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| Others, however, deny that criticism of Israel (and Zionism) necessarily represents anti-Semitism. According to this view, when criticism of Israel is purely political in nature, it does not condemn the Jews. According to some, the overreaction of some Jewish groups means the dilution and abuse of the term anti-Semitism, that should be attributed only to hatred of Jews and dangerous and criminal acts, not to opinions about a nation's politics. The possibility exists that by labelling any criticism on Israel as anti-Semitic, some critics may indeed develop an anti-Semitic view in response. | Others, however, deny that criticism of Israel (and Zionism) necessarily represents anti-Semitism. According to this view, when criticism of Israel is purely political in nature, it does not condemn the Jews. According to some, the overreaction of some Jewish groups means the dilution and abuse of the term anti-Semitism, that should be attributed only to hatred of Jews and dangerous and criminal acts, not to opinions about a nation's politics. The possibility exists that by labelling any criticism on Israel as anti-Semitic, some critics may indeed develop an anti-Semitic view in response. | ||
| == The new anti-Semitism == | === The new anti-Semitism === | ||
| In his article , ], the new Minister of Justice for Canada, defines thirteen indices of discrimination against Jews that characterizes the "new anti-Jewishness". | In his article , ], the new Minister of Justice for Canada, defines thirteen indices of discrimination against Jews that characterizes the "new anti-Jewishness". | ||
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| :In a word, classical or traditional anti-Semitism is the discrimination against, or denial of, the right of Jews to live as equal members of a free society; <u> the new anti-Semitism—incompletely, or incorrectly, as "anti-Zionism"…—involves the discrimination against, denial of, or assault upon the right of the Jewish people to live as an equal member of the family of nations</u>. What is intrinsic to each form of anti-Semitism—and common to both—is discrimination. All that has happened is that it has moved from discrimination against Jews as individuals—a classical anti-Semitism for which there are indices of measurement (e.g., discrimination against Jews in education, housing, or employment)—to discrimination against Jews as people—a new anti-Semitism — for which one has yet to develop indices of measurement. | :In a word, classical or traditional anti-Semitism is the discrimination against, or denial of, the right of Jews to live as equal members of a free society; <u> the new anti-Semitism—incompletely, or incorrectly, as "anti-Zionism"…—involves the discrimination against, denial of, or assault upon the right of the Jewish people to live as an equal member of the family of nations</u>. What is intrinsic to each form of anti-Semitism—and common to both—is discrimination. All that has happened is that it has moved from discrimination against Jews as individuals—a classical anti-Semitism for which there are indices of measurement (e.g., discrimination against Jews in education, housing, or employment)—to discrimination against Jews as people—a new anti-Semitism — for which one has yet to develop indices of measurement. | ||
| Cotler proposes a set of indices by which we can identify…and monitor the nature and meaning of the new anti-Jewishness. These indices are organized around a juridical framework and draw upon principles of discrimination and equality as they find expression in both domestic and international law. There are thirteen indices that may serve to illustrate this new anti-Jewishness:<br> | |||
| === Genocidal anti-Semitism === | === Genocidal anti-Semitism === | ||
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| === Racist terrorism === | === Racist terrorism === | ||
| Racist ] against Jews refers to |
Racist ] against Jews refers to incitement to violence and terrorism against Jews. | ||
| ] | ] | ||
Revision as of 05:32, 22 June 2004
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In recent years some Jewish groups claim that they have noticed what they are describing as "the new anti-Semitism", especially in the anti-globalization movement, among many in the political left-wing, and among those who consider themselves anti-colonialist. Core characteristic of this "new anti-Semitism", they claim, is a vilification of Israel. The underlying thought is that criticism of Israel (and Zionism) is directed against Jews. Evidence for this claim is often sought in unfair criticism of Israel or the application of a double standard.
Others, however, deny that criticism of Israel (and Zionism) necessarily represents anti-Semitism. According to this view, when criticism of Israel is purely political in nature, it does not condemn the Jews. According to some, the overreaction of some Jewish groups means the dilution and abuse of the term anti-Semitism, that should be attributed only to hatred of Jews and dangerous and criminal acts, not to opinions about a nation's politics. The possibility exists that by labelling any criticism on Israel as anti-Semitic, some critics may indeed develop an anti-Semitic view in response.
The new anti-Semitism
In his article Human Rights and the New Anti-Jewishness, Irwin Cotler, the new Minister of Justice for Canada, defines thirteen indices of discrimination against Jews that characterizes the "new anti-Jewishness". Cotler states:
- In a word, classical or traditional anti-Semitism is the discrimination against, or denial of, the right of Jews to live as equal members of a free society; the new anti-Semitism—incompletely, or incorrectly, as "anti-Zionism"…—involves the discrimination against, denial of, or assault upon the right of the Jewish people to live as an equal member of the family of nations. What is intrinsic to each form of anti-Semitism—and common to both—is discrimination. All that has happened is that it has moved from discrimination against Jews as individuals—a classical anti-Semitism for which there are indices of measurement (e.g., discrimination against Jews in education, housing, or employment)—to discrimination against Jews as people—a new anti-Semitism — for which one has yet to develop indices of measurement.
Genocidal anti-Semitism
The first and most lethal is existential or genocidal anti-Semitism - the public call for the destruction of Israel and the Jewish people. Examples include the covenants of terrorist organizations like Hamas which publicly call for the destruction of Israel and the killing of Jews anywhere; religious fatwas — or execution writs — issued by radical Islamic clerics, which not only call for the destruction of Israel and the killing of Jews, but proclaim it also as a religious obligation and calls by member states of the international community — such as Iran or Iraq — for the destruction of Israel and its people, as evidenced in the statements by their respective political leadership that call not only for the destruction of Israel but also express the intent to use nuclear weapons to accomplish this genocidal purpose.
Cultural anti-Semitism
According to Cotler: "We are witnessing an explosion of European anti-Semitism without parallel or precedent since World War II. Some examples, to which I can personally attest to, following my visits to European capitals these past two years, include assaults upon and desecration of synagogues, cemeteries and Jewish institutions; attacks upon identifiable Jews; convergence of the extreme left and the extreme right in public demonstrations calling for "death to the Jews"; atrocity propaganda against Israel and Jews (e.g., Israel injects the AIDS virus into Palestinians); the ugly canard of double loyalty; the demonization of Israel through the escalating ascription of Nazi metaphors; indifference or silence in the face of horrific acts of terror against Israel and the threatening of sanctions against Israel for exercising its right of self-defense against these acts of terror."
However, there is no statistical or widely accepted consensus to make such claims credible.
Economic anti-Semitism
Classical economic anti-Semitism involved discrimination against Jews in housing, education, and employment; the new economic anti-Semitism involves the extra-territorial application by Arab countries of an international restrictive covenant against corporations conditioning their trade with Arab countries on their agreement not to do business with Israel (secondary boycott); or not doing business with another corporation which may be doing business with Israel (tertiary boycott); or even conditioning the trade with such corporations on neither hiring nor promoting Jews within the corporation (Cotler states that (he)was able to document this in the course of (his) chairing a Commission on Economic Coercion and Discrimination).
Holocaust denial
Holocaust denial is also a prominent exemplification of modern anti-Semitism. (Please click on the link for more information.)
Terrorist leaders, such as Abed al-Aziz Rantissi, were known and bold Holocaust deniers.
Racist terrorism
Racist terrorism against Jews refers to incitement to violence and terrorism against Jews.
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