British Polite Society Has Found a Not-So-New Target

Wall Street Journal Europe ^ | 12/24/2001 | Melanie Phillips

[l33t]

By Melanie Phillips, a columnist with the Daily Mail in London.

Since the war against terror started, polite British society has found an enemy to target. It's neither the Taliban nor al Qaeda, however -- it's the state of Israel and Jews in general.

[damnlimey]

"The Brits have been anti-semitic for centuries !!"
What?All of us,Man that sucks,I didn't know I was a bigot

[Celtjew Libertarian]

The U.S., contingent on it continuing to uphold my rights, which I expect it will for the foreseeable future.

[snopercod]

"Actually, anti-Semitism was rather fashionable, until Hitler came along and overdid it."

Geez', this article is mild. You guys should read some Martin Luther on the Jews from the 1500s sometime!

You would think that mankind had realized by now that all would-be tyrants - religious or godless - need a scapegoat. In Europe it has historically been the Jews.

In France it was "the aristocracy". In Russia it was "the bourgeoisie"

In America since ~1900 it has been the businessmen.

[Dutchy]

I'd appreciate your comments my U.K. friends....

[Paul_E_Ester]

I am not clear what you mean "I remember 1967 when High School kids like myself were in awe of Israeli Air Force pilots. What we are seeing here now is pathetic." What really impressed you about the Israeli airforce/Navy attacking the USS Liberty in 1967?
http://www.ussliberty.com

[Lucius Cornelius Sulla]

I have to say that I am shocked, shocked that 'history is being used as a political weapon'. Next thing you'll tell me is that it is possible that politicians, like X-42, might stretch the truth sometimes. What is the world coming to.

[RichInOC]

Vidal responded, "I know you are. But are you loyal to my country?"

I'm missing something here. Why would Norman Podhoretz be loyal to Italy?

[Justin Raimondo]

Is that you Justin???? Hi di HO THERE!!!!

It sure ain't!

[LarryLied]

The Israelis are now seen as "priviledged" first-worlders, allies of the US, oppressing a "native" race.Essentially they are being criticised for being white, not for being jewish.

Great observation. I see this at Indymedia all the time but it never sunk in. It should have, they are all marxists over there. That is how inclucated the idea that all criticism of Jews or Israel orginates in some unreasoning hatred is.

[Torie]

If Britain declared war on Israel, whose side would I be on?

For this profoundly stupid question, the only intelligent answer would be, "It depends upon the circumstances." The author did not come up with the best answer.

[Torie]

The most disturbing thing about the crowd is that none seem cognizant of the fact that Barak made a generous offer to Arafat that would have ended all the nastiness seen on the TV screens, and Arafat not only rejected it, he failed to make any counter offer. I read somewhere recently that Arafat said that had in done so, he would have been killed by his own people.

I know Sharon, wrongly I think, rejects the Barak approach, but Israel needs to get this factlet out more. It needs to say it again, and again, and again. Arafat has shown absolutely no interest (perhaps due to the implacable hostility of his own people) in any peace deal that has any remote nexus to affording Israel with any reasonable chance of long term survival. Thus the war continues, and thus other "solutions" will have to be fashioned. If you can't live together, than you must live apart.

[l33t]

If you listen to the chastened Barak today he fully supports the policies Sharon has undertaken. His spin is that he helped reveal the true face of Arafat and his minions. Barak's only difference with Sharon is that he wants Israel to unilaterally withdraw from populated areas of the West Bank and annex the most vital areas including the Jordan valley.

[vrwc54]

Very discouraging. Not that I had any real plans to visit England, but it's off my list now. France was never on my list.

[l33t]

I bet you think that the United States and Osama Bin Laden are morally equivalent. But, hey, even people of modest intelligence having neither moral nor common sense are allowed to express their opinion.

As for Israel, like the French saying goes, "What a wicked animal this is, when he is attacked, he defends himself".