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August 19, 2008
On Anti-Semitism and Anti-Zionism
German author and journalist Henryk Broder didn't pull his punches when speaking at a public hearing on anti-Semitism before the Budestag's Domestic Affairs Committee.
Anti-Semitism and anti-Zionism are two sides of the same coin. ... The modern anti-Semite pays tribute to Jews who have been dead for 60 years, but he resents it when living Jews take measures to defend themselves.
... If I may in all modesty make a suggestion: leave the good old anti-Semitism to the archaeologists and antiquarians and historians. Devote your attention to the modern anti-Semitism that wears the disguise of anti-Zionism and to its representatives. You will find some of the latter among your own ranks.
You can read Broder's full speech, translated by John Rosenthal, here.
Posted by at August 19, 2008 01:17 PM
Comments
I am just over half-way through what must come to be recognized as an outstanding contribution to this debate, and the only full-length analysis that I know. This is philosopher Bernard Harrison's The Resurgence of Anti-Semitism. In it, he pulls no punches and takes no prisoners. Modern anti-Zionism is anti-Semitism. With the sort of precision only a philosopher can muster, he cuts through all the bluster and masquerading, and shows the 'I'm only anti-Israel' arguments for what they really are. It's intelligent, well-informed, and hard to rebut, though many will try. If you want to read only one text on this subject, this is the one.
Posted by: Denis MacEoin at August 26, 2008 05:49 PM
As a frequent debater,I know of no one who claims that criticism of Israel as such is anti-semitic. To exaggerate wildly Israel's "sins" while all but ignoring vastly worse around the world is anti-semitic. To argue that Israel, born of UN resolutions, is "illegitimate", is anti-semitic. To go through the most contorted logic to justify deliberate attacks on Israeli civilians while going into spasms of crocodile tears every time some telegenic tyke on the West Bank gets a hangnail is anti-semitic.
Jim
Posted by: Jim at August 27, 2008 12:58 PM
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