A. Language of HateFrom time immemorial, the antisemite has depicted the Jew as a perverted soul, as a morally inferior people. Today, this ideology has been translated, in that the same language of hate is being used to describe the Jewish state; Fiamma Nirenstein epitomizes this superbly, both in the political and the neo-theological context:
B. Jews as Money Grabbing PeopleRevival and adaptation of existing motifs, with the added label of criminality..
C. Israel as a Nazi State, Sharon as Hitler
The allegation of Israeli Nazi-like behavior is not limited to the radical left, which draws its public in its anti-fascist persona: it can be found in a more sophisticated version in the eminently respectable columns of The Times of London, which, in 1998, printed a scurrilous article that claimed that Israel was developing a bomb that would kill only Arabs.
For more on the history of the Myth of Zionism=Racism and the Nazi extension to this allegation, please see also our unit on the Myth of Zionism = Racism: After Durban D. Blood Libel The left exploits many themes in traditional Antisemitism, often substituting the word "Zionist" for "Jew" quite freely. The traditional themes of Jews killing or sacrificing Christians is thus re-incarnated in gross caricature in the politically correct print media of the left-wing. In Britain, the cover of the left-wing New Statesman magazine depicted a large Star of David stabbing the Union Jack. Most vicious and more outrageous was the UK’s Independent newspaper, which ran the following cartoon, targeting the blood libel at Ariel Sharon. Please view via link: http://backspin.typepad.com/backspin/2003/11/evolution_of_an.html
E. Jews with Stereotypical FeaturesClassic antisemitic caricatures of Jews are translated into contemporary anti-Israel messages by the left-wing, focused on easily identifiable personalities, often allying Israel, with a supportive USA.
http://cagle.slate.msn.com/news/antiISRAEL/main.asp
F. Themes of Left-Wing Antisemitism: Points to Ponder1. What are the prevalent themes in left-wing Antisemitism and how damaging are they - in your country?; -internationally? 2. Why does the left compare Israel to new Nazis and what is the importance of this parallel? 3. Are left-wing comparisons of Israel to new Nazis a form of Holocaust revisionism? (Yes/No; Why/why not?) 4. By what standards of "good practice" should the media be judged? What would you do to make the media accountable? |