Stop Antisemitism

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We are not being listened to and non-Jews are deciding whether we are allowed to define antisemitism. Yes this is real.”

He added on Friday:”Whilst debate on matters on the historical and current complexities of anti-Zionism and antisemitism must be discussed, a limited forum where both ‘sides’ do not feel properly heard, was not the place to do it.

“We are grateful that are more nuanced, informed, collaborative, and ethical discussion can now take place at BASW on this matter, with Jewish voices at the centre. We also hope that the Social Work Union will work with us so that they can better understand Jewish experiences and not deter Jews from joining them.”

Commenting on the podcast dispute, the Community Security Trust said:”“This is the reality of how antisemitism played out at that time and rather than censoring Jewish voices, social workers would do better to listen and learn.”

(full article online)

Social worker conference skips vote on ‘uncomfortable’ antisemitism motion

British Association of Social Workers (BASW) conference cancels Friday's vote as Jewish professional admits; 'Today caused untold stress and worry'

www.jewishnews.co.uk

 

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A newly-elected Birmingham Labour councillor has apologised after posting historic 'anti-Jewish' messages on Facebook. Shabina Bano had accused council waste contractor Veolia of being a 'zionist supporter' in one post.

In other messages, the newly-elected Small Heath councillor's Facebook account wished that a court defendant - a child cancer survivor - had died. The historical posts came to light as she faces a separate Labour party probe over controversial Covid comments.

A statement, issued on her new Facebook account, said: "In recent days historic social media posts of mine have come to light. I take full responsibility for them, I recognise that they are utterly unacceptable and I apologise unreservedly for them. I am also sorry for the harm they have caused, especially to the Jewish community.


"Since joining the Labour Party, my opinion on many issues have changed and these historic posts reflect ignorant views that I no longer hold."

She added: "I will be undertaking further awareness training and I look forward to meeting with the Jewish communities of Birmingham to discuss what more we can do to stamp out anti-semitism in our city.

"There is no place for racism or discrimination in our society and I remain committed to serving all the people of Small Heath, who put their trust in me at the elections last year."


The messages were posted to friends from Ms Bano's previous Facebook account as far back as 2014. In one, the account replies to someone asking for views on not paying the TV licence fee and seemingly criticises Veolia, the city council-appointed waste collectors. At that time the council contractor had come under fire publicly over its waste management work in Israeli settlements in Palestine.

(full article online)

Councillor apologises over historic 'anti-semitic messages' on Facebook

New Birmingham Labour councillor Shabina Bano undergoing 'further awareness training' following historic messages

www.birminghammail.co.uk

 

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The Palestinian Forum in Britain, in cooperation with the European-Palestinian Communication Forum (Europal), organized a symposium in London on “How Interfaith Groups Are Being Used to Normalise Israeli Apartheid.”

Zaher Birawi, head of the Palestinian Forum in Britain, said during his opening speech, “The aim of the symposium is to warn of the danger of the occupation state or the Israeli lobby institutions in Europe using this concept (of interfaith dialogue) as a means to normalize the practices of the apartheid state, or to infiltrate communities. It promotes the occupation’s false narrative about the conflict, or is even an attempt to distance the Muslim community, its institutions and mosques from talking about the crimes of the occupying state against Jerusalem and the Israeli violations against the first two Qiblas and the third of the Two Holy Mosques. "

Birawi added: “We are certainly with the idea of coexistence, tolerance, and even cooperation between religions, but on the basis of respecting everyone’s minds and rights, and not according to the model supported by the Israeli lobby, but on the basis of rejecting the occupation and its practices against Muslims and Christians in Palestine, mosques and churches, and on the basis of rejecting racism in all its forms.”

In short, they support dialogue which is a monologue of Palestinian Arab claims.

It looks like it attracted about a dozen people.

Palestinians in the UK warn about the "dangers" of interfaith dialogue - they normalize Israel!

Blogging about Israel and the Arab world since, oh, forever.

elderofziyon.blogspot.com

 

[Sixties Fan]

The antisemitic American Muslims for Palestine has a lobbying arm called AJP Action.

They recently released a scorecard for members of the Senate where they score them on how much they believe they support their cause. They base the scorecard on these criteria:

If they opposed S.1751 - Emergency Resupply for IRON DOME Act of 2021
If they supported S.J.Res.19 - Congressional disapproval defense support of Israel
Opposing S.1061 Israel Normalization Act of 2021
Opposing Combating BDS Act (H.R.336)
Opposing S.Res.120 - anti-BDS act
Supporting a letter urging Israel to provide Covid vaccines to Palestinians
Signing a letter supporting Gaza Aid (includes urging Israel to open Gaza border)
Signing a letter supporting sanctions on Israelis associated with NSO Group
Not signing a letter for the full cooperation of US and Israel on missile defense
Not signing a letter to Halt UNRWA Funding
Not attending AIPAC convention

It is quite clear that these criteria aren't "pro-Palestinian" but anti-Israel.

The scorecard results shows a mix of Democrats and Republicans who get a failing score of F. Democrats with the most pro-Israel scores include Amy Klobuchar and Jacky Rosen.

Of course Bernie Sanders gets an A. But Mitt Romney gets a B, Ted Cruz gets a C.

Other prominent names include Elizabeth Warren (A), Chuck Schumer (B), Rand Paul (B), Jon Ossoff (A), Mitch McConnell (B), Marco Rubio (F), and Patrick Leahy (A).

Whether or not this is a reasonably accurate proxy for how these politicians think about Israel is up for debate. But it is definitely useful tool for the pro-Israel crowd as well as the other side!

A Palestinian Senate scorecard has some surprising results

Blogging about Israel and the Arab world since, oh, forever.

elderofziyon.blogspot.com

 

[Sixties Fan]

The antisemitism problem in France is not only from the (usually) Muslims who attack. It includes the French authorities who refuse to accept that there is a problem at all.

From Gatestone Institute by Guy Millière

Lyon, France. May 17, 2022. A district called La Duchère. René Hadjadj, an 89-year-old Jew, was thrown off a 17th floor balcony -- an act quickly revealed as a murder. The murderer was Rachid Kheniche, a 51-year-old Muslim Arab, with a Twitter account containing many antisemitic messages. The public prosecutor, who has since partially reconsidered his position, immediately declared that the murder was not an antisemitic crime. The mainstream media never reported the murder; only local Jewish newspapers did. Hadjadj's family, who live in the same neighborhood, said they preferred to remain silent.

Journalists have analyzed the situation of Jews in districts such as La Duchère. The responses from the families with whom they meet are always the same: constant Muslim harassment and threats.

The article summary includes:

First, the authorities always say, as quickly as possible, that the murder of the Jew was not at all motivated by antisemitism. When evidence to the contrary accumulates and becomes impossible to deny, the antisemitic motive may reluctantly be recognized -- as with the abduction, torture and murder of Ilan Halimi in 2006; the murder of Sarah Halimi in 2017; and the murder of Mireille Knoll in 2018.
That the murderers are generally Muslim further encourages the French judiciary not to speak of antisemitism. In fact, it is almost taboo to speak of any Muslim antisemitism in France: Muslim antisemitism is supposed not to exist. All organizations dedicated to fighting antisemitism target only the "far-right."
The French authorities and mainstream media describe crime, but do not explain it -- meaning that crime is rising but not being fought.
The French government has declined to document the religion or race of people charged with crimes. Although the refusal may be well-intentioned, it prevents any understanding of what is taking place and consequently any the means of addressing or preventing it.

French authorities don't want to admit Muslim antisemitism

Blogging about Israel and the Arab world since, oh, forever.

elderofziyon.blogspot.com

 

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What may not be immediately obvious is that contemporary anti-Semitism should be a grave concern not only to Jews, whom it most immediately and directly impacts, but to those outside the Jewish community as well.

While it denotes hatred of the Jewish people, anti-Semitism actually threatens all societies and is an indicator of wider problems. As the world’s “oldest hatred,” it exposes the failings in each society, and though Jews are often the first group to be scapegoated, unfortunately, they are not the last. History has shown us, time and again, that hateful discourse initially targeting Jews soon broadens to other members of society.

Moreover, anti-Semitism exists regardless of the size or presence of a Jewish community. As UNESCO Director General Audrey Azoulay has said, it doesn’t even “require the presence of a Jewish community to proliferate.” Rather, she said, “it exists in religious, social and political forms and guises, on all sides of the political spectrum.”

For instance, Jews are attacked for being “capitalist” as well as “communist;” for being rich as well as poor; for being insular as well as cosmopolitan. They are accused of controlling the world, sometimes through puppet figures, and of secretly running the media, governments and economies.

But as much as anti-Semitism puts “the Jews” at the center of all that is bad in the world, anti-Semitic discourse has little to do with Jews.

Shortly after the liberation of Paris from the Nazis, French philosopher Jean-Paul Sartre wrote that the anti-Semite is “a man who is afraid.”

He’s afraid “not of the Jews, to be sure, but of himself, of his own consciousness, of his liberty, of his instincts, of his responsibilities, of solitariness, of change, of society and of the world — everything except the Jews,” Sartre stated. Adding, “If the Jew did not exist, the antisemite would invent him.”

Anti-Semitism also goes together with anti-democratic politics, especially in Europe and North America, as well as conspiracy myths, which offer oversimplified half-truths and erode the basic fabric of our societies.

For example, during the COVID-19 pandemic, we saw a surge in anti-Semitic incidents where Jews were blamed for creating or profiting from the virus, as well as the trivialization of the Holocaust, as evidenced by anti-vaccine proponents donning yellow stars, or comparing lockdowns to the experience of Anne Frank.

Conspiracy theories thrive in segments of the electorate that lack critical judgment and media literacy. It’s no coincidence that people who express anti-Semitic ideas are often part of the anti-vaccine movements or support illiberal regimes. In this regard, anti-Semitism doesn’t primarily target the Jews, especially in Europe where they represent a small minority.

We can also see a direct line between conspiracy myths and disinformation, which often spread virally, and violence, as regrettably, people are still being victimized today — some even killed — by those with anti-Semitic motives, in cities ranging from Buffalo, New York to Halle, Germany.

When left unchecked, anti-Semitism enables prejudice and active discrimination against multiple communities within societies, threatening the rule of law and human rights protections. It emboldens intolerant members of society wherever they may be.

The ambassadors, government delegates, academics and other global leaders about to descend on Stockholm will surely discuss the current manifestations of anti-Semitism and how best to combat it as a follow-up to the commitments made in October 2021, at the Malmö International Forum on Holocaust Remembrance and Combating Antisemitism.

And to be sure, some progress has since been made. For example, the first ever EU Strategy on combating antisemitism and fostering Jewish life and the Action Plan of the U.N. Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Religion or Belief present action items that should be implemented without delay.

Fueled by conspiracy myths and propelled by social media, today’s anti-Semitism shows no signs of abating. And we need to weed out racism and intolerance once and for all, educating future citizens about the essential values of democracy and tolerance.

We have no time to lose.

(full article online)

Anti-Semitism should concern us all

With no signs of abating, we need to weed out racism and intolerance once and for all.

www.politico.eu

 

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The BDS movement, said Gelbart, is “ugly and anti-Semitic,” favoring the creation of a political and cultural ghetto for Jews. Its claim to only boycott Israelis but not Jews is ridiculous and hypocritical, he added. “Almost 80% of Israelis are Jews, so Jews are the evident target of the BDS movement,” Gelbart said.

Malca Goldstein-Wolf, an anti-BDS activist, told JNS, “It is unacceptable for a municipal website to advertise an anti-Israel movement that the German Bundestag has unequivocally classified as anti-Semitic. If the German judiciary does not see itself in a position to issue legal judgments against Jew-hatred, that speaks volumes.”

Goldstein-Wolf then addressed the role of Michael Blume, the commissioner tasked with combating anti-Semitism in the state of Baden-Württemberg, where Stuttgart is located.

“It is undoubtedly one of the tasks of an anti-Semitism commissioner to clearly condemn this scandal and call for an appeal against this unacceptable verdict. If there is no other legal option, it would make sense to not publish any advertising at all for NGOs on municipal websites.”

(full article online)

Fury over German court’s ‘anti-Semitic’ pro-BDS ruling

German Jews want Stuttgart to appeal the decision.

www.jns.org

 

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The festival told BDS to go to hell, which is the proper response. In previous years, Israel-haters urged the festival to not screen Israeli films, and the festival refused then as well.

Because the festival made it clear that they would not censor Israeli films, the boycotters changed their tactics to attack their funding. That didn't work either.

However, the Israel haters went to Plan C so they can declare some sort of victory. From the official Palestinian Wafa news agency:

International filmmakers have called out the Documentary Edge Festival for its “art-washing” of Israeli racism and apartheid against Palestinians.

In a letter signed by a number of filmmakers such as Cole Yeoman, Gabriel Shipton, David Rane, and others, the directors and writers noted that they “don’t endorse the festival’s continued acceptance of funding and official support from the Israeli Embassy.”

“As filmmakers and participants in DocEdge Film Festival, we are deeply concerned by the festival’s continued acceptance of funding and official support from the Israeli Embassy. It is an offensive and unacceptable affiliation which we do not endorse,” the letter said.

“Our concern is not fearing Israeli influence in the festival selection, rather, the credibility and legitimization that Israel gains from DocEdge’s endorsement and platform. Our call isn't to take ‘sides’ or censor films, it is to recognize human rights and to keep our cultural spaces free from the harm and normalization of racism and colonization,” the letter said.

“It is in firm solidarity with the Palestinian people and the global recognition of human rights that we request DocEdge end their affiliation with the apartheid Israeli Embassy and divest from a relationship that endorses and legitimizes the systemic and racist persecution of Palestinians,” the letter concluded.

I found the letter itself, and it is signed by a directors and producers of eight (out of 113) festival films.

Cole Yeoman - ‘The Milford Road’ - Director/Producer
Gabriel Shipton - ‘Ithaka’ - Producer & brother of Julian Assange
Haidy Kancler - ‘Melting Dreams’ - Director/ Writer
Neasa Ní Chainaín - ‘Young Plato’ - Director
David Rane - ‘Young Plato’ - Producer
Rich Felgate - ‘Finite: The Climate of Change’ - Director/ Producer
Julia Maria Diana Jansch - ‘Coming Home’ - Director/ Producer
Olha Zhurba - ‘Outside’ - Director
Kaia Kahurangi Jamieson - ‘Scope’ - Director/ Producer

Notice that none of these filmmakers actually withdrew their films from the festival. Their supposed concern over how terrible Israel is doesn't extend to them doing anything that will affect their careers. They just signed a letter - a letter designed for the BDSers to claim that they garnered some support from some people who are willing to publicly call Israel an apartheid state.

Now everyone wins: BDS can issue press releases making it sound like their movement achieved a victory by saying that they got prestigious directors to support their message, and the directors can claim that they took the moral high ground without actually doing anything.

The list of festival sponsors is here. Besides the Israeli embassy in New Zealand, the festival is also funded by the embassies of the US, Canada, France, Australia, the Netherlands and the EU.


(full article online)

BDS calls on directors to boycott NZ film festival. A story of propaganda and cowardice.

Blogging about Israel and the Arab world since, oh, forever.

elderofziyon.blogspot.com

 

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