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September 26, 2003
An invective against bigotry
Even George Orwell would be astounded at the new anti-Semitism.
PAT JOHNSON SPECIAL TO THE JEWISH BULLETIN
Phyllis Chesler, an American Jew, a feminist, a self-professed
radical and ex-wife of both an Israeli Jew and an Afghani Muslim,
has written a book that is alarming and necessary.
Chesler, the author of several books on women's sociology, says
she resisted writing this book, partly because she didn't want to
be viewed as a "professional Jew." But world events forced
her hand, she writes, and the book that emerged is a testament of
this time of re-emerging Jew-hatred.
For the unconvinced, Chesler spends an enormous amount of time outlining
the litany of events around the world (before and after Sept. 11,
2001) that constitute what she terms the "new" anti-Semitism.
Some readers will wonder what is new about the new anti-Semitism.
A reasonable person could conclude the only thing new is the complacency
that allowed Jews and others to imagine that anti-Semitism was a
spent force since the mid-20th century.
Chesler defines the jihadism as a dominant force in the Islamic
world, but is careful to note the richness of earlier Islamic cultures
before they were usurped and degraded by religious and political
fundamentalism.
The bulk of the book, however, focuses on Israel and Jews in the
world. The impetus for the book, she writes, came in large part
from her realization that Israel could no longer be spoken of in
polite company. The vitriol with which anti-Zionist views are expressed
in the United States and elsewhere rings bells for many Jews and
shuts down discussion.
In The New Anti-Semitism, Chesler offers an encyclopedic
compendium of anti-Semitic incidents around the world over the past
millennia, but particularly in the past three years. Informed Jewish
readers do not need to be reminded of these incidents here, but
it is important and valuable to have this documented in a single
source.
Chesler concludes early in her book that "In a politically
correct, multicultural world, anti-Semitism is the last acceptable
prejudice." Those who need convincing probably won't read this
book. But those who do read it with an open mind are likely to agree.
The period from 1948 to 1968 was a unique "honeymoon"
period between Jews and the larger world, she states. Yet she reminds
us that Arab attacks on Jews did not take a hiatus during this period.
Neither did a vibrant industry of Holocaust denial, which is a form
of the anti-Semitic mania that has emerged since the latest intifada
polarized world opinion on Israel and the Palestinians.
"Israel is held to a different standard, because Jews are held
to a different standard," Chesler writes, and she authoritatively
backs up her assertion.
"Today, this historical strain of anti-Semitism continues but,
in the last 50 years, it has metamorphosed into the most virulent
anti-Zionism, which in turn had increasingly held Jewish people
everywhere, not only in Israel, accountable for the military policies
of the Israeli government."
She notes that Israel's smallest infractions are demonized, while
armies that murder, rape and torture elsewhere in the world are
ignored and never held to justice. She effectively puts the issue
of the "humiliation" of Palestinians at Israeli checkpoints
in perspective. Quoting a retired British colonel, the Israeli checkpoints
are "kindergarten" compared to the ones the colonel passed
through in the Balkans.
"Here we are dealing with arrogant, bored, 18- and 19-year
olds – not drunken Serbs," said Col. Larry Hollingsworth.
"The worse [sic] thing that happens to us is that we're delayed."
Admittedly, Hollingsworth is British, not a Palestinian seeking
access to Israel, and this is one of several points in the book
where Chesler leaves herself open to accusations of speciousness.
However, it is a worthwhile point, if not ideally articulated.
Where she is most articulate is in her revulsion at the hypocrisy
of feminists, progressive people and others who attack Israel and,
tacitly or explicitly, side with the most misogynist, anti-democratic
and violent regimes and terrorist organizations in the world. At
one rally in San Francisco, she reports, posters depicted canned
foods, marked with "Made in Israel" and the contents listed
as "Palestinian Children Meat." This is one of countless
examples of how the anti-Israel movement has lost all sense of perspective,
to say nothing of good taste or fair comment.
What is new about the "new" anti-Semitism, Chesler
concludes, is that it is being purveyed in the name of anti-racism
and anti-colonialism.
"Therefore, when such champions of freedom chant 'death to
the Jews' or 'divest in apartheid colonialist Israel,' by definition
these are not racist remarks. The new anti-Semites are not anti-Semites
because they say they're not. Even George Orwell would be
astounded."
Chesler offers a section of questions and answers to what she calls
the Big Lies, but laments a certain hopelessness at introducing
a fair balance to the discussion. Quoting Winston Churchill, Chesler
notes that "A lie gets halfway around the world before the
truth has a chance to get its pants on."
Chesler's writing style is nothing spectacular, but this book is
among a small number now emerging to refute what seems an overwhelming
disadvantage faced by Israel and Jews in the Middle East, the United
States and around the world. However, Canada's experience is significantly
different from the American case Chesler presents and, sadly, may
be even worse. The New Anti-Semitism is, however, a monumental
step to illuminating the horrible bias and bigotry occurring almost
everywhere. It's not a monument of literary accomplishment –
Chesler acknowledges it was produced in record time – but it
should be read by anyone who participates in this debate.
Pat Johnson is a Vancouver freelance writer. His
book on Canadian views on Israel and Zionism will be published next
spring by New Star Books.
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