True, for the first time in 2,000 years Jews had their own military and intelligence apparatus. On the other hand, because Israel is both a Jewish and a democratic state, it has become a convenient political target for those demonizing Jews and democracy, whether they are on the right or the left.
Over a decade ago in her book, Wisse wrote anti-Semitism is “a shared pretext for the nobleman who lost his property, the weaver who lost his customers to the machine, and the politician who needed an explanation for whatever was going wrong.”
This is true in today’s political climate, she said.
In Europe and the United States, both sides of the political spectrum use anti-Semitic tropes and demonstrations to blame Jews for a multitude of issues, whether it’s changing demographics, uncertain employment, Russian interference in elections, or the Palestinian-Israel conflict.
Regarding the last point, it wasn’t until the 1970s that Wisse came to believe the conflict was becoming intractable. She said she remembers feeling elated when Egyptian president Anwar Sadat stepped onto Israeli soil.
“It was a great moment, one that was very hopeful, but it didn’t last long. That’s the last time in my life that I will feel that way. One has to be cautious about, and wary of, that way of thinking,” Wisse said. “Not just that he was assassinated, but the Arab League was formed and the only thing that held them together, and still holds them together, is their common enmity toward Israel.”
(full article online)
Harvard prof who escaped Europe on eve of WWII dissects world’s oldest hatred