Hate on campus
I used to wonder why the German universities in the early 1930s, formerly true to a tradition of learning and an impartial respect for the truth, had fallen so completely for the Nazi ideology, with its brutal perversion of the truth and its dissemination of hatred. Now, faced with the appalling treatment of Jewish students at most of our universities, (Universities failing to protect pro-Israel students from hate, JC May 15) we are faced with the same phenomenon with their capitulation to an ideology of hatred.
What is particularly hurtful are the responses of some of those universities (produced by bots?) to the charges brought against them. Many are an insult to one’s intelligence and evidence only of their lack of real concern for their Jewish students.
Lionel Blumenthal
London NW11
Marching on
I have some sympathy with Barrington Black’s views on waving the Israeli flag at rallies against antisemitism (Letters, May 15). However, flag waving does not necessarily indicate support for the government “without exception”.
I have attended nearly all of the rallies against antisemitism. As a proud British Jew, I always wave the Union Jack but I certainly do not support all of our current government’s policies.
Mr Black believes it is appropriate to display religious symbols at these events but not flags. I respectfully disagree. Judaism is not merely a religion: it is also about identity, belonging and peoplehood. To many Jews, the Israeli flag is an expression of that peoplehood.
Am Yisrael Chai!
Sidney Myers
London NW2
On the eve of Saturday’s Nakba march, the Prime Minister issued a statement claiming that the march was “peddling hatred and division” and is “a reminder of what we are up against in a battle of our values”.
For once I welcomed a statement from the Prime Minister until I realised that he was not talking about the Jew hate march.
It seems that in the mind of the Prime Minister, when the right march, it’s division and hatred but when the left march it’s legitimate protest.
Shimon Cohen
London N2
Where were you at the Unite The Kingdom march? British Jewry is an embarrassment.
The Jewish community refuses to stand with the British patriots and chooses to segregate itself.
There were hundreds of Iranians marching but Jews I could count on two hands.
What was the point of an antisemitism march the week before this march?
We are British Jews. We need to stand and be seen to be standing with the rest of Britain against uncontrolled immigration and the violence it has brought with it.
We are all victims. Wake up Jewish community! Stop hiding!
Mark Kaye
Elstree
Second best
Who wants to win the Eurovision Song Contest (which includes Australia!) when the winner is responsible for the jamboree of hosting the next competition, with all its excessive razzmatazz! So Israel coming second in this competition without incurring the next year’s responsibility (apart from the money involved, imagine the riots that would ensue!) is the best possible result. Of course, the antisemites are not happy, and are accusing Israel of spending too much money on publicity – presumably they didn’t think of doing that, if it is true (which I doubt).
Dr Nina Collins
Leeds LS17
Israel’s place in the world
In its appeal to the government to treat antizionism as antisemitism, StandWithUs UK does not seem to realise that it is asking for something unattainable, for when Britain joined 156 other mostly Muslim countries and recognised Palestine, it has itself become antizionist – by denying Zion its heartland of Judea and Samaria.
Thus, through a malconceived act of political and financial opportunism, Britain has entrenched itself in the falsehoods of antizionism, setting in motion an unstoppable chain reaction of distortions and lies, such as “occupied Palestinian territories”, “settler violence”, “deliberate starvation of civilians”, “disproportionate use of force” – to justify its stance.
Moreover, Britain is now duty-bound to cosy up to other antizionists, notably the Palestinians and their diplomats, civil societies and advocacy groups operating in London and across the UK. It is also compelled to endorse their revised and ever-embellished versions of history.
Antizionism therefore can be viewed as a state-sanctioned antisemitism, a top-down phenomenon, readily embraced by hardcore Jew-haters ensconced in British schools, universities, media, the unions, the NHS, political echelons and more – with a mutual goal of discrediting, demonising and delegitimising Israel’s existence.
The government is the problem; the chickens cannot plead with the fox. Unless it retrieves its moral compass, the government is unlikely to provide a solution, regardless of how superficially impressive its efforts will appear to be.
Eda Spinka
London NW4
Reports that Israel is supplying Iron Dome missile-defence technology to the UAE should give pause to politicians advocating boycotts of Israel.
It is difficult to portray Israel as an international pariah when even Arab states increasingly rely on Israeli technology to help protect civilian lives and regional stability.
Trevor Lyttleton MBE
London NW11
Re the article about the number of refugees from the Nakba. My aunt who is still alive and was in Israel at the time, remembers news broadcasts from Cairo telling their brothers to leave Palestine. Once all the Jews had been killed they could come back and live in their houses.
Martin Burstyn
London N10
Hurray for Misha’s dad
Misha Mansour’s column never fails to amuse me especially when it’s about her family.
Her father sounds like he’s enjoying the best time of his life, having a laugh at the grand old age of 92.
Long may he continue to amuse us all.
Wishing him till 120!
Caroline Dascal
London E8
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