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At Large
The Reality of Middle East Anti-Semitism
"The scale and extremism of the [anti-Semitic] literature and commentary available in Arab or Muslim newspapers, journals, magazines, caricatures, on Islamist websites, on the Middle Eastern radio and TV news, in documentaries, films, and educational materials, is comparable only to that of Nazi Germany at its worst."
So states Israeli historian Robert Wistrich this week in an op-ed in Israel's (left-wing) daily Haaretz. Wistrich, one of the world's leading authorities on anti-Semitism, is a scholar who stays out of politics and is not identified with any political camp in Israel.
His op-ed, however, sounds somber notes. "In the Middle East," he writes, anti-Semitism "has taken on a particularly dangerous, toxic and potentially genocidal aura of hatred, closely linked to the 'mission' of holy war or jihad against the West and the Jews…. Yet the Western world largely turns a blind eye to the likely genocidal consequences of such a culture of hatred, much as it did 70 years ago."
Is one form of "turning a blind eye" the insistence on a "peace process" between Israel and the Arab world? Seemingly, simple sense would say so. If the surrounding countries are in the grip of an anti-Semitism "comparable only to that of Nazi Germany at its worst," then the idea of reaching some sort of definitive "peace" between them and the Jewish state appears flawed.
That is not to say the Arab (or Muslim) world is monolithic in its attitudes toward Israel or that important distinctions do not exist. Israel's relations with the Jordanian and Egyptian regimes have fostered some stability with, so far, no reprise of the wars between Israel and Arab states that occurred from 1948 to 1973. At the same time, the media and populations of these countries are no less saturated with hatred of Israel and Jews than those of countries with hostile regimes like Syria and Lebanon.
And the attempts, over the past couple of decades, at reaching a formal peace with the Palestinians have had especially dire results, from the suicide bombings and other terror of 1994-1996 and 2000-2005 to the rocket fire from Gaza that persists to this day, with Palestinian society adopting a cult of the "martyr" (mass murderer of Jews) that is virulent even by the region's standards.
None of this deterred the Obama administration from making Israeli-Palestinian peace, as part of a larger, comprehensive Arab-Israeli peace, a central or even the central foreign policy goal. Ten months later, the results are meager. Obama's attempts to get countries like Jordan, Egypt, and Saudi Arabia to make even minimal "confidence-building" gestures toward Israel, like opening interest offices in Israel or allowing Israeli overflights of their territory, were coldly rebuffed. Palestinian Authority president Mahmoud Abbas now refuses even to negotiate with Israel, claiming this would first require a total Israeli settlement freeze even though, over the previous sixteen years of Israeli-Palestinian negotiations, that was never made a condition.
Specific, "political" reasons can be adduced for the Israeli-Palestinian impasse. An initial Palestinian expectation that Obama would simply "deliver" Israel has not materialized, causing disappointment. Abbas, fighting for his political life in the Palestinian street, is under pressure from openly radical Hamas and more radical elements of his own Fatah party not to appear conciliatory. Since Abbas rejected hands-down a very generous peace offer by previous Israeli prime minister Ehud Olmert, it could reasonably be asked what he has to gain by negotiating with considerably less dovish Binyamin Netanyahu.
Valid as those points may be, they should not obscure the larger picture -- and deeper explanation -- of a cultural animosity toward Israel that is at fever pitch. A "genocidal aura of hatred," as Wistrich puts it, could not rationally be seen as compatible with a "peace process."
That does not necessarily mean the United States should stop at least a pretense of diplomatic activity on the Israeli-Palestinian front. Arguably, it brings benefits of demonstrating American concern with the issue to the larger Arab and Muslim world, and, possibly, preventing a deterioration into Israeli-Palestinian violence.
Even if so, "peace" should not be pursued in a way that appears to validate the enmity that surrounds Israel. This week Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, after another fruitless round of talks in Israel and the Palestinian Authority during which she praised Netanyahu's relatively conciliatory position on settlements, found herself in hot water in the Arab world and backtracked, stating in Cairo on Wednesday that: "We do not accept the legitimacy of settlement activity and we have a very firm belief that ending all settlement activity, current and future, would be preferable."
Endorsing the racist Palestinian and Arab view that "peace" would require that a future Palestinian state be Jew-free, and is incompatible with a Jewish presence, is not a way to cool the flames and is a capitulation to a very nasty ethos.
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Pingback| 11.5.09 @ 7:03AM
Saudi Reaction To Obama’s Nobel | Crossroads Arabia « Celebrity Buzz links to this page. Here’s an excerpt:
Richard Baker| 11.5.09 @ 7:59AM
Peace process? With murderous Islam next door? Surely, you must be joking. The Moslem world hates itself from within. The Israelis and peace with her Arab neighbors is a mirage in the desert, not there. Israel, keep your powder dry.
Amor de Cosmos| 11.5.09 @ 8:24AM
The Administration operates from the assumption that the governments of the Middle East want peace with Israel. That is a fallacy. The hatred and enmity that these governments have for the Zionist entity cascades down to their citizens and subjects. Understand that for ages the Israelis have been portrayed in Arab speaking media as cruel oppressors. Every incident with the IDF and Palestinian rock throwers is portrayed as "David and Goliath" struggle with you know who being David.
The Smart Diplomacy here is wishful thinking by those who believe they live in the "reality based community". Their RealPolitick is a joke. Israel is surrounded by nations and governments who hate it and still think it is but a temporary aberration. Of course, keeping Palestinians poor, stateless and rigged for outrage is helpful to certain governments in deflecting questions about what they are doing with the oil wealth of the country.
Pingback| 11.5.09 @ 8:31AM
The American Spectator : The Reality of Middle East Anti-Semitism | arablives links to this page. Here’s an excerpt:
Pingback| 11.5.09 @ 8:31AM
The American Spectator : The Reality of Middle East Anti-Semitism | arablives links to this page. Here’s an excerpt:
Pingback| 11.5.09 @ 8:34AM
Twitter Trackbacks for The American Spectator : The Reality of Middle East Anti-Semi links to this page. Here’s an excerpt:
Ken (Old Texican)| 11.5.09 @ 9:11AM
Let us not forget that Israel is merely "the little satan" to the moslem whackos. WE are the "Great Satan".
I fully expect the Islamic whack jobs are planning nasty stuff for us as I write.
It is my belief that the untold thousands of hard working security worker-bees in our employ due to Bush, have held the hounds at bay this long.
La Realidad| 11.5.09 @ 10:14AM
Interesting article Mr. Hornik and I have to agree with you on the anti-Semitism and media bias in the Muslim media. I've traveled to the Middle East often this year, and watching their news programs and reading their newspapers makes this all too apparent.
It would be nice to think everyone will get along, but that won't happen. Its like the liberals around the world trying to create a "utopia" here on earth. Anyone who follows Christ's teachings knows this won't happen. Prayer is all we have now.
KyMouse| 11.5.09 @ 10:42AM
www.camera.org and www.memri.org are excellent sites to check often for news about this topic. I support their work, and I hope y'all do, too.
fundamentalist| 11.5.09 @ 1:11PM
Which nation is the most anti-semitic and anti-American? Egypt, the nation we have given $2 billion every year since Carter's bribery to get Egypt to sign a peace treaty with Israel in 1978. Only Israel get more aid from the US than Egypt. What has Egypt given us in return? A population that hates us more than any other group of people on the planet. To see why, visit the English language version of the state's largest newspaper Al-Ahram. There you will find weekly rants against Israel and the US and baseless accusations.
I have tried for years to persuade Oklahoma's Congressional delegation to cut off aid to Egypt, but they have swallowed the State Department's nonsense that Egypt is our friend. Only Mitch McConnell from KY gets it.
Bydand76| 11.5.09 @ 4:18PM
I would agree that Egypt is pretty high up there on the Anti-West club.
I would say though that it is a pretty close tie with Saudi Arabia
Both need to be cut off at the spigot
Richard Baker| 11.5.09 @ 4:40PM
Bydand76:
One of my buddies who went to Egypt in the late '70s with the 82nd described the country and its "Army" as a disaster. Their Special Forces weren't. Cut them loose.
Jim O'Brien| 11.5.09 @ 6:10PM
Anti-Semitism is the policy of the Obama Administration also. Obama and Hillary Clinton want Israel to make unilateral concessions to terrorist organizations and by extension, terror-sponsoring nations such as Syria and Iran. They think Israel should appease the terrorists in exchange for what? "Peace in our time"?
Abdul Ameer| 11.5.09 @ 7:13PM
In order to understand the nature of the conflict, we have to call it by the appropriate name. It is NOT the "Palestinian-Israeli" conflict. It is NOT an "Arab-Israeli"conflict. This is NOT a territorial conflict which can be resolved by drawing and redrawing lines on a map. The reason for the conflict lies in the religion/ideology of Islam, itself. The Hamas charter makes this perfectly clear. The charter contains the genocidally anti-Semitic quotation from Muhammad:
-- Allah's Apostle said, "You (i.e. Muslims) will fight with the Jews till some of them will hide behind stones. The stones will (betray them) saying, 'O 'Abdullah (i.e. slave of Allah)! There is a Jew hiding behind me; so kill him.' "
Because this is considered by Islamic religious authorities to be an authentic quotation, ALL religious Moslems are required to believe it and to follow Muhammad's example. Fundamentally, what we are dealing with here is an Islamic war on the Jews. This is part of the Islamic war on all non-Moslems, but the Jews are first in line. Therefore, no Moslem country is prepared to recognize Israel's right to exist as a Jewish state. Without that recognition, there is nothing to negotiate about, and the issue of settlements is irrelevant.
Alan Brooks| 11.5.09 @ 8:12PM
An Arab voice of reason. But, realistically, Israel can be destroyed anytime its enemies want, they have the numbers.
Only just 'solution' is to move Israel to German territory. In other words, there is no solution, and Israel will be overrun someday.
KyMouse| 11.6.09 @ 11:11AM
Nah, Mr. Brooks -- the Bible has been right about the destiny of the Jewish people from the beginning. It was right to warn that they would be driven out of their land because of their disobedience against God; right about their constantly being persecuted in other nations; and right about eventually returning to their homeland.
What other people have been forced from their homeland and scattered among the nations, only to return 19 centuries later -- and speaking the same language, acknowledging (if not always worshipping) the same God, and having many of the same customs as their ancestors?
That's why I don't doubt what the Bible says about the future of Israel: Amos 9:14-15 and Ezekiel 39:22-29 are key verses to ponder.
My money's on Israel, because my faith is in the Messiah of Israel, Y'shua.
Margie| 11.6.09 @ 6:13PM
"And I will bring again the captivity of my people of Israel, and they shall build the waste cities, and inhabit them; and they shall plant vineyards, and drink the wine thereof; they shall also make gardens, and eat the fruit of them. And I will plant them upon their land, and they shall no more be pulled up out of their land which I have given them, saith the LORD thy God." Amos 9:14 & 15.
"And I will plant them upon their land, and they shall no more be pulled up out of their land which I have given them, saith the LORD thy God. And the heathen shall know that the house of Israel went into captivity for their iniquity: because they trespassed against me, therefore hid I my face from them, and gave them into the hand of their enemies: so fell they all by the sword. According to their uncleanness and according to their transgressions have I done unto them, and hid my face from them. Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; Now will I bring again the captivity of Jacob, and have mercy upon the whole house of Israel, and will be jealous for my holy name; After that they have borne their shame, and all their trespasses whereby they have trespassed against me, when they dwelt safely in their land, and none made them afraid. When I have brought them again from the people, and gathered them out of their enemies' lands, and am sanctified in them in the sight of many nations; Then shall they know that I am the LORD their God, which caused them to be led into captivity among the heathen: but I have gathered them unto their own land, and have left none of them any more there. Neither will I hide my face any more from them: for I have poured out my spirit upon the house of Israel, saith the Lord GOD." Eze. 39:22-29.
Richard Baker| 11.5.09 @ 7:45PM
And of course, another member of the "Religion of Peace" has been killed at Ft. Hood after murdering more infidels.
Alan Brooks| 11.5.09 @ 8:14PM
and he was a shrink!
Where did he get his med degree? in a Cracker Jack box with Arab lettering?
Pingback| 11.5.09 @ 11:19PM
5′ x 9′ American Flag Case w/ Plaque Mount | eCheapPrice.com links to this page. Here’s an excerpt:
Richard Baker| 11.6.09 @ 7:13AM
As I awaken this morning I find that Herr Doktor is still alive. Someone should leave a pistol with one round in his room so that he can seek enlightenment in Allah.
Morry Rotenberg| 11.6.09 @ 2:11PM
Israel does not need peace with its neighbors. Devoid of natural resources except for the most important, human capital , it has done quite well without peace. When the Arabs run out of oil they will be forced to go back to the deserts from whence they came and will need to ask the Jews directions on how to get back there.
Jaysonrex| 11.8.09 @ 6:30PM
My thoughts, exactly, but gently expressed.
Pingback| 11.7.09 @ 5:26AM
College Frat Boy » The American Spectator : The Reality of Middle East Anti-Semitism links to this page. Here’s an excerpt:
ronnny| 11.7.09 @ 7:03AM
I am not saying that it's offensive, I am just asking why a lot of people assume that the majority are Muslims, when really they are not.
7 months ago
Why would it be offensive to say somebody is a Muslim? It's a religion, like any other.
http://ezinearticles.com/?Prem.....id=3205190
Richard Baker| 11.7.09 @ 11:34AM
ronnny:
Read the Koran. It's a murder cult. Read the instruction manual. The Moslems are still mad at Charles Martel.
Pingback| 11.7.09 @ 7:46PM
Amar Twink links to this page. Here’s an excerpt:
Pingback| 11.7.09 @ 11:49PM
Naked Guys » The American Spectator : The Reality of Middle East Anti-Semitism links to this page. Here’s an excerpt:
Pingback| 11.8.09 @ 3:23AM
Blonde Twinks » The American Spectator : The Reality of Middle East Anti-Semitism links to this page. Here’s an excerpt:
Margie| 11.8.09 @ 2:19PM
Yes ronny.. read the Koran. And then disinfect!
LeonG| 11.8.09 @ 11:36PM
"Of course, keeping Palestinians poor, stateless and rigged for outrage is helpful to certain governments in deflecting questions about what they are doing with the oil wealth of the country. '
Well said - it is about time the liberal myths of socio-economic oppression and material deprivation were laid at the door of the guilty parties who are responsible - the tyrannical unaccountable and opaque governments of the Arab world. No right thinking Palestinian with a job in Israel would want to live in a fractious, backward introspective Palestinian entity kept that way by its own extremists. he would very soon be on lower pay or be out of work.