Ten years ago, I was accused of pandering to hysteria when I praised Melanie Phillips’ groundbreaking book, “Londonistan,” detailing the alarming growth of anti-Semitism in the U.K. and predicting further deterioration unless the British government drastically altered its approach.
Many British Jews, especially those living in Jewish enclaves, were in denial, simply unwilling to face reality. Their attitude is brilliantly portrayed in Howard Jacobson’s 2010 Man Booker Prize-winning novel, “The Finkler Question,” which satirically portrays a British Jew desperately seeking to become socially acceptable.
Those who assailed Melanie Phillips as an extremist 10 years ago today would concede that her analysis has been absolutely vindicated, and alas, her predictions of intensifying anti-Semitism were understated.
Who then would have dreamed that the alternate government in the U.K. – the Labour Party – would not only be riddled with anti-Semites, but would elect a leader, Jeremy Corbyn, who praises Hamas; maintains that Hamas and Hezbollah are committed to peace; calls for a boycott of Israel; accepts Islamic demonization of Israel; and associates with Holocaust denier Paul Eisen, whom he defends as “far from a dangerous man”; and endorses Raed Salah, who employed the medieval blood libel to justify Palestinian terrorism?
It should therefore not be surprising that Corbyn refuses to purge the increasingly vocal anti-Semites from his party, despite widespread media exposure and repeated pleas from distraught members.
Jews are also shocked with the extension of this hatred which has penetrated leading universities, including Oxford. The depiction by Alex Chalmers, former head of the Oxford University Labour Club, of the anti-Semitism he encountered and the support of Hamas that obliged him to resign, is chilling. The Sunday Times disclosed that during the TV coverage of funerals for those murdered in the Paris kosher supermarket, the members mocked the Jewish victims, sang songs about rockets over Tel Aviv, and related to Auschwitz as a “cash cow” for Jews.
Although Jews living in predominately Jewish areas are less affected, there has been an exponential growth of public anti-Semitic incidents, including acts of violence.
These events have shattered the myth that anti-Semitism in the U.K. is restricted to Muslims and fringe indigenous elements. The BBC is not controlled by Islamists but its extreme bias and double standards have molded public opinion toward the demonization of Israel. Much of the anti-Israelism that initially emanated from Trotskyite elements has now become intrinsic to the DNA of many left-wingers. The boycott, divestment and sanctions movement is primarily promoted by indigenous leftist activists.
Although a few hard-core Jewish Labour supporters have criticized Arkush for publicly stating that Jews were losing trust in the party, the majority of Jewish leftists unequivocally condemned Corbyn’s attitude and were no less damning of the rampant anti-Semitism in the party than the Board president.