Article in largest circulation Brighton Paper
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By Tony Greenstein on August 14, 2014 in Columnists, Tony Greenstein
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| Regular demonstrations against the killing in Gaza have attracted hundreds of people in Brighton and Hove |
Like
many Jews, I grew up in the shadow of the holocaust. I can remember reading, at
an early age, Lord Russell’s Scourge of the Swastika and wondering how human
beings could behave with such cruelty towards each other.
The
lesson I drew was that Jewish people, above all, should oppose all racism. That
is why I find the attack on the people of Gaza so unforgiveable. The excuses,
the “rockets” and “self-defence” are worthy of Goebbels, at his worst.
Hamas is
but the latest of the “new” Hitlers – from Nasser and the PLO to Hizbollah –
that Israel manufactures to justify a permanent state of war. Hamas was
virtually created by the Israeli state.
but the latest of the “new” Hitlers – from Nasser and the PLO to Hizbollah –
that Israel manufactures to justify a permanent state of war. Hamas was
virtually created by the Israeli state.
David
Shipler, a former reporter for the New York Times, cites the military governor
of Gaza. He wrote: “[Brigadier General
Yitzhak Segev] once told me how he had financed the Islamic movement [ie Hamas]
as a counterweight to the PLO and the communists. ‘The Israeli government gave
me a budget and the military government gives to the mosques, he said”.
The
Zionist movement, which created Israel, was formed, according to its founder,
Theodor Herzl, on the basis that it was “futile”
to fight anti-Semitism. Anti-Semitism was a “natural” phenomenon. Before 1941 and the holocaust, Zionists were
the Nazis’ favoured group within the German Jewish community.
Zionist movement, which created Israel, was formed, according to its founder,
Theodor Herzl, on the basis that it was “futile”
to fight anti-Semitism. Anti-Semitism was a “natural” phenomenon. Before 1941 and the holocaust, Zionists were
the Nazis’ favoured group within the German Jewish community.
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| Remembering the dead at War Memorial |
The
obscene use of the holocaust as a propaganda weapon ignores Zionism’s actual
role during the holocaust, when the policy of the Zionist leaders was to
prioritise the building of a state above rescue of the Jews. They opposed
rescue to anywhere but Palestine. One of the most shocking statements came from
Israel’s first prime minister, David Ben-Gurion: “If I knew that it was
possible to save all the children in Germany by bringing them over to England,
but only half of them by transporting them to Palestine, then I would opt for
the second alternative.”
obscene use of the holocaust as a propaganda weapon ignores Zionism’s actual
role during the holocaust, when the policy of the Zionist leaders was to
prioritise the building of a state above rescue of the Jews. They opposed
rescue to anywhere but Palestine. One of the most shocking statements came from
Israel’s first prime minister, David Ben-Gurion: “If I knew that it was
possible to save all the children in Germany by bringing them over to England,
but only half of them by transporting them to Palestine, then I would opt for
the second alternative.”
Ben-Gurion’s
official biographer, Shabtai Teveth, wrote: ‘‘If there was a line in Ben-Gurion’s
mind between the beneficial disaster and an all-destroying catastrophe, it must
have been a very fine one.”
official biographer, Shabtai Teveth, wrote: ‘‘If there was a line in Ben-Gurion’s
mind between the beneficial disaster and an all-destroying catastrophe, it must
have been a very fine one.”
According
to Ben-Gurion: “The whole trick of Zionism is that it knows how to channel our
disaster not into despondency but into a source of creativity and
exploitation.”
to Ben-Gurion: “The whole trick of Zionism is that it knows how to channel our
disaster not into despondency but into a source of creativity and
exploitation.”
The
chapter in Teveth’s biography of Ben-Gurion on the holocaust is entitled
“Disaster Means Strength”.
A Jewish
state means an ethnically-pure state. It is a recipe for violent nationalism
and widespread racism.
state means an ethnically-pure state. It is a recipe for violent nationalism
and widespread racism.
When a
small anti-war demonstration was held recently in Tel Aviv, it was attacked by,
among others, Jewish neo-Nazis sporting the symbols and logos of European
Nazis.
In 2007,
an extremely-violent Israeli Jewish neo-Nazi group was uncovered. Today, there
is a small but growing neo-Nazi sub-culture among sections of nationalist
youth.
These
Russian neo-Nazis came to live in Israel under the “Law of Return”, because one
of their grandparents is Jewish or married to a Jew (the same definition as in
the Nuremberg Laws). Palestinians who were born in Israel have no such right.
Russian neo-Nazis came to live in Israel under the “Law of Return”, because one
of their grandparents is Jewish or married to a Jew (the same definition as in
the Nuremberg Laws). Palestinians who were born in Israel have no such right.
When
Zionism first appeared in the late 19th century, the vast majority of Jews
rejected it as a form of Jewish anti-Semitism. The myth of Jewish yearning for
Palestine was of Christian origin. The conversion (or death) of Jews in the
fires of Armageddon is a pre-condition of the second coming of Christ. Of the
2.5 million Jews who escaped the pogroms in Russia, just 2% went to Palestine.
Zionism first appeared in the late 19th century, the vast majority of Jews
rejected it as a form of Jewish anti-Semitism. The myth of Jewish yearning for
Palestine was of Christian origin. The conversion (or death) of Jews in the
fires of Armageddon is a pre-condition of the second coming of Christ. Of the
2.5 million Jews who escaped the pogroms in Russia, just 2% went to Palestine.
Despite
all the efforts of Israel’s propagandists, Jews outside Israel are rebelling.
Israel’s actions as a Jewish state are responsible for an increase in
anti-Semitic attacks in France and elsewhere, which should be condemned
unconditionally.
all the efforts of Israel’s propagandists, Jews outside Israel are rebelling.
Israel’s actions as a Jewish state are responsible for an increase in
anti-Semitic attacks in France and elsewhere, which should be condemned
unconditionally.
Anti-Semitism
has always meant Jewish emigration to Israel. Israel is a Jewish state, not a
state of all its citizens; there is no Israeli nationality. Israel claims to
represent all Jews, myself included, even if they are citizens of and live in
other countries.
has always meant Jewish emigration to Israel. Israel is a Jewish state, not a
state of all its citizens; there is no Israeli nationality. Israel claims to
represent all Jews, myself included, even if they are citizens of and live in
other countries.
It is
incumbent on Jews to speak out and say “Not in my name”.
incumbent on Jews to speak out and say “Not in my name”.
About Tony Greenstein
View all articles by Tony Greenstein
Tony
Greenstein has written 13 articles on Brighton & Hove Independent.
Greenstein has written 13 articles on Brighton & Hove Independent.
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