US Jewish Leader Sees "Pandemic Of Anti-Semitism"

[Purveyor]

By Tom Brown

PALM BEACH, Fla., Feb 6 (Reuters) - Israel's recent war in Gaza has unleashed the worst outbreaks of anti-Semitism in decades, the U.S. head of the Anti-Defamation League said on Friday.

"This is the worst, the most intense, the most global that it's been in most of our memories. And the effort to get the good people to stand up is not easy," Abraham Foxman told Jewish community leaders in a speech in this south Florida resort city.

Foxman said Israel's military offensive against the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas, which began in the Gaza Strip in late December, had been answered with hatred and attacks against Jews "from Austria to Zimbabwe."

Most governments were doing too little to stem "an epidemic, a pandemic of anti-Semitism," he said.

Israel's military invaded Gaza in a three-week offensive launched in late December, which Israeli leaders said was intended to stop Hamas from launching rocket attacks on Israel from the small territory.

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REUTERS: http://uk.reuters.com/article/latestCrisis/idUKN06462292

[Taverner]

1. And with Likud taking the election as projected, its not going to get any better

[liberalmuse]

2. Well, I think that can be related directly to...

Israel bombing the ever-living shit out of Gaza for no goddamned good reason I can see. And it's not 'antiSemitism'. It's anti-bomb the ever-living shit out of people for no goddamned good reason.

[Sal Minella]

5. Succinctly put.

[Behind the Aegis]

6. Do you know what anti-Semitism is?

[GoesTo11]

8. Being anti-Jewish is not being anti-Semitic

Jews from Australia to Zimbabwe bombed Gaza.

[Taverner]

26. No, Jews from Haifa to Tel Aviv bombed Gaza

The IDF is made up of Israelis, not foreign born Jews

Its not like an Israeli version of the French Foreign Legion, although I've met many Born Again Christians who would love to join the IDF :eyes:

[LeftishBrit]

18. That is a reason for being anti-Israel, It's not a reason for being anti-American Jews...

or Jews anywhere else in the world if it comes to that.

[bluestateguy]

3. Bernie Madoff has generated considerable anti-Semitism

and yet most of the people he screwed were Jewish.

[GoesTo11]

9. A lot of Jews are anti that Semite.

[Xipe Totec]

4. Calling it anti-Semitism is disengenious

What happened in Gaza was wrong.

War mongers don't gets a pass just for being Jewish.

[Behind the Aegis]

7. Do you know what anti-Semitism is?

[Raksha]

10. No, warmongers don't get a pass just for being Jewish,

but anti-Semites take out their anger at Israeli aggression on ALL Jews without distinction, whether they are warmongers or not.

Regardless of how valid their criticism might be, the real motivation for anti-Semitism is that they hate Jews and will use any pretext to express that hatred. The rationale can be as bogus as the blood libel or as real as the widespread disgust over the Gaza offensive--which I share, BTW. But I'm also Jewish and I understand how anti-Semitism works.

The Israeli government understands how it works too. It would be pretty damn disingenuous for them to pretend they didn't know there would be backlash against the Jewish community as a whole. I guess they just didn't care.

[Behind the Aegis]

12. I like what you had to say...right up until the end.

"The Israeli government understands how it works too. It would be pretty damn disingenuous for them to pretend they didn't know there would be backlash against the Jewish community as a whole. I guess they just didn't care."

Comments like that allow anti-Semites to "justify" their behavior. I am sure Israel cares about the welfare of Jews, but to pretend it should be a motivating factor in their politics is disingenuous. It is a nation. Her primary concern is for her citizens, as it should be. It is wrong to say Israel can't be criticized because it is a Jewish nation and it is just as wrong to say Israel shouldn't act because of what may happen to Jews in the US, Russia, Chile, Aruba, or Nigeria and if they do act, then they don't care about Jews.

[azurnoir]

13. AS usual you try to skew things backwards

every act of antiSematism allows those who support Israels actions to justify those actions and to paint with a very broad brush the other side ie those who oppose Israels occupation and siege of the Palestinians as evil or just acting because they hate Jews

[Behind the Aegis]

14. Try reading what I actually wrote for once and stop making things up.

G-d, it really gets tiresome.

[azurnoir]

15. I did and I am not making things up n/t

[Behind the Aegis]

16. Oh, but your are, as usual.

The very fact you think acts of anti-Semitism embolden supporters of Israel and accept all actions of Israel shows you know squat about anti-Semitism and its ramifications. You, like a few others on this board are always so quick to minimize anti-Semitism and blame it on the victim or Israel and it is fucking disgusting.

[Sezu]

28. It's the left's bastardized version of far right

hatred. Some are dupes and some are perps. Some become perps without even really knowing because they can rise above any rationality and adhere to dogma which, however flawed, they see their peers and heroes use.

Succintly, it is automatic thinking in all but the most obvious cases; and as such, it is the anti-semites' finest victory.

[LeftishBrit]

19. Strongly agree...

except for the last sentence: no government plans its actions according to how it might affect prejudice against people of an associated ethnic or religious group elsewhere in the world. Nor should they, or the Jews/ Muslims/ethnic Chinese/ethnic Irish/etc. in other countries will be increasingly used as hostages.

I think Israel's actions are utterly wrong here, but I don't think they can be held responsible for any backlash against non-Israeli Jews. As you say, antisemites will use anything as an excuse, or invent one if they don't have one.

[LeftishBrit]

20. I agree that what happened in Gaza was wrong, and that warmongers don't get a pass just for being

Jewish; but it doesn't justify taking it out on Jews worldwide. Just as it isn't justified when racists respond to terrorist attacks by extreme Muslim organizations by attacking Muslims worldwide.

[Alamuti Lotus]

11. A nadir of more conventential fundraising pitches?

[Malikshah]

17. Like clockwork.....tick tick tick. Ah the Foxbot has been wound up again.

Marching orders received. Talking points disseminated. Let the panic ensue.


Foxy needs a Terror Alert color coded thingamajig. It works wonders. Just ask Ridge.

[Crunchy Frog]

21. I think part of the problem is people like Abe Foxman

who try so hard to build an association between the state of Israel and all Jews. If you promote that sort of association in people's minds, it facilitates this kind of phenomenon.

People need to get it through their heads that Jewish people are NOT the same thing as the state of Israel. Abe Foxman and his type seem to be a major impediment to this.

[Larkspur]

22. Israel is at fault for the rise in "anti-Semitism"

Israel's brutal tactics against all Palestinians, not just the militants, is what is angering people against Israel. Israel not only attacks the militants; it also attacks, imprisions, and tortures non-violent Palestinians protesting the occupation. Israel has the mentality of the Russian mob and they act as brutally as that criminal organization.

Israel also is not interested in peace with the Palestinians. They encourage the growth of illegal Jewish settlements on Palestinian lands and the brutally assault non-violent Palestinian protestors. It's Israel who wants to drive the Palestinians into the sea, not the other way around.

[LeftishBrit]

23. Again...

these could be reasons for a rise in *anti-Israel* sentiment; but but not for attacking and blaming Jews worldwide.

'Israel's brutal tactics against all Palestinians, not just the militants, is what is angering people against Israel'

And antisemites' brutal tactics against all Jews, not just the Israeli government, is what is angering people against the antisemites!

[GoesTo11]

24. You should go to Israel sometime and meet some Israelis

You have no idea what you're talking about.

[Vegasaurus]

25. You are a clueless and angry person

You really don't know what you are talking about, and obviously don't know any real Israelis, only those in your hatefilled imagination.

[Behind the Aegis]

30. Incredibly ignorant tripe.

Anti-Semites are to blame for rising anti-Semitism, as are folks like you (enablers) which provide them cover by blaming the wrong parties, including victims.

[IndianaGreen]

27. Abe Foxman only sees his investment portfolio go up in smoke

particularly his Latin America investments.

[bemildred]

29. Urgent need! Send money now!!!! nt