4 min read
Muslim Brotherhood
President Trump is right to seek a crackdown on the hated Muslim Brotherhood. (US confronts the Muslim Brotherhood threat, November 28) . His recent Executive Order will examine three foreign branches of the Brotherhood (in Egypt, Jordan and Lebanon) and potentially proscribe them as Specially Designated Global Terrorists, triggering sanctions, travel bans and other restrictions. Such an action is long overdue and justified. The Muslim Brotherhood is ideologically fixated on establishing a global caliphate ruled by Sharia law. Unlike its violent offshoots (Al Qaeda, ISIS), it works stealthily and over the long term, burrowing its way into civil society institutions, such as universities and charities, in order to promote an Islamist vision that undermines western values. It is endemically totalitarian in its aims and deeply antisemitic to the core. Were it not for the close relations between the US and Qatar, Doha too would find itself in the crosshairs of the Trump administration. It is surely now time for the UK government to proscribe the Brotherhood, putting it in line with countries like the UAE, Egypt, Jordan and Austria.
Dr Jeremy Havardi
Director, B'nai B'rith UK Bureau of International Affairs
No pardon for Netanyahu
I understand Yaakov Katz’s pragmatic argument for pardoning Benjamin Netanyahu, but profoundly disagree with his analysis (Pardoning Netanyahu is wrong-and exactly what Israel needs right now, December 5). Under no circumstances should President Herzog pardon the Israeli Prime Minister – on whose watch occurred the worst pogrom since the Holocaust – for his alleged charges of corruption. What is the point of Israel claiming the moral high ground as the only democracy in the Middle East, if it resorts to a Trumpian contempt for democratic institutions in order to perpetuate power? The rule of law should be sacrosanct. Are we suggesting that Bibi is irreplaceable? He is not the meshiach. This can only diminish Israel’s standing in the eyes of the world and intensify antisemitism in the diaspora.
Stan Labovitch
Windsor
Farage at school
I am writing to express my serious concern regarding Stephen Pollard’s recent opinion piece, The Guardian, the BBC and the weaponisation of antisemitism against Nigel Farage (theJC.com November 26) The article appears to conflate legitimate criticism of media bias with an uncritical defence of Nigel Farage and Reform UK — a position that risks undermining the moral and historical responsibilities of a Jewish publication.
The dismissal of allegations surrounding Farage’s reported use of racist and antisemitic language at school as mere “schoolboy insults” is troubling. These accounts, given by numerous former classmates, describe behaviour that cannot simply be brushed aside. Allegations of Nazi slogans or racial slurs directed at Jewish and non-white pupils demand sober consideration, not minimisation.
Equally concerning is the lack of engagement with Reform UK’s broader record and origins. The movement has drawn criticism for xenophobic rhetoric and for empowering elements of the far right. For a Jewish newspaper to defend or soften its stance toward such a party is particularly fraught, given Jewish historical experience with extremist politics.
Most importantly, the article seems to imply that because The Guardian exhibits an anti-Israel bias — and because it is critical of Farage and Reform — Jewish readers should view Farage more favourably. This is a false and reductive conclusion. The Guardian being wrong does not make Nigel Farage right, nor does its hostility toward Israel make Reform UK aligned with Jewish interests.
Jewish institutions must avoid the trap of supporting reactionary movements simply because they oppose other sources of bias. Our community should stand against racism and extremism wherever they appear, even – and especially – when such actors offer superficial expressions of support for Israel or the Jewish community. Aligning with those who foster hostility toward Muslims or other minorities weakens our credibility and undermines the universal principles of dignity and justice that should guide Jewish public life.
Jewish history teaches us the dangers of normalising far-right politics, and we must be cautious not to repeat the mistakes of others by embracing those who amplify division.
Rachelle Harris
Lisbon, Portugal
Cleese on Israel
How sad to see the apology from John Cleese and that "he will travel, and perform free, to Israel when it is safe"!
Surely it is rather safer than most Middle East countries. He really should be better informed!
Hugh Marsden
London
W14
Yiddish memories
Your archive article regarding the use of Yiddish (From the JC Archive, December 5) brought back both personal and professional memories. My grandmother arrived in the 1920s as a refugee from the Ukraine after witnessing the massacre of her neighbours in her shtetl.
By the time her family finally were allowed to enter Britain she had become widowed with five children. She managed to get some help to purchase a basket from which she sold hosiery eventually ending up running a shop in Oldhill Street Clapton.
She steadfastly adhered to her orthodox lifestyle while running Brenner’s retail drapery shop . Her entire business was conducted in Yiddish, all her accounts and labelling were in Yiddish. Oldhill Street had primarily Jewish shops so communication was never a problem. But then the great change occurred and the area had many more Caribbean customers. My grandmother reluctantly finally decided to retire aged 85. Interestingly today Oldhill Street is primarily a strictly Orthodox shopping street and Yiddish is the most common language.
Professionally when I worked as a young social worker at the Jewish Board of Guardians ( Jewish Welfare Board ) the trustees were primarily drawn from the “Jewish aristocracy”. The gulf between them and the clients using the services was enormous and there was often a lack of understanding of some aspects of traditional Judaism. I can recall the disdain they showed when I interpreted individuals using Yiddish. What a relief it was when as Chief Executive together with new trustees drawn from similar backgrounds to myself the agency was in great shape to help create a shining example of Jewish values with the formation of Jewish Care.
Melvyn Carlowe OBE
Chief Executive JWB 1972-1989
Chief Executive Jewish Care 1990-2001
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