What on earth is all this noise about 'anti-Semitism' ? The Labour party is in turmoil over it and the media is having a field day on the back of it. Is any of the huffing and puffing, rushing around, shouting and name-calling in any way justified, or is it just the standard reaction when anyone criticises the Israeli state ?
To start with, the very term 'anti-Semitic' is regularly misused or used in a very restrictive way. A 'Semite' is someone who speaks a semitic language and this includes the Arabs as well as the Jews, and also included the ancient Babylonians, Assyrians and Phoenicians. The Semitic languages include Arabic and Aramaic, as well as Hebrew and various others both extant and extinct. Semitic features are characteristic of the peoples who speak Semitic languages, most especially the Arabs and Jews, although the term Semitic also seems to be used simply to refer to Jews. The term anti-Semitic' has, however, been invented to specifically refer to someone who persecutes or discriminates against Jews, rather than being used in its wider linguistic meaning.
It's also the case that, in common with other -isms, the term 'anti-Semitism' is trotted out whenever those on the receiving end of criticism want to stifle debate or promote their own beliefs or points of view, or to simply prevent the criticism from continuing and gaining traction. The current nonsensical row in the Labour party is a fine example of this.
Naseem "Naz" Shah is Labour MP for Bradford West and a Muslim. Perhaps unsurprisingly given her faith, she does not like the way that the Israeli government has treated the Palestinian Arabs over many decades, and has said so. Unfortunately for her, her language has been clumsy and certain comments about Israel itself seriously ill-advised, but has she been 'anti-Semitic' ? Frankly, I see her as simply a rather a sad character who is way out of her depth and should never have been put forward as a Parliamentary candidate.
Then there is Ken Livingstone. He has also made some ill-advised comments and has almost certainly misunderstood, or misrepresented, certain historical facts, but does this amount to anti-Semitism ? Livingstone claimed that Adolf Hitler had supported Zionism, the Jewish desire for a homeland, specifically the land that they claim as that which was given to them in Biblical times. Nonsensical though such claims are, it is a fact that Hitler did enter into an agreement with the representatives of Zionist German Jews in 1933, the Haavara Agreement. This agreement was designed to facilitate the migration of German Jews to Palestine although it probably had more to do with getting them out of Germany than anything else. Nonetheless, it was seen by some leading German Zionists as being supportive of their goals.
For Livingstone to claim that this agreement meant that Hitler supported Zionism is pretty ridiculous but, again, by simply voicing this, albeit mistaken, idea, is he actually being anti-Semitic ? Of course he isn't. As any child is, or certainly used to be, taught, 'Sticks and stones can break your bones but words can never hurt you'. Sadly, in these days of ultra political correctness words seem to be given far greater prominence and meaning than they are worth. In the past, the silly comments of both Shah and Livingstone would simply have been put down to moments of madness and we'd have moved seamlessly on. Today, every last syllable is pawed over, every last ounce of possible meaning drawn out and the witch hunt begins.
The state of Israel was founded in vicious bloodshed after, and as a direct consequence, of the Second World War; it is now one of the most aggressive states in the world. It is defiantly protective of its borders and state religion and does everything it can to deflect all criticism of its actions. In most respects, it is little different to other states in the region which are founded on fanatical religious beliefs, such as Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, the much vilified Iran, and others. They are, in essence, continuing to fight centuries old religious wars, for no reason that makes any sense at all. What we have is Jewish zealots fighting Islamic zealots, with a mix of dictators, other fanatics and out-and-out terrorists thrown in.
There can be no doubt that some of the actions of the Israeli government vis-a-vis its Arab population have been grotesque and frequently out of all proportion to the perceived damage done to Israeli citizens and property. There are certainly grounds for arguing that the Israeli state is, itself, racist and operates an effective apartheid system. However, to fly into a tantrum because an MP and an aging former politician make a few silly remarks is idiotic. Criticism of Muslims is rife, as is criticism of many other sects, groups and organisations; why is Israel or, indeed, Judaism, any different ?
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