Much has been written about anti-Semitism in Jeremy Corbyn’s British Labour Party. Indeed the Jewish branch of the party has now issued a 53-page report documenting nine instances of Corbyn personally engaging in anti-Semitism.
What is less understood is the philosophical undercurrent driving these anti-Semitic trends. A recent op-ed penned in The Independent by Slavoj Zizek – a philosophical mastermind of European anti-Semitism – offers examples of today’s worse anti-Semitic tropes. (Ironically presented in defending Corbyn and Labour from anti-Semitism!)
Trope #1: Anyone who critiques Israeli policy is automatically tagged an “anti-Semite.”
The subheadline of Zizek’s op-ed declares that “the charge of anti-Semitism is addressed at anyone who critiques Israeli policy.”
This is patently false. Half of the Israeli electorate “critiques Israeli policy,” yet nobody would suggest they all are anti-Semites.
Yet Zizek uses this bogus rhetoric to invoke the despicable “Livingstone Formulation” – the claim that Jews automatically cry “anti-Semitism” as a way to: (1) silence criticism of Israel, and (2) mobilize Jewish “victim power” against the Palestinians.
For anti-Semites, this perverse twist works like a rhetorical boomerang: Giving cover to those who disguise their anti-Semitism as a critique of Israeli policy – while cynically turning that criticism around against the accuser.
Trope #2: Zionism = Holocaust
In his op-ed, Zizek writes:
When the shadow of the Holocaust is permanently evoked in order to neutralise any criticism of Israeli military and political operations… it is the State of Israel that, in this case, is desecrating the memory of Holocaust victims, ruthlessly using them as an instrument to legitimise present political measures.
Zizek’s words are in clear violation of the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance’s (IHRA) working definition of anti-Semitism, which includes “drawing comparisons of contemporary Israeli policy to that of the Nazis.” Zizek portrays those who attack Israel as the “real” victims – while suggesting that Palestinians are the new Holocaust victims, and Israel the new Nazis.
Slavoj Zizek
How painfully ironic that these new “Nazi victims” are the same Palestinians who, during the 1940s, were avowed and active partners in the Nazi Holocaust. Palestinian founding father Mufti Haj Amin al-Husseini organized 42,000 Muslim troops to form Nazi SS divisions – carrying out police actions in fascist Hungary and participating in the genocide of Yugoslav Jews. Husseini enjoyed a close relationship with Hitler (upon whom he conferred the Islamicized name, Abu Ali), and spent the war years in Berlin where, at the behest of Nazi propaganda minister Joseph Goebbels, he delivered a daily pro-Nazi radio broadcast to the Muslim world.
High-ranking SS officer Dieter Wisliceny would later testify at the Nuremberg trials: “The Mufti was one of the initiators of the systematic extermination of European Jewry, and had been a collaborator and advisor of Eichmann and Himmler in the execution of this plan... He was one of Eichmann’s best friends and had constantly incited him to accelerate the extermination measures.”
In this so-called “Holocaust Inversion,” where Israelis are cast as the “new Nazis” and Palestinians as the “new victims,” the Holocaust becomes a moral indictment of the Jews – perverting history and desecrating the memory of Holocaust victims.
Trope #3: Palestinians, not Jews, are the true land’s indigenous people.
In his op-ed, Zizek claims that Jews today have “chosen the path of rooting.” He explains that because anti-Semites “reproach the Jews for being rootless, Zionism tries to correct this failure by belatedly providing Jews with roots.”
“Belatedly”? A historic timeline unpacks this false statement:
- 3,800 years ago – Abraham binds his son Isaac on the altar on Mount Moriah (Jerusalem).
- 3,000 years ago – King David purchases the Temple Mount from Jebusites; his son Solomon builds there the Holy Temple.
- 2,000 years ago – The Jewish people are exiled from Israel; a continuous Jewish presence remains in the land.
- 1,400 years ago – Mohammed begins a new religion and declares that, theologically, Islam has replaced Judaism as the heir to Jerusalem and Mount Moriah.
Short of pegging their ancestral heritage to the idolatrous Jebusites, it is impossible for Palestinian Muslims to predate the first Jew, Abraham. Yet Zizek falsely claims that “the trouble with Jews today is that they are now trying to get roots in a place which was for thousands of years inhabited by other people.”
Perhaps Zizek should refer to Mohammad Tawhidi, a Muslim Imam who speaks out against Islam's "distortion of historical Jewish claims to Jerusalem," and argues for the need to "admit that our terrorist caliphs were the ones who invaded Palestine and built mosques above sacred Jewish sites."
Instead, Zizek embraces replacement theology, declaring “obscene” the historic fact that “the Jewish people have the legal and moral right to live in their ancient homeland.” Zizek concludes: Israel is “the trouble with Jews today.”
With this op-ed, The Independent has sunk another notch in its animosity toward Israel and the Jewish people. It is unsurprising that the op-ed was edited by Rivkah Brown, a self-proclaimed activist for the radical Na'amod: British Jews Against the Occupation.
Those who value truth must speak out against such vicious anti-Semitism. Send your comments to The Independent here.
(11) Jamie Grieve, November 29, 2020 3:05 AM
Fantastic
I have never read a more wonderfully written explanation of the story of the Holy land. If people actually take their time to read this carefully they cannot fault it. I was really happy to read this with his historical references and time lines. The thing is today is that Muslim people are trying to rewrite history and we can see that plainly by their claims that every biblical figure was really a Muslim and everyone else has got it wrong..
(10) Anonymous, December 10, 2019 1:08 PM
Confounding truth
Taking old distorted half truths to manufacture alternative facts and then to use a discredited religiously bankrupt Imam to back up the distortion is not the new low in the Zionist play book. Abraham was not a Jew for Judaism began way after him. May all the good people of the earth be blessed
Anonymous, December 11, 2019 1:22 AM
My 2 cents worth
In the Tanach it clearly states that Abram is the first Hebrew. After the slater of the kings,G-D tells Abram to go to a land that I will show you, a land flowing with milk & honey. It shall be a eternal inheritance for you and your decendents. By faith Abram believed G-D. Not knowing where he was going-he obeyed G-D. G-D promised him a son in his old age, the son of promise-Issac. Abram means exulted father. Later when G-D changed his name to Abraham, it meant father of many nations. Abraham is the father of Judaism, the father of Israel. His son Ishmael was conceived by Abraham's disobedience to G-D. G-D later said concerning Hagar & Ishmael , you shall cast out the bond servant and her son.they are not to share in the inheritance of Issac. The Tanach is the truth of G-D's word and plans and it was written for G-D's chosen people,the Jews, also for those who would want to convert to Judaism. Let the truth be told-G-D loves ALL people but, the Jew are the apple of his eye. That is G-D's choice-not ours. G-D gave the land of Israel to the Jews. Peace to ALL! Amen.
Anonymous, December 19, 2019 1:48 AM
I found it.
In the book of Genesis,14:13 it says, Abram the Hebrew. Also in chapter 15, G-D tells Abram the dementions of the size of the land He is giving to Abram & his decendents for a eternal possession. From the river of Egypt north to the Euprates river. It was about 300,000 sq. miles in size. Irael at it's zenith only posesed about 10% of that. Today it's only half of that. G-D always keeps His promises-Israel will have possession of all of what G-D promised.
(9) Aleksandra, December 10, 2019 10:54 AM
Pure anti-Semite
Shame on you, Zizek
(8) Anonymous, December 9, 2019 11:21 PM
60 Minutes
I couldn't believe what 60 minutes ran last night! ( 12-8-19 ) They seemed to be in agreement with a Palestinian who helped to build a Palestinian town in Israel. Of course Israel let it to be built. Scott Pelly did the interview and seemed in agreement that Israel was the oppressor of the Palestinians. I thought that a show like 60 Minutes couldn't take "political sides" ?? I have always enjoyed 60 Minutes for their high standard of journalism. Last night I lost all respect for 60 Minutes!!! Israel allowing a Palestinian town to be built-was turned against Israel the way it was presented. I never thought I'd see the day!! We are most certainty living in very dangerous times indeed!! 60 Minutes has joined the rest of the Media-Lies,lies & more lies.
(7) Tovia, December 9, 2019 9:03 PM
We need to use factual info to defend israel.
Zizek is not a “mastermind of anti-Semitism” as he hardly writes about the subject and his article repeats everything else said by most on the left. You said it’s “patently false” when critique of Israel is equated with anti-Semitism. However time and again it is the case that people in the USA and Europe are labeled “anti-Semitic” and that Jews who join in criticism are labeled “self-hating” such as your take on “radical” Rivkah Brown, Noam Chomsky, Finkelstein, etc. Ironically, you are proving the truth of the claim by labeling it as an anti-Semitic trope! You said that it”s anti-Semitic” to point out that the Holocaust is used to stifle Israel criticism when you know you know this has been the case for years. In fact Robert Wexler had to warn AIPAC about over using the holocaust because he felt Americans were tired of it. It is also not convincing if Zizek violated IHRA because it’s definition of anti-Semitism is vague (as other Jewish critics point out.) Also, your comments on the Mufti have been debunked time and again; he was not “close” to Hitler and hardly any impact on the holocaust which was planned by Hitler before the war. As to the question of who are the “true” inhabitants of the land, I simply pray HaShem for mercy and Jews maintain the 3 oaths in galus. Jews and Arabs and I don’t think Zizek would need to refer to a youtube celebrity(Tawhidi) for truth.
(6) Selma Adler, December 9, 2019 10:42 AM
Your "timeline" is rather haphazard...
You forget to mention our absences:
Above all you forgot all about this fact: The Romans conquered in 63 B.C.E. Israel among other nations, a Jewish uprising was crushed and the second temple destroyed. Judea became a Roman Province. The 2000 year Jewish diaspora had begun. During that period a new religion was born and soon declared itself the replacement of the "old Jewish religion" and the adherents of this religion persecuted my people and stoked the flames of hatred throughout history. We call them in plain English: CHRISTIANS.
The Islam SAVED JEWRY, as unpopular and discomforting this historical truth may be. Judaism from 570 C.E. was on the way to oblivion. Islam provided new context in which we not only survived but flourished, laying foundations for subsequent Jewish cultural prosperity.
Dvirah, December 9, 2019 5:38 PM
Not Quite
Not entirely accurate. At no time was Judaism "on the way to oblivion"; there were always loyal mitzvah observers. Also, early on in Muhamad's conquest campaign the locals Jews sided with the established authorities and thereby earned for themselves a hatred every bit as virulent as the Christian's. Historically there are cycles of rising and falling antisemitism both in the Christian and the Moslem worlds; only today these worlds have cojoined.
(5) Judy R, December 9, 2019 5:27 AM
Jeremy Corbyn's Pro-Palestianian Defender
What is going in England with Jeremy Corbyn's Labour Party except having a pro-Palestinian defender, Jeremy Corbyn is a anti-semitie, and also supports BDS, and has pro-Palestinian views, and also supports terrorists. In America the Democratic Party are also supporting these types of people. These anti-semites support BDS, pro-Palestinian and terrorists because they hate Jews and Israel, this is happening in England and America, and all over the world. This is pretty scary after the Holocaust, how do people stop these lies, distortion of history, the Jews are the real Palestinians the other ones are imposters, also Palestine is Israel(and used to be called Judea) this fake thing is also circulating in higher education places with their bogus propaganda. It is pretty disgusting, and evil and vile to hear, how everything is twisted around to make their lies seem true, but the truth is the Jewish are the real owners of Israel, the Jews got this inheritance from Hashem. The Jews all over the world should know this truth, and not believe the lies being told. It is sad to see the world against Jews and Israel 75 years after the Holocaust and after liberating Auschwitz Concentration Camp. Shame on the world for making Jews once a again a scape goat, it is unforgivable and it should be "Never Again" this hatred should not exist anymore, against Jews/Israel this disease should be cured like cancer needs to be!
(4) Susan Rosenbluth, December 8, 2019 5:19 PM
The Left Does Not Fear Being Blatantly Antisemitic
The words, actions, and policies promoted by the Left in the US and the UK have made clear its members and supporters do not fear being blatantly antisemitic. For the first time in many years, major candidates of major parties are comfortable spouting rhetoric which would have been, at the very least, seen as having to be couched in more acceptable language in years gone by. This is the reason any Jew in the West who is not at least considering a "Plan B" is ignoring the call of history. Here in the US, I become increasingly convinced that one of the driving forces behind the Left's otherwise inexplicable hatred of President Trump is his undisguised philo-semitism. The antisemites and self-loathing Jews on the Left smell it, and they hate him (and his supporters) for it.
(3) Anonymous, December 8, 2019 5:14 PM
Anti-Israel
There is often much confusion between the expression “anti-Israel“ and being against one or more of the policies of the Israeli government of the day. The true meaning of “anti-Israel“ is to favor the elimination of the Jewish State. Anyone who is anti-Israel in that sense is surely an anti-Semite. To suggest that the culmination of the Jewish people’s exercise of its right to self-determination by the creation and efflorescence of the Jewish state cannot be anything other than anti-Semitic.
(2) Tamsin Parker, December 8, 2019 4:04 PM
Meanwhile Boris Johnson is getting away with calling black people "piccaninnies" and claiming Muslim women in burqas look like "letterboxes".
Dvirah, December 9, 2019 6:39 AM
Connection
Probably seeing that the one hatred is permissible encourages the free expression of other hatreds as well - and not just for politicians.
(1) maria, December 8, 2019 2:47 PM
zizek an old antisemite from Slovenia
I remember his articles which were like Streichel´s articles in Völkischer Beobachter.
I don´t know much his background( he was probably born into an antisemitic family), but I know he is Leftists nazi. And of course he is a soul mate of Corbyn.
Don´t vote for the nazi Labour party led by Corbyn or any other racist