Editor's Letter

WOMEN'S

EUROPEAN & AMERICAN

Demonic Hatred

E

uropeans created Zionism as the final act in a long
series of self-defense measures to rid themselves of
the burden of the Jews.
That myth is at the core of Palestinian ideology.
And that's not surprising given demonizing Jews is
the basis for denying Israel legitimacy and presenting
Palestinians as the ultimate victims.
In one of the more remarkable com-
mentaries I've read, the brainpower
behind the Jerusalem-based Palestinian
Media Watch gave that chilling assess-
ment. The commentary "Beyond Mere
Hatred" by Itamar Marcus and Barbara
Cook appeared in the Jerusalem Post on
Dec. 26. "According to this Palestinian
model:' they write, "the Jews, who are
said to have no history in the land,
would never have considered coming to
`Palestine
Hence, the European creation that
hatched the Jewish state...
PMW billed the commentary an explanation of "the unique
and dangerous nature of Palestinian anti-Semitism" — a
vehicle of unadulterated hate. And the commentary comes
off as exactly that. It begins, "From academics teaching that
Judaism permits murder and rape of non-Jews, to religious
leaders teaching that Islam demands the extermination of
Jews, Palestinian anti-Semitism is a compelling force driving
hatred and terror?'

Beneath The Haze
The picture painted is revealing: The Palestinian Authority,
under the so-called moderate leadership of
the Fatah party, depicts Jews as "the archetyp-
al force of evil throughout history"— respon-
sible for wars, financial crises, spread of AIDS.
"Jews are a danger to humanity," the P.A.
asserts. It embellishes that unoriginal theme
by turning demonizing Jews into the linchpin
of Palestinian denial of Israel's right to exist
and into a pillar of Palestinian national iden-
tity.
Palestinian "logic" suggests that global anti-
Semitism in the form of oppression, persecu-
tion and expulsions throughout history is a defensive reflex of
nations repelling the evil nature of Jews. This is what the P.A.
continues to teach its kids even as its leaders seem receptive to
renewed discussions seeking peace.
That's scary.

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evil is pivotal to fulfilling this intent.
The Palestinian Authority may be "moderate" when corn-
pared to llamas, the terrorist organization ruling the Gaza Strip.
But it is no friend to Israel or to Jews. Remind Marcus and
Cook, "It has accused Jews and Israel of spreading AIDS among
Palestinians, causing drug addiction among youth, planning to
destroy the al-Aqsa Mosque and murdering Yasser Arafat?'

Historical Ties
Harkening back to history, Palestinians teach that Jews are
said to have lived in the ghettos not because of European
hatred, but because they saw themselves as superior. Zionists
are said to have forced Palestinians to accept "selections"
during the War for Independence, whereby the fit were put
in labor camps and the unfit killed, some even burned alive,
according to Marcus and Cook.
Calling the P.A. "moderate" breaks down in the glare of
those revisionist lessons. They obscure the Palestinians who
are tired of war and really want peace.
The PMW commentary concludes on a grim note. It under-
scores once more that hatred of Jews and Israel is ingrained
in Palestinian society — the Palestinian leadership's desired
result. No less than the Palestinian chief religious justice
proclaimed that the Koran, Islam's holiest book, warns of the
Jews' inherently evil traits. The influence of the speaker makes
the warning credible, even if Islamic teachings were misap-
plied — or purposely jumbled.

Don't Be Fooled
The point of the PMW commentary "Beyond Mere Hatred"
should rock the objectivity of every Jew willing to give Israeli-
Palestinian peace talks another try: Anti-Semitism is the
Palestinian Authority's political tool to defame
Zionism, deny Israel's right to exist and cre-
ate victimhood as the glue that cements
Palestinian national identity.
Say the authors in an understatement of
colossal proportions: "Because this politi-
cal goal will exist as long as Israel exists,
Palestinian anti-Semitism will be much harder
to uproot?'
Is there hope?
Yes — if you believe in miracles.
Itamar Marcus and Barbara Cook put it
bluntly: "If there is ever to be peace in the region, Palestinians
must define a new Palestinian national identity — one that
doesn't rely on anti-Semitism and the eradication of Israel's
legitimacy as its foundation?'
That transformation could happen. But it won't occur under
Hamas and Fatah leadership. What's more, a generation of
Palestinian kids — the future of the Palestinian people (who
are part of the Arab community) — already is indoctrinated
with anti-Zionist and anti-Jewish guile.

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Anti-Semitism is
the Palestinian
Authority's
political tool to
defame Zionism.

Layer By Layer
Despite the popular misperception, Palestinian political, aca-
demic and religious leaders have embraced the principle of
demonizing Jews as the foundation for delegitimizing Israel
since the P.A. was founded in 1994. "Already in 1998:' write
Marcus and Cook, "the official P.A. daily, Al-Hayat al-Jadida,
described both Hitler's attempt to exterminate the Jews and
British support for Zionism as defensive measures."
Palestinian victimhood thus becomes the foundation upon
which Palestinian national identity is created, goes the think-
ing. Palestinian anti-Semitism is not merely meant to incite
hatred. Its also part of a systematic demonizing of Jews to
deny Israel's right to exist. Promoting the illusion that Jews are

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January 7 • 2010

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