On anti-Semitism, anti-anti-Semitism and anti-anti-anti-Semitism

[Behind the Aegis]

This might prove to be a huge mistake - reader's anger etc. - but I'm going to delve into the are-progressive-Jews-encouraging-anti-Semitism debate. I've avoided this subject for a while, thinking I already had my fair share of anti-Semitism in this blog for one month. I've been following the debate though, and now, late in the game, I'm not going to repeat all that's been said already, just to make some remarks. So, here it is:

1. First, if you still need to familiarize yourself with the story itself, here it is, in short: Prof. Alvin Rosenfeld of Indiana University published an article on the American Jewish Committee web site blaming Jewish progressive critics of Israel of encourage anti-Semitism, if not exactly practicing, anti-Semitism. The controversy that followed included a front page NYT story and many other articles, remarks, tirades and angry responses (If you want a sample try the British Guardian piece here, a Boston Globe opinion piece here, Samuel Feedman in the Jpost , Bret Stephens in defense of anti anti-Semitism here).

2. Rosenfeld blames Jewish intellectuals for providing ammunition to anti-Semites, but I'm not convinced this makes a good case against their views. Let's say that Rosenfeld is right in the sense that Tony Judt's opinions actually encourage anti-Semites. So what should he (and the other anti-Israel Jewish progressives) do - stop expressing them? Judt (fortunately) isn't a leader; he has no constituency and is responsible mainly for himself. If other people choose to use his words to justify their anti-Semitism - well, shame on them. He should be taken to task on the merit of his arguments, not on others' misuse or misdeeds.

3. Rosenfeld was quite clear though that he wasn't criticizing people who might disagree with Israel's policies, but rather those who question Israel's right to exist. Did it help him in any way? Nope. People kept criticizing him for trying to silence political debate. And you know why they did that? To score points and present themselves as martyrs. Easier for them to argue over the alleged "censorship" than over the actual argument he is making.

4. And speaking of censorship, it's really time to drop this ridiculous, pathetic complaint. Rosenfeld, rightly, points out that "Israel is singled out more than any other country on the globe for inaccurate and one-sided condemnations of its alleged human rights abuses and targeted for boycotts and divestment campaigns." Crying "censorship" is just another way of de-legitimizing Israel and its supporters - and, by the way, an attempt to silence Rosenfeld, who also has the right to express his distaste of the people he criticizes.

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