Flirting with anti-Semitism

[Della]

Far-right politicians cite their support for Israel as proof that they are not anti-Semites. Yet the openly fascist members of Israel's government have more in common with Hungary's Viktor Orban than they do with diaspora Jews. Commentary by Ian Buruma


"When political leaders and their admirers claim that George Soros, the Hungarian-American-Jewish philanthropist, is pulling the strings of world affairs, we know that anti-Semitism is not far off. But the anti-Semitic nature of these claims has not stopped Hungary’s Prime Minister Viktor Orban, former U.S. President Donald Trump, and their followers from propagating them.

Both Orban and Trump often point to their support for Israel as proof that they are not anti-Semites. "No president has done more for Israel than I have," Trump boasted in October. Orban, for his part, has cited Israel and Hungary as "models of successful conservative communities". But he has also said that Hungarians "do not want to become peoples of mixed race" – a statement more redolent of old-fashioned racism than of sympathy for the Jewish people.

In today's political environment, however, being pro-Israel and anti-Semitic is not a contradiction. In fact, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the even more radical members of his cabinet have a great deal in common with the right-wing nationalist figures in Europe and the United States with whom they have aligned.

After all, Israeli far-right extremists are, like Orban, ethno-nationalists. National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, for example, views national identity in racial terms and has called for the expulsion of Palestinian-Israeli citizens suspected of "disloyalty" to the Jewish state. His main role model is Meir Kahane, the radical rabbi who likened co-existence with Palestinians to "co-existence with cancer".

https://en.qantara.de/content/israels-r ... i-semitism

[Della]

"Is it any wonder, then, that liberal Jews worldwide feel increasingly alienated from Israel under its current leadership? Democratic Congressman Jake Auchincloss said recently that his Jewish constituents differ on many issues, but are united in their concern that Israel is headed toward "illiberal democracy". Even the staunchly pro-Zionist Anti-Defamation League has condemned the "Jewish racism" that characterises Israel's new government."

[Momto2boys973]

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