A New Tolerance for Anti-Semitism
A New Tolerance for Anti-Semitism
by Alan M. Dershowitz, Gatestone Institute, June 6, 2017
Members of the National Socialist Movement (NSM) march across the City Hall lawn in Los Angeles, California, on April 17, 2010. (Photo by David McNew/Getty Images)
All over the world anti-Semites are becoming mainstreamed. It is no longer disqualifying to be outed as a Jew hater. This is especially so if the anti-Semite uses the cover of rabid hatred for the nation-state of the Jewish people. These bigots succeed in becoming accepted -- even praised -- not because of their anti-Semitism, but despite it. Increasingly, they are given a pass on their Jew-hatred because those who support them admire or share other aspects of what they represent. This implicit tolerance of anti-Semitism -- as long as it comes from someone whose other views are acceptable -- represents a dangerous new trend from both the right and left.
In the United States, although there has been hard-right anti-Semitism for decades, the bigotry of the hard-left is far more prevalent and influential on many university campuses. Those on the left who support left-wing anti-Semites try to downplay, ignore or deny that those they support are really anti-Semites. "They are anti-Zionist" is the excuse du jour. Those on the right do essentially the same: "they are nationalists." Neither side would accept such transparent and hollow justifications if the shoe were on the other foot. I believe that when analyzing and exposing these dangerous trends, a single standard of criticism must be directed at each.
Generally speaking, extreme right-wing anti-Semitism continues to be a problem in many parts of Europe and among a relatively small group of "alt-right" Americans. But it also exists among those who self-identify as run-of-the-mill conservatives. Consider, for example, former presidential candidate and Reagan staffer, Pat Buchanan.
The list of Buchanan's anti-Jewish bigotry is exhaustive. Over the years, he has consistently blamed Jews for wide-ranging societal and political problems. In his criticism of the Iraq War, for example, Buchanan infamously quipped: "There are only two groups that are beating the drums for war in the Middle East-the Israeli Defense Ministry and its amen corner in the United States." He then singled out for rebuke only Jewish political figures and commentators such as Henry Kissinger, Charles Krauthammer and A.M. Rosenthal. Buchanan did not mention any of the vocal non-Jewish supporters of the war. Furthermore, Buchanan also said that "the Israeli lobby" would be responsible if President Obama decided to strike Iran, threatening that if it were to happen, "Netanyahu and his amen corner in Congress" would face "backlash worldwide." Buchanan's sordid flirtation with Nazi revisionism is also well documented.
Meanwhile, on university campuses, the absurd concept of "intersectionality" -- which has become a code word for anti-Semitism -- is dominating discussions and actions by the hard-left. The warm embrace of Palestinian-American activist, Linda Sarsour -- who recently delivered the commencement address at a City University of New York graduation -- is a case in point. A co-organizer of the Women's March on Washington in January, she has said that feminism and Zionism are incompatible, stating: "You either stand up for the rights of all women, including Palestinians, or none. There's just no way around it." And when speaking about two leading female anti-Islamists, Brigitte Gabriel and Ayaan Hirsi Ali (who is a victim of female genital mutilation) the feminist du jour, Linda Sarsour, said: "I wish I could take away their vaginas."
The irony is breathtaking. Under her own all-or-nothing criteria, Sarsour -- who is also a staunch supporter of trying to destroy Israel economically -- cannot be pro-Palestinian and a feminist because the Palestinian Authority and Hamas subjugate women and treat gays far worse than Israel does.
Sarsour supports Islamic religious law, Sharia. If taken literally, this would presumably mean that she also supports punishing homosexuality by death; amputation for theft; death by stoning for "adultery" (which can include being raped); women being valued at half the worth of a man, being flogged for drinking alcohol, and above all, slavery (see here, here and here).
Yet, Sarsour has emerged as a champion of the hard-left. Both New York City Mayor Bill De Blasio and Bernie Sanders have sought her endorsement. Moreover, Deputy DNC Chair, Keith Ellison -- who himself has a sordid history with anti-Semitism, stemming from his association with Louis Farrakhan (who publicly boasted about his own Jew hatred) -- has come out in support of the bigoted Sarsour. When it comes to Ellison, an old idiom comes to mind: a man is known by the company he keeps.
The same trend is detectable among the hard-left in Europe, particularly in Britain, which is days away from an election. The British Labour Party has now been hijacked by radical extremists on the left, and is known for being soft on anti-Semitism.
In a recent interview with a BBC reporter, Emma Barnett -- who happens to be Jewish -- Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn fumbled when answering a question about how much his proposed childcare policy would cost. Rather than critique Corbyn, Labour supporters viciously trolled the Jewish BBC reporter. Tweets such as these abounded: "Allegations have surfaced that @Emmabarnett is a Zionist" and "Zionist Emma Barnett (family lived off brothels) attacks Jeremy Corbyn." Corbyn has also been accused of anti-Jewish bigotry himself. He has said in the past that the genocidal Hamas terrorist group should be removed from the UK's designated terror list, and has called Hezbollah and Hamas (which are both vowed to the destruction of the nation-state of the Jewish people) "my friends." (I recently wrote extensively on Corbyn's association with some of Britain's most notorious Holocaust-deniers and anti-Semites.)
Increasingly, anti-Semitic discourse is also seeping into the arts and academia. Consider the anti-Israel and anti-Jewish bigotry of former Pink Floyd front man, Roger Waters. A staunch supporter of the so-called BDS movement, Waters has said about the Palestinians that "parallels with what went on in the 30's in Germany are so crushingly obvious." He also had a pig-shaped balloon with a Star of David on it at one of his concerts. And when asked about his aggressive effort to recruit people to join the BDS, Waters blamed "the Jewish lobby," which he explained is "extraordinary powerful here and particularly in the industry that I work in, the music industry." In 2013, the ADL declared that "anti-Semitic conspiracy theories" had "seeped into the totality" of Waters' views.
Likewise, the marketplace of ideas on university campuses and within academic institutions has seen an embrace of anti-Semitism often disguised as anti-Zionism. Several years ago, I identified the dangerous trend of academics crossing a red line between acceptable criticism of Israel and legitimizing Jew-hatred. This was in light of the disgraceful endorsement by a number of prominent academics of an anti-Semitic book written by Gilad Atzmon -- a notorious Jew-hater who denies the Holocaust and attributed widespread economic troubles to a "Zio-punch."
When asked recently about the hullabaloo surrounding her CUNY address, Linda Sarsour disingenuously played the victim card:
"...since the Women's March on Washington, once the right-wing saw a very prominent Muslim-American woman in a hijab who was a Palestinian who was resonating with a community in a very large way, they made it their mission to do everything they can to take my platform away."
No, Ms. Sarsour. You are wrong. This is not a smear campaign by the "right-wing," but rather, a show that people of goodwill reject your manifestations of bigotry.
Those who tolerate anti-Semitism from those they otherwise admire would never accept other forms of bigotry, such as racism, sexism or homophobia. It's difficult to imagine Bernie Sanders campaigning for a socialist who didn't like black people or who was against gay marriage. But he is comfortable campaigning for Jeremy Corbyn, who has made a career out of condemning Zionists -- by which he means Jews.
The growing tolerance for anti-Semitism by both the extreme left and right is quickly becoming mainstream. That is why it is so dangerous and must be exposed for what it is: complicity in, and encouragement of, the oldest form of bigotry. Shame on those who tolerate anti-Semitism when it comes from their side of the political spectrum.
People on both sides of the aisle must have the same zero tolerance for anti-Semitism as they do for sexism, racism and homophobia. Decent people everywhere -- Jews and non-Jews -- must condemn with equal vigor all manifestations of bigotry whether they emanate from the hard alt-right or hard alt-left. I will continue to judge individuals on the basis of their own statements and actions, regardless of which side of the aisle they come from.
Alan M. Dershowitz, Felix Frankfurter Professor of Law, Emeritus, at Harvard Law School and author of "Taking the Stand: My Life in the Law" and "Electile Dysfunction: A Guide for the Unaroused Vote r."
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Dershowitz is a Democrat, a Liberal, and not at all a supporter of Trump as POTUS.
Dershowitz has become a fanatic in some respects. Hence he writes regularly for Gatestone.
LOL. He is a brilliant lawyer, and a renowned and respected academic. Amazing, isn't it, John, that his political views are so much like your own, except that he does not spout fanaticly about Trump. As for Gatestone Institute, I don't ignore the FACTS that are stated on that site, or discount whole articles because the site is not in lockstep with my own political beliefs.
Gatestone is a very problematic site, as we have discussed previously.
To you it is, but not to me. I can understand why one might consider Pamela Geller or Jihad Watch to b problematic sites, but then I don't post their articles. I do find it interesting that if Pamela Geller and Robert Spencer had not been banned from entering Great Britain, perhaps their warnings could have had some effect in preventing the rampaging Islamic terrorism there, but so be it. The fact that Gatestone Institute is abhorrent to you, John, is mainly because the views of its authors are contradictory to yours. That does not make them wrong and you right.
Elsewhere, John, you remarked that I sounded Shakespearean. So here is something for you:
"There are more things in heaven and earth than are dreamt of in your philosophy" (Hamlet to Horatio, and Buzz to John)
Buzz,
While I don't agree with John about the Gallstone Inst. or about Dershowitz, I have to say that I do agree with him about Pam Geller and Debbie Schlussel. They are hate mongers in their own right. And if you are worried about their freedom of speech, you shouldn't be. I was thrown off of both for expressing my opinion, nicely (that was when Pam was taking comments.. she doesn't anymore). Freedom of speech goes both ways.. so what goes around comes around.
The Gatestone Institute is funded by islamophobes.
Accused by CAIR, unindicted supporters of terrorism.
I thought some of them WERE indicted for it.
Could be. They are clearly operating with an agenda that does not help us.
"The Gatestone Institute is funded by islamophobes."
Thank you for your opinion.
It does not mean that what they publish does not have at least a kernal of truth to it.
Gallstone Institute? Is that related to the Kidneystone Institute? LOL
I didn't mention Debbie Schlussel (I've never heard of her) and I did not say I agreed with everything Pam Geller has to say, but she at least publishes news of incidents that the mainstream media refuses to touch. Actually I consider it hypocritical that she advocates free speech and in fact fights for it, yet went overboard in trying to prevent Linda Sarsour from speaking at the CUNY graduation.
Actually I consider it hypocritical that she advocates free speech and in fact fights for it, yet went overboard in trying to prevent Linda Sarsour from speaking at the CUNY graduation.
I find that those who advocate for their freedom of speech vigorously, usually are not interested in opposing POV's freedom of speech. That really chaps my hide..
and I meant gate.. but gall.. kidney.. it's all the same in my mind, LOL.
As one who has suffered from kidneystone attacks, I can tell the difference.
So can I Buzz... most unpleasant.
Buzz, to my knowledge it has been a long time since Dershowitz has been considered a respectable liberal. Certainly not progressive.
How often does the Grand Progressive Council meet to decide who is or is not toeing the ideological line?
Their show is on opposite the Limbaugh-Savage-Hannity-Coulter-Levin show.
I believe you once quoted from him, but since he started to be published by Gatestone Institute you changed your mind. I respect his opinion considerably more than yours. IMO he belongs on the SCOTUS.
I have nothing really against him, I just think over the years he has become less liberal and more reactionary. He is not the first person that has happened to.
Has Alan Dershowitz become a Fox News Liberal?
Is it not an adage that one is rebellious in youth, liberal in middle age, and conservative upon greater maturity?
There is a tendency on the left to normalize antisemitism. Their support of Hamas and Hezbollah is just one piece of evudence.
Dear Friend Buzz of the Orient: Regrettably, hatred of Jews, Judaism, and the Jewish State are all one in the same for of moral pathology.
There are those who live life with hatred in their hearts.
They shut out the possibility of knowing, befriending, and profiting from fellowship with anyone who they despise before even meeting.
I pity such people.
I will never be a doormat to any of them.
Yet I never turn away any of them who come to me for assistance.
The same is true when they seek warmth when life turns cold for them.
My role model is El Ma'aleh Rachamim.
The G-d of Israel who is filled with mercy.
At this late date in human history why is any of this still an issue?
Have we as a species not learned that irrational hatred never ends well for anyone?
Enoch, Disgusted, but Not Giving Up On Haters Just Yet.
Well said.
Enoch,
I have to agree with you about haters. But from where I see it, hating has become a free for all lately. Not just anti semitism, but just a malaise of hate. I'm not sure if all of this was just laying under the surfaces all along.
"I'm not sure if all of this was just laying under the surfaces all along."
Yes. That is the nature of humanity. It seems very unlikely that it will ever change. Humans are driven by emotion primarily. Using reason is not natural.
Humans are driven by emotion primarily. Using reason is not natural.
Well, base to humans is our fight or flight.. both give way to responding without reason. So I would have to agree.
:Lots of commentary about source and also circumvention of the subject but not many comments posted on the gist of the article itself. I guess most are afraid to go there. Could that be because of a "Gentleman's Agreement"?
Carefully avoiding the derails that are Gatestone and Dershowitz... and addressing the topic of the seed...
Today's left-wing anti-Semitism is a spectacular example of successful fake news .
For decades, Israel didn't bother with "messaging", secure in its certainty of being in the right, and of Western nations being attentive enough to know it.
O-o-o-p-p-s!!
Meanwhile, the Palestinians were very active -- in newspapers, on campuses, on television (preferably in scripted segments of "news" programs), ... The Palestinians told a story that was untrue, but they told it very well, and they repeated it so often, that in the absence of any counter-story from stupidly complacent Israel, the Palestinian narrative became "truth".
A central element of the false Palestinian narrative is: "poor downtrodden Palestinians, crushed under Israeli occupation". This was very clever, because it pushed the buttons of bleeding-heart liberals... who, it is sad to say, are not always more attentive to actual facts than anyone else.
So some gullible leftish people were fooled into supporting various anti-Israel operations like the boycott. Most importantly, these moles, knowingly or not, installed anti-Israelism into leftish orthodoxy. Since most of most people's "policy thinking" isn't genuine thinking , but simply adoption of tribal standards, anti-Israelism became acceptable or even laudable, on the left.
And then more than one idiot took the extra step from anti-Israel to anti-Semite.
This process fascinates me, because it demonstrates the power of a false narrative. The Palestinians' recounting of their history does not fit the facts... but that does not matter!
If no one stands up for the truth... if no one hammers the facts ... The Big Lie becomes "truth".
There's a lot of that going around, nowadays...
I hope you don't mind me insisting on returning to the topic of the seed, Buzz. Even if most posts have been elsewhere.