The Public Ugliness is Growing In Great Britain
search
home page

The Public Ugliness is Growing In Great Britain

By Gilbert N. Kahn August 7, 2014, 12:00 am Edit

Gilbert N. Kahn is a professor of Political Science at Kean University.

For those who are suspect about the extent of the anti-Semitism developing in response to the Gaza War, herewith are few choice items from Great Britain from the past week. The stories are merely a representation of the rapidly changing culture concerning Israel and Jews in one place in a very brief period. As such they are exceedingly alarming. These news stories are in addition to anti-Israel demonstrations; disruption of pro-Israel rallies; public statements and speeches; and assorted initiatives harassing Jews.

  • In the middle of the Gaza War, the newly appointed British Foreign Secretary, Philip Hammond, announced that the war had “become intolerable” and could lead to anti-Semitic attacks against British Jews. The rather one-sided explanation implicit in his statement was that such attacks—should they occur—would be the result of Israel’s attack on Gaza.
  • Britain’s first female Muslim Cabinet Member, Baroness Sayeeda Warsi, resigned from the Cabinet. She indicated in her letter to Prime Minister David Cameron that she could not support the Government’s policy on Gaza. While clearly within her rights as a Cabinet member, it was not clear the extent to which she also protested publicly any of the Government’s other positions in the Middle East or Pakistan.
  • Lancet, the renowned British medical journal published a major editorial in its posting on July 30, 2014 and published on August 2, signed initially by 24 members and reportedly having been subsequently endorsed by hundreds. The pronouncement denounced Israeli aggression in Gaza in exceedingly strong terms.
  • An advertisement from Eli Wiesel which had appeared in The New York Times, the Washington Post, and the Wall Street Journal was rejected by The Times of London. The advertisement portrayed, among other things, how Hamas was using children as human shields. The Times suggested that the ad made the case too strongly for some of its readers.

For those interested in further details about anti-Semitic activities in Britain consult the website of the Community Security Trust—which monitors such activities throughout Great Britain for the British Jewish community. 

read more:
comments