Robert Wistrich, Hebrew University professor of European and Jewish History and director of the Vidal Sassoon International Center for the Study of anti-Semitism has just published his 29th book titled "From Ambivalence to Betrayal: The Left, the Jews and Israel".
It is an impressive tome of over 600 pages and follows his monumental seminal work "A Lethal Obsession: Anti-Semitism from Antiquity to the Global Jihad”, published in 2010 and now recognized as the definitive work on the world's oldest hatred and an indispensable text for scholars.
In a fascinating preface to his new book, Wistrich provides a brief autobiographical sketch. His father had originally been a supporter of the illegal Polish Communist Party in pre-war Cracow but became alienated from Stalinist communism after being arrested by the NKVD. He and his wife, who had experienced bitter Polish anti-Semitism, survived the Holocaust by fleeing to Kazakhstan where Robert was born.
Wistrich was educated in England, and to use his words, was “radicalized” in grammar school and later at Stanford University. He first visited Israel in 1961, returning in 1969 when he was appointed editor of the left wing Israeli journal, New Outlook. However his passion for the Jewish State led to a parting of the ways with the Israeli far left. Robert became increasingly engaged in academic scholarship related to anti-Semitism, received a senior appointment at the Hebrew University, and is now recognized as the world’s foremost scholar in the field.
From Ambivalence to Betrayal is an historic review and analysis of the abandonment of the Jewish people by the left from the early 19th century until the present. It also relates to the extraordinarily disproportionate number of socialist thinkers and leaders who were of Jewish origin and seeks to explain what motivated so many of them, in the course of their utopian and futile efforts to ‘repair the world’, to abandon their people and their heritage and frenetically seek to deny their kinsmen the right to self-determination.
The introductory essay is a brilliant overview of the contemporary Jewish political arena viewed in the context of the concurrent rise of Zionism, Communism, anti-Semitism and Nazism. It focuses strongly on the hypocrisy of the existing left which has become obsessed with demonization and delegitimization of the Jewish state. Wistrich demonstrates the extent to which today’s radical anti-Zionists, despite purporting to represent the left, often share the identical obsessions and delusions concerning the alleged malignant influence of the Jews in the modern world as classical fascist anti-Semites.
Wistrich provides fascinating and innovative insights on left-wing revolutionaries. He skillfully relates the connection of “the prefigured 19th century seabed of anti-Semitic socialism found in Marx, Fourier and Proudhon, extending through to the orthodox Communists and “non-conformist” Trotskyites to the Islamo-Leftist hybrids of today who systematically vilify the so called racist essence of the Jewish State”.
His analysis of the linkage of these revolutionaries with the left's contemporary abandonment of Israel is a major intellectual and scholastic achievement and provides an intriguing insight into the sources of the far left’s current application of double standards and anti-Israel venom.
Wistrich reviews in depth the attitude towards the Jews adopted by many of the great socialist revolutionaries of Jewish origin like Karl Marx, Bernard Lazare, Moses Hess, Ferdinand LaSalle, Karl Kautsky, Victor Adler, Rosa Luxemburg, Leon Trotsky, Bruno Kreisky, Isaac Deutscher and others.
Trotsky was ultimately forced by Stalin into assuming the traditional Jewish role in society: the reviled scapegoat.
His chapter on Leon Trotsky, entitled ‘A Bolshevik’s Tragedy’, is a masterly essay which breaks new ground on this extraordinary charismatic Jewish revolutionary who desperately sought to repudiate his Jewish origins. Yet, despite achieving the reputation of being “the most intransigent of revolutionary Bolsheviks”, Trotsky was ultimately forced by Stalin into assuming the traditional Jewish role in society and became reviled as the scapegoat for the failures of the Revolution.
Wistrich highlights the fact that many of today’s anti-Jewish Jews inherited the mantle of the 19th and early 20th century anti-Semitic Jewish radical revolutionaries. Yet he stresses that these renegade Jews have vastly exceeded the anti-Semitic tirades of their predecessors and even to the extent of allying themselves with reactionary clerical zealots and Jihadists, who represent the antithesis of their purported world outlook.
He points to their public support and endorsement of terrorists and religious fanatics, noting that even the most extreme early anti-Jewish revolutionaries like Marx, Engels, Kautsky, Rosa Luxemburg or Trotsky “would never have remained silent about sharia law, censorship, female genital mutilation, honor killings, suicide bombings, or making the world safe for Allah’s rule” and rarely resorted to outright racist outbursts like their current successors”. Nor would they have gone to the extreme of allying themselves with those explicitly committed to our physical destruction.
Wistrich asserts that Holocaust inversion, now a major component of the Left’s effort to besmirch Israel, whilst initially introduced by British historian Arnold Toynbee who referred to Zionists as "disciples of the Nazis”, was in fact institutionalized as the “Zionist-Nazi” nexus at the Prague Trials orchestrated from Moscow.
He reminds us that it was post war Jewish Marxists who encouraged the left’s current paranoia and “anti-racist” racism against Israel. As an example he quotes the Polish born Jewish biographer of Trotsky, Isaac Deutscher, who already in 1967 described Israel as the "Prussia of the Middle East" and a bastion of “racial Talmudic exclusiveness and superiority".
It was the Soviets who, in 1975, succeeded in passing a UN resolution bracketing Zionism and racism. Whilst this was ultimately rescinded in December 1991, it remains today the central plank in the Arab-Leftist efforts to criminalize Israel and brand it as a state engaging in war crimes.
The concluding chapters review the anti-Zionist myths, many of which seem to have been directly replicated from Nazi propaganda and are today enthusiastically promoted by the Marxist Islamist alliance who regard Israel as the "Jew of the nations" fulfilling a dark preordained fate as an eternal scapegoat.
Wistrich relates to the quasi-religious belief of these groups that “the world will only be “liberated” by the downfall of America and the defeat of the Jews. This chiliastic fantasy has today emerged as a notable point of fusion between the radical anti-Zionist left in the West and the global jihad. Revolutionary anti-Semitism has become an increasingly important factor in cementing the anti-capitalist populism much as it was during the birth pangs of modern socialism over 150 years ago.”
This is a magisterial work, providing a comprehensive understanding of the origins of the most pernicious challenges currently facing the Jewish people, especially those originating from the enemy within. It will be especially valuable to those directly engaged in the struggle to neutralize the evil efforts against Israel by the left-Islamic alliance and its acolytes of Jewish origin.
(16) Jane Garcia, August 25, 2012 8:55 PM
Confusion
I can understand how, in reaction to Nazi persecution, many Jewish people would turn to socialist Russia. But how can they not understand the collaboration between Islamists and fascism in WW2 ? and that the modern left/liberal/progressive/Democratic sympathy for the Palestinians is misguiding them to a place where they are pitted against their very selves ??? May God bless all who genuinely seek brotherly love and peace.
(15) Anonymous, August 16, 2012 1:11 AM
Who's Left?
Displaying my ignorance, I am not sure exactly what "left" means and which leaders and persons fall into the category. I fear that the term can mean any thing to any person and is sometimes used to assume that Democrats in the U.S., identified as "Left" to distinguish them from the Republican "Right" is automatically assumed to be anti-Israel and anti-Jewish. Or that individuals who are not sufficiently hawkish must also be "Leftists" and, thus, anti-Israel. I trust that Professor Wistrich defines "Left" so that he and his readers are on the same page.
Celisa, September 5, 2012 7:21 AM
The conservatives, sans Ron Paul, are much more respectful toward Israel and protective of Israel, than those in the Obama administration.
I have seen how the U.S. position toward Israel has changed under Obama and the left biased media. Obama has been more aligned with Arab countries that seek Israel's demise, than with standing with Israel. I am more comfortable with Romney, in his convictions in backing Israel because of his faith. Despite, Obama's original stance in 2008 about recognizing Jerusalem as Israel's true capital city, Obama is pressuring Israel to go back to previous borders, with "Palestine", which supports and harbors terrorists and publicly Obama has backed the Muslim brotherhood, who seek to enforce Sharia law. I find it alarming that all Jewish citizens seem blind to this, some even support Obama on a 2 state solution. "Palestine" never existed, was just people who moved from Jordan, Yemen, etc for an agenda, to turn left leaning Jewish folks to side with their "plight". Yet, when Jerusalem was under "Palestinian" control, they used it as a toilet, a garbage dump. Only when Israel restored the Holy land, did the Muslims complain and deem it their holy land, when historically "Palestine" has no real stake or claim to it. Jerusalem belongs to those who believe in the Jewish & Christian faiths. Mecca, is the Muslim's holy land. Despite all the attacks, the left media, doesn't report on, they distort the truth about Israel's search for peace and safety, even if it means, dismantling Iran's nuclear program. Iran is developing a WMD, the US is stalling in it's tactics. Romney will fight with our military might to keep Iran in check and look out for our only true ally in the middle east. The choice is simple, if you're open to it. Read a variety of research pieces, without bias vs bias. Time for the US to stop being two facef, actions speak louder than words.
Anonymous, September 7, 2012 5:55 AM
I couldn't agree with you more.
Anonymous, September 7, 2012 5:54 AM
The "left" in the US is the Democratic Party. They describe themselves as such there really is no contention here it is a simple fact. Athough there may be those who are Democrats themselves who may not believe along the same lines as the "Party" does, the sad and frightening truth is that The Left/Democratic/Progressive Party is no friend to either the Jewish people or Isreal. This Administration in particular has been quite blatant in expressing that as a much. In case you didn't catch the DNC last night (9/5) the Party had to Vote wording for God and the acknowledgement of Jerusamel as the Capital of Isreal back into their platform. That in itself being horrific enough the vote had to re-done three times. Each times the Boo's and No's getting louder and louder against the reinstatement of the language to the platform. We can go back also to when our wonderful President told Israel that it would be in everyone's best interest if Israel reverted their borders back to the 1967 lines. The Democratic/Progressive Party in America has had it's long history of racism from it's inception (I'm not talking individuals in the party as explained earlier....the party as a whole). They were the ones to fight for maintaining slavery (the South was majority Democratic except for the slaves). They fought against Civil Right for Black and created the all well known KKK. There has never been "tolerance" within this "Party." They still want to enslave people only now no longer care what color you are so long as they get the power, our money, & our property." They will align themselves with anyone. Obama's first act? An apology tour through the middle east. He has NEVER been to Israel. He supports the Muslim Brotherhood openly, knowing exactly who and what they are. There is no hidden agenda here. It is all out in the open. You just have to be willing to look at the horror instead and seak the truth through facts.
(14) David Severy, August 15, 2012 5:56 AM
it's all about...
Israel, since Jacob was a twinkle in Isaac's eye, has been about G-d. The left wingers are not RIGHT (pun intended) about G-d in the great preponderance of cases, so how on earth can we expect them to be right about their homeland or about much of everything else?
(13) p.herring, August 14, 2012 11:38 PM
The leftist supporters in Israel pose a greater threat to the future of the State than the most fundamentalist of the Islamic groups - they seem incapable of understanding that if the the "Palestinian Cause" should ever triumph, their fate will be no different than that of the most extreme right wing Israelis. In short their arguments are nothing more than treason...
(12) Frank Adam, August 14, 2012 8:58 PM
Not quite the blurb
This is the summary of the background narrative but does not hint at why Jews turned against religion - as did many others too. R. Wistrich is first rate and I look forward to picking out his explanation of the motives of the Jewish Left particularly the Communists. However witnesssed first hand my late Father who became a Zionist and was in Mandate Palestine for five years; and his brother who became my French uncle after a youth in which he had fought for Bela Kun - a maternal uncle also fought in the siege of Leningrad. In the circumstances of the first half of the century the rabbinate could offer nothing but political quietism which in the circumstances of the dissolution of state and order followed by the Wall Street crash dodgy banking - again - left the constructive ideas about how to get out of, "another fine mess you [social establishment in all varieties] 've got us into," to the Left in general and for Jews to the Zionists who to begin with were not spending the little money they had on obsessional observance and Talmudic abstract studies. They were justified by events as no variety of religious can explain the Shoah, but a lot more could have been saved if more had emigrated instead of being advised to sit tight. Further the religious can only explain why so many left religion in the late century by their tacit actions of greatly improving their teaching techniques by copying secular methods for their counter campaign. For me and many bored to tears by heder or under-equipped tight reined religious classes compared to the open ended reading and pedagogical competence of secular classes - sorry no contest - and backed up by the flood of plenty this last half century to which the Rabbis have appeared to take a purely defensive and kill- joy attitude lifted from Cromwell's Puritans - if they had enough general education to know the reference. Ironically a lot of Moslems are falling into the same pits.
Chaiah Schwab, August 16, 2012 4:32 PM
"Bored to tears by heder" may be relevant.
Frank Adam, re: your August 14th comment: Your mention of "under-equipped tight reined religious classes" and being "bored to tears by heder" struck me as possible causes of Jewish anti-Zionism and anti-Semitism, if I understood you correctly. I know someone who claims they are his causes. Yet I wonder if some anti-Zionism is caused partly by psychological effects from childhood neglect or broken families. For Jews and non-Jews, misplaced anger could be directed at Jews -- self-hate and anti-Semitism. I'd like to see research on that, but who would fund it? And some anti-Zionism may simply be an angry expression of "I want to be free to do what I want, & don't want G-d or religion ordering me about." My question is, why the anger -- guilty conscience? Was this the motivation of Hitler, y'mach shmo (may his name be erased)? I'd like to read any responses. P.S. Thank you for adding important ideas to the discussion. May I recommend a perusal of Strunk & White, the Elements of Style, ("the LITTLE book"), to make your technically correct English writing style less difficult to read? No insult intended. I'm still trying to approach the goal of perfectly pruned writing!
(11) asher frohlich, August 14, 2012 3:29 PM
A Masterpiece for any honest people
The"left" today adhere to the most antisemitic currents hiding under antisionism or blaming Israel,a real and concrete danger to the Jewish People.
(10) Wallace Brand, August 14, 2012 2:46 PM
Opinion, not evidence -- but good opinion.
Evidence is better. Try Pacepa, Russian Footprints, National Review Online http://www.nationalreview.com/articles/218533/russian-footprints/ion-mihai-pacepa Major General Ion Mihai Pacepa is the highest ranking defector to leave the Soviet bloc during the Cold War. His report is based on personal knowledge of the facts.
(9) JOSEPH, August 14, 2012 2:33 PM
War
I know many Jews, but no Isrealis so take my viewpoint with this in mind. I don't know anyone who went in the Army since WW2. Why, you can get killed. I got off with flatfeet. I never meet a Jew who said you should have served. Let's face reality. Support Isreal yes. Fighting imust be done by Isreal. If the enemy comes over here we fight-but they never come over here. Thank G-d.
James Salomon, August 15, 2012 1:43 AM
Jews in the Army
I served in the United States Army from 1974 until 1985. I served in the Army National Guard for 3 years and the Air Force reserves for 9 years. For the entire time I served there were always one or two other Jews in my unit. During the course of my life I've met a few Anti Semitic Jews. Most were filled with profound self hatred. They seemed to believe identifying with Anti Semites and Anti Zionists would somehow raise their own damaged egos. They justified their point of view by high lighting every failure, real or imagined, by Jews or Israel. They placed unrealistic standards on Israel and members of their own community. They also ignored the failings of their new "allies". I'm not sure how to resolve this issue. Perhaps the only thing we can do as a group is to hold out our hands in love and offer acceptance back into the fold.
Anonymous, August 15, 2012 5:38 PM
Jews in the Army
God bless all who serve in the Army. But, we have to stop fighting these Middle East wars. Fight terrorists-join the police or FBI. I'm more afraid in NYC then from Iran.
Sojourner Truth, August 15, 2012 3:52 AM
Never Here?
Israel is the canary in the coal mine. Oh, bye the way not on our soil? What happened on 9/11 when over three thousand civilians were murdered...do you think that was in Israel? Or was that in the USA as the name of Allah was called at the Ft. Hood massacre. The Times Square bomber with his car loaded with explosives was discoverd in New York City. Islamists were caught planning attacks on synagogues in NY. One can ignore this spreading cancer or fight it aggressively and live!
Josep, August 15, 2012 5:30 PM
You are right-Never Here
You are right there is a threat to America and each in our own way must defend America. What i meant is that most Jews I know defend America over here and do not want to fight for another country over there.
Rachel, August 15, 2012 10:05 PM
There's no comparison
Hate crimes by individual Muslims and acts of terror by Muslim extremists are a world away from the Holocaust, Russian pogroms, the Spanish expulsion, etc. In all cases in the U.S., the government has reacted with criminal prosecutions or military action against the perpetrators. The majority of American Muslims are here because they or their families immigrated from oppressive countries in the Middle East and Africa. Yes, it's a horror when innocent people are murdered, but you can't reasonably compare these atrocities by extremists with the actions of extremist governments that organized or at least turned a blind eye to persecutions of Jews and others.
(8) Edwin, August 14, 2012 1:22 PM
Psychological Motivations?
This is clearly a very important work and a huge contribution to the field, but it appears to be largely a work of sociology rather than a study of the psychology of renegade, enemy-from-within Jews. What motivates them? What causes them to choose such an extreme path? And lastly, why is our history littered with people like this, perhaps more so than other nations. I wonder how much of their deepest motivations consist of throwing off the onus, as they feel it, of their own Jewishness. This has a precedent in Jews who converted to Christianity in the past and turned around to persecute the Jewish community. Is that what this is about?
valg, August 15, 2012 12:37 AM
very good point
proud Jews, connected to the Jewish roots and traditions Jews by default are pro-Israel Jews. people who for whatever reason feel the need to disassociate themselves from their Jewish-ness try very hard to 'show' it to the world and what's the better way (in their mind) to do it than to attack the very essence of manifestation of all-Jewish in modern world - Israel
(7) Edwin, August 14, 2012 1:11 PM
@Esther Mainstream left and right
Esther, I understand your point, and to a certain extent it is valid, but there are elements among Democrats that have caused support for Israel to erode. Gallup, in a poll released recently, asked American voters, “Are your sympathies more with the Israelis or more with the Palestinians?” An overwhelming 78% of Republicans chose Israel, with 21% choosing the Palestinians or both/neither/no opinion. Among Democrats, 53% chose Israel, with 47% choosing otherwise. In other words, among Democrats it's not just the extreme Left. It's pretty clear when you read the Huffington Post versus World Net Daily where the mainstream Left and Right stand on Israel. The grass-roots Right along with the Evangelicals are fervently pro-Israel. I don't see that on the Left, even where they do support Israel.
(6) Anonymous, August 14, 2012 1:10 PM
Communist russia
I just read two brilliant biographys: one about R' Levi Yitzchok Shneerson and the other about the previous Lubavitcher Rebbe R' Yosef Yitzchok. They were both leaders in keeping yiddishkeit alive in soviet russia/ ukraine. It is so frustrating and painful that it was due to the jewish section of the secret police who faught to stop judiasm. It was they who closed mikvaos, yeshivos, shuls etc. it was they who hunted down and arrested jewish people who were tortured and killed or sent to siberia, many times they did this by making up total lies about their victims. If not for those jews, jewish life would have barely been interupted, for example: cities where it was non jews in charge of the secret police no shuls were closed only in cities where jews were part of secret police. And we learn how jews all have a holy jewish soul - how could they hate and murder and cause such destruction with no mercy? I just dont get it. It reminds me during the destruction of the temple and jerusalem was beseiged there was enough food in the city to last the people for many years but a group of jews burnt all the food so that the other jews would be forced to get up and fight the conquerers. And then there was starvation and they lost the battle. Hashem we need Moshiach now!
(5) Anonymous, August 14, 2012 12:56 PM
Holocaust denial originated on the right!
Holocausat denial originated (and still lives) on the far-right fringe of neo-nazism. While the far-left often demonizes Israel (opposed, as it is, to nation-states), the far-right demonizes Jews (obsessed, as it is, with racial purity). Whichever political pole you look at, once you go the fringe extremes - as this article shows - you run into twisted, negative beliefs. It's very depressing.
Dan, August 14, 2012 8:19 PM
The Left is not opposed to nation-states, only to a Jewish nation-state
The Left is not opposed to nation-states. They are stubbornly determined to carve an Arab nation-state out of Israel, in addition to the twenty-something Arab nation-states that already exist. The Left is not opposed to nation-states. They simply oppose the Jewish nation-state. Therein lies their hypocrisy and hatred.
(4) R. Halevy, August 14, 2012 12:38 PM
"The Left" throughout the whole spectrum...
...shares the views against the Jews and Israel, but the so-called "mainstream" acts in an insidious way and disguises the hatred under the "peace (piece) talks" discourse and the "I'm not against the Jews, I'm anti-Zionist" blabber. The extreme left has no shame in admitting their Jew hatred, and proceed exactly as the extreme right. Just check into the websites of any western political party and search in their statements or platforms what they say about the "Israel-Palestinian conflict" and you'll be able to find that all of them condemn the Jewish state and their right to existence and self-defense - in different degrees of explicit rejection and different concentrations of verbal poison. Don't delude yourself, dear Esther, G-d only is on our side but all the nations are joining to rise against us. Trust no man, only HaShem. And, not to forget, please take a look at some fresh History books, you'll be disappointed to understand that fascism is a clear extreme manifestation of the "left" (socialist) ideology: government ownership or control of all relevant production facilities, forced distribution of wealth, government control of prices and wages, abolition of free association rights, free speech and individual rights in general, prohibition of firearms for self-defense, total indoctrination of the youth through the educational system, central planning of the national economy, totalitarian regime - in summary, fascism 100% = communism. BTW, you surely know what the "Nazi" party name stands for: "Nazional-SOZIALISTISCHE-Arbeiterpartei" = national socialist labor party. The only political environment where individual freedom can survive for generations requires a combination of economic laissez-faire and social conservatism (=to "conserve" what?? -> to preserve the things that work, i.e., keep the State out of the individuals' private life and business). I sincerely wish some day my Jewish brothers will understand the "Left" does not love us...
(3) Rob, August 14, 2012 12:10 PM
Sorry Esther, but I disagree.
The political left does defend and empathize with extreme radical Israel bashers and Muslims. And it is rampant on college campuses.
(2) Lewis Loflin, August 14, 2012 11:32 AM
I along with others have warned of these self-hating leftist' Jews for years. By attacking every facet of Western culture wrongly in the name of Judaism they create more anti-Semtism.
(1) Esther, August 13, 2012 12:55 PM
Title should be "the EXTREME Left, Jews and Israel"
Don't forget that the mainstream political "left" has nothing in common with the extremist positions described here, just as the mainstream right has nothing in common with extreme right-wing manifestations such as fascism!
C J, August 14, 2012 11:51 AM
Actually, I disagree. It is many on the mainstream left in the UK
You are correct in that the extreme left are more ready to make extremist statements and refuse to distance themselves from the genocidal aims of the Islamists but I have met people who are decidedly New Labour who believe the lie that the State of Israel is an apartheid state which needs to be brought to heel, if not actually dismantled.
Breely, August 14, 2012 12:09 PM
One ended spectrum
I would not even say there is such a thing as a far right - let alone "fascist" the Nazis were socialists, Mussolini was socialist, in fact nearly all fascists are socialists - not a product of any mythical far right. Examine the "fascists" scratch their skin and they are all far left.
Anonymous, August 14, 2012 10:03 PM
National Socialism was a right-wing expression.
The typical analysis of political science (Poli Sci 101, if you will) is that the extreme expression of right-wing ideology is fascism, while the extreme expression of left-wing ideology is communism.
Ken, August 14, 2012 12:25 PM
Ponitificates, but weak on content
I agree that the Left is anti-Zionist, but this article says little about the American Left worth noting. I abandoned the Democratic Party becaue they abandoned me.
Les.w, August 14, 2012 12:54 PM
The 'mainstream left' is also delusional regarding Israel and Jews.
The 'mainstream left', in the U.K. typified by the Guardian newspaper and the BBC, and a number of well-known leftist Jews, is just as irrationally blind to facts, evidence and logic, particularly regarding Israel and Jews. Their delusions and hypocrisy, their willingness to believe and propogate blatant lies, is religious in its fervour.
Margarita, August 14, 2012 2:06 PM
sadly left is anti-Israel
Dear Ester, respectfully i have to disagree with you. yes, not all ideas of the right movement are great or good for Israel, but in my experience all the ideas of the left movement are very racists just hiding behind "anti-Israeli" agenda. and please don't take it as a full agreement with the article or defending ultra right movements. come to think of it, no movement starting with "ultra" ever got me happy. it upsets me to see how all the wonderful titles of "human rights". "women rights", "equal rights", "justice", "amnesty international", "freedom fighters" and so on are just a mantra for the very racist activities. hope you will prove me wrong - start me with one good idea and lets discuss it, one more point, there is a centre stand (not left and not right one) and maybe that is what you are thinking about.
Dan, August 14, 2012 2:40 PM
What was once "extreme" is now "mainstream"
Positions that were once thought of as extreme are now in the mainstream of Leftist ideology. The branding of Israel as a colonialist power, a usurper, and a foreign implant on Arab soil is now taught freely in universities and is presented on the pages of mainstream media such as they NY Times and the BBC. Even twenty years ago, it would have been unthinkable that a former President of the US (Jimmy Carter) would publicly refer to Israel as an "apartheid" state, or that a sitting President of the US (Obama) would publicly refuse to acknowledge that Jerusalem is Israel's capital, or publicly state that the Jewish connection to the Land of Israel began after the Holocaust. Delegitimization of Israel is a mainstream Leftist strategy, and it is especially strong in the Jewish Left. The author is spot on.
Alan, August 14, 2012 3:21 PM
Sorry Esther you got that 1 wrong
The so-called mainstream left has become increasingly anti-Zionist with strong overtones of anti-Semitism. The mainstream left in most European nations is increasingly vocally anti-Israel. The flotillas are a perfect example. Despite the UN's finding that the Israeli blockade is legal & that there is no humanitarian crisis in Gaza these anti-Semites shout that it violates international law & is Nazi like in making "innocent" civilians suffer. They call Gaza a concentration camp & play role reversal between the Jews & the Palestinians, overlooking terrorist acts or even apologizing for them while claim (despite equal treatment for Israeli ArabsThey are silent as 1000's are murdered in Syria focusing all their energies on Israel.) that Israel is a racist apartheid state. Here in America so called "progressives" have taken up this same theme. Look at the recent vote of the Prysbeterian church and the harsh rehetoric distorting reality & demoing Israel as racist. In particular the left wing of the Democratic party has become increasingly more vocally anti-Israel. For example in a Senate resolution in support of Israel about 2 years ago, 6 of the 11 Jewish Democratic senators refused to support it! That would not have been the case 5 or 10 years ago. The fact that liberal Jews like Debbie Wasserman-Schultz & Harvey Weinstein pretend that Obama's policies towards Israel are misunderstood is a current example. It seems that now even traditional liberals are deserting Israel. They apologize for Obama despite his equating the Jewish loss in the Shoah with the dislocation of the Palestinians (his Cairo speech they love so much) and his overtly hostile attitude towards Israel & its government. Frankly I fear that if he is re-elected he will then be free to act as he wishes towards Israel and that won't be good for us. I suspect these same liberal Jews will defend him even then.
Marlene Langert, August 14, 2012 4:17 PM
PLease tell us the difference
Esther, PLease tell us the differences. SO far, I do believe you are fooling yourself. Even if you do not think you are that extreme , you are helping them. Even just a vote for Obama is helping the extreme left by helping to put him in power so that he can continue to take apart our country and the world, esp Israel. So far, my friends that are to the left absolutely refuse to hear anything to open their eyes. ALso, none of them have ever substanciated how they got to their points of view. For us, the jews, it's even more hurtful because the leftists think they are being kindhearted by giving away things instead of teaching people who can work to make a living. Even a rabbi I knew and loved now has a congregation that supports the arabs. None of that is being kind hearted. What it is is marching to the trains without objecting and with offering to help the nazis by lifting people up to the train that cannot climb up on their own. You are helping to kill this country and Israel. You just cannot admit it to yourself. Also, the leftists cannot admit that the democratic party is very different from what it used to be. I was a democrat until Obama came upon the scene and I did research to find out what he was and is. NOw, for the first time in almost 77 years, I am a Republican and in there fighting for the USA and Israel. I look forward ato your explanations, but will be surprised if I get any.
Joseph, August 16, 2012 1:03 PM
Don't Cofuse Leftist with anti-war
Most of the people I know are against America's further envolment in the middle east. The Army is not a career choice. Safe streets are, as are jobs and health care. I don't make enough to be a Republican. I will defend America as best I can. We both liberal and conservative love America and support our allies. Our allies must fight their own wars.
liz, August 14, 2012 5:34 PM
what you mean?
I truly, truly pray that Jewish people open their eyes before is too late, liberals have show plenty of clues to figure out their complete disregard for Israel and if we have REALLY learned of the past mistakes, this time we will take a bold stand against anything that threatens Yisrael, no more political correctness.
Bruce, August 14, 2012 5:46 PM
Don't delude yourself
Recent polls show that more Democrats support the "Palestinians" than support Israel. Much of today's anti-Israel propaganda comes from the mainstream left. Don't believe it? Read Alan Dershowitz's ( a self-proclaimed man of the Left) books lamenting this very fact. http://www.amazon.com/The-Case-Israel-Alan-Dershowitz/dp/0471679526/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1344966188&sr=8-1&keywords=alan dershowitz the case for israel and http://www.amazon.com/The-Case-Against-Israels-Enemies/dp/0470490055/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1344966188&sr=8-2&keywords=alan dershowitz the case for israel
Rachel, August 14, 2012 8:33 PM
I agree with you, Esther
Here in the US, only the extreme fringes of the Left are anti-Israel. The Democratic party is not. And as an American Jew, I'm far more concerned about the extreme fringes of the right, which while supposedly pro-Israel are often openly anti-Jewish. If you cut through the rhetoric of many Evangelical Christians, what they're really saying is "It's our way or the highway", i.e. Jews should move to Israel to leave America for their brand of faith. And while they eschew anti-semitism, they are not afraid to be openly anti-Catholic, anti-Mormon, and anti-Muslim, as well as anti-feminist and anti-gay. Similarly, while not overtly racist, you don't see them doing much to combat racism; they instead hide behind talk of illegal immigration and problems of the inner cities, code words for their attitudes toward non-whites. It's tragic that there are Jews on the extreme left; it seems clear to me that this is one manifestation of what happens when older generations who had no doubt about their Jewish heritage did not pass it on to their children. If I didn't know much about Israel and Judaism and only went with what I read in the papers, I'd probably think that Israel was a racist state founded by imperialists, too.
Esther, August 14, 2012 10:02 PM
It's depressing to see the mainstream left confused with the fringe.
I grant that in Europe, the rhetoric on the left is pretty anti-Israel, though it should be remembered that it's just that - rhetoric - and in terms of trade, political and scientific cooperation, the EU has extremely close relations with Israel. In the US, I know that many on the right have a gut feeling that Obama is extremely hostile to Jewish and Israel, but the facts don't bear this out at all Obama unleashed a wave of cyberattacks on Iran and has successfully negotiated petroleum-based sanctions, overcoming Chinese and Indian objections. The US remains Israel's largest supplier of weapons (including "bunker buster bombs" last year), and Obama has maintained the US's commitment to mainting Israel's qualitative military edge in the region. Oh, and don't forget the war on terror, and the killing of Osama bin Laden. Regarding recognizing Jerusalem as Israel's capital, Obama stated it is Israel's "eternal" capital. It's true he hasn't moved the embassy, but neither have his predecessors, and Romney has fudged on the issue, too, even when directly questioned. [A little background: in 1995, (Democratic) Pres. Clinton passed law mandating the US move its embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, though no president (including Republican George W, Bush) has yet made the move.] In terms of rhetoric, again I know that many on the right have a gut feeling that Obama somehow is extremely hostile to Jewish interests, but again the facts don't bear it out. He has religious Jews in his cabinet, came to AIPAC, declared he'll visit Israel if he's reelected - oh, and back when he lived in Chicago and his kids were little, he sent them to preschool in the Orthodox Jewish school near his house! Clearly, mainstream left-wing politicians, particularly in the United States in no way hold the crazy, borderline-psychotic hatred of Jews and Israel described in this article. To say they do just degrades political dialogue and makes us all the poorer.