How anti-Semitism and hatred of Israel led to attack on Northern Ireland synagogue
How much anti-Semitism is there in Northern Ireland? The shattering of the windows of the Belfast synagogue (described by the PSNI as a religious hate crime) would suggest there's at least a bit of it about.
But we are constantly reassured that actually hatred of the Jews has absolutely nothing whatsoever to do with hatred of Israel? Or, to use the currently fashionable terms, hatred of the "Zionists".
The timing of the assault on the synagogue would seem to suggest, however, that there is some sort of link.
Like all attacks on places of religion – the Star of the Sea Catholic Church in Newtownabbey was also attacked at the weekend (again), and Belfast's Islamic Centre has recently been targeted too – this needs to be condemned utterly.
We already know the enormity of the problems we face in Northern Ireland with sectarianism, racism and homophobia. But maybe our biggest problem is with denial.
Hate crime, to give it its official label, is rarely unconnected with hate speech, hate mindset and ... well ... just plain, old hate.
Most of us immediately see a connection between the wild, despicable language of the pastor and racism directed at Muslim people.
Where anti-Semitic – sorry, anti-Zionist – clamour is concerned, however, there seems to be an entirely different logic at work.
http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/opinion/columnists/lindy-mcdowell/how-antisemitism-and-hatred-of-israel-led-to-attack-on-northern-ireland-synagogue-30451701.html
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