World

Countering Anti-Semitism

London

T

he general assembly of the
World Jewish Congress, which
took place recently in Jerusalem,
proved a useful, if alarming, opportunity.
It was an exchange of views and informa-
tion from 550 representatives from 62
Jewish communities.
The thrust was how different Jewish
communities are coping with the back
draft from the situation in Gaza, which
arose from the seven years of perpetual
rocket firing at the southern half of Israel
and the eventual Israeli incursion into
Gaza and subsequent withdrawal.
The underlying theme that emerged
from the debates was the disquiet, and in
some cases the real fear, experienced by
most communities in the face of grow-
ing anti-Semitism. This, it would appear,
manifests itself as demonstrations against
Israel's foreign policy — via marches,
outspoken gatherings and general demon-
izing of Israel, coupled with equating any
person or business that appears to have
Jewish connections as a target for abuse of

the nastiest kind.
In Venezuela, the Israel ambassador has
been expelled and the atmosphere is one of
hate, resulting in an attack on a synagogue
in Caracas by a gang of 15 youths. The
authorities have taken no action to prevent
this sort of mayhem; in fact, it is said that
such acts are carried out by government
supporters.
In Turkey, there is considerable concern
over the rate of incidents and criticism
of Israel appears to be encouraged. The
Turkish Jewish community considers itself
first and foremost Turkish. It emphasises
that Turkey is a secular society, although
the population of 70 million is predomi-
nantly Muslim.
In India, where the terrible bombing of
the synagogue took place in Mumbai, with
the consequent loss of life, the atmosphere
appears to be chilling.
My nephew, Ashley Israel of West
Bloomfield, tells me that in Michigan, you
have seen similar examples of this behav-
ior; in particular, the intimidating protests
outside supermarkets that sell Israeli
products, such as the Hiller's chain, and

the accompanying demands for boycott of
Israeli goods.
In the United Kingdom, more than
200 anti-Semitic incidents were logged
between when the fighting began in Gaza
in late December and when it ended
three weeks later, in mid-January. This is
the highest rate of such incidents since
recording began in 1984.
There were 100 demonstrations on the
streets in support of the Palestinians, most-
ly ending in violence of some kind, followed
up by widespread news-media coverage
and news-media discussion programs.
Placards carried at these demonstrations
carried slogans demonizing Israel and Jews.
In contrast, there were two demonstra-
tions in support of Israel, which took place
in Trafalgar Square and Manchester, in
which the police estimated some 20,000
people took part. There were no arrests at
these demonstrations. They were orderly
and peaceful; the theme was "No to Hamas
Terror, Peace in Israel, Peace in Gaza."
Among the more positive aspects is the
news that Rabbi Marc Schneier of New
York successfully twinned 100 mosques

and shuls across the
United States and
Canada last November.
The Durban II
Review Conference will
take place in Geneva in
April. All three organi-
zations in which I hold
no Kaufman
office — namely, the
Special
World Jewish Congress,
Commentary
the European Jewish
Congress and the
Board of Deputies of
British Jews — have been working together
to ensure that, should the conference go
ahead, it will not seek to demonize Israel,
there will be retention of the anti-Semitism
condemnation and retention of Holocaust
commemoration, no hierarchy of racism,
and there will be no clause relating to defa-
mation of religion.
As the date for the conference approach-
es, it appears more and more likely that
more governments will, as we lobby harder,
withdraw their support.

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A52

March 19 . 2009