Israel against the 23 Arab countries, would inevitably harm the
Jewish State. America's belief in the universal value of human life
compels us to distinguish between ideologies and regimes that do not
share that belief. This is the factor that outweighs any other, including
"even-handedness." This is why the United States and Israel must
always stand together.

Take Action:

Make the case for strong support for Israel by writing to U.S.
Secretary of State Colin Powell, 2201 C. Street N.W. Washington
D.C. 20520.
In addition, demand fair and objective reporting from our newspa-
pers. Contact Public Editor Luther Keith at the Detroit News,
(313) 222-2675; and Public Editor John X. Miller at the Detroit Free
Press, (313) 222-5981.

•_

Jewish A
Community
Councilaozezom.

:

A

To learn more about how you can become an effective Israel advocate, visit www.jewishcommunitycouncil.orq

5 / 17
2002

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