Antisemitism Report 2009 - World Jewish Congress

Attempts to delegitimise Israel and Zionism, conducted by public spokespersons for the
Palestinians, included extreme allegations against Israel and Judaism. In addition, supporters
of the tyranny in Iraq or the theological fascists in Iran used whatever opportunities were
presented to them to level charges, in extreme language, against Israel, Zionism and, on
occasion, Jewry. For example, after bring quoted by a number of journalists as having said
the antisemitic blood libel was a legitimate part of the Middle East debate, Roland Jabbour
of the Australian Arabic Council claimed in August 2008 that ―The false charge of anti-
Semitism by some is used to silence and blackmail those to dare to criticize the Zionist‘ selfrighteous
and lawless child, the state of Israel. It is designed to frighten those who dare to
engage in and encourage honest debate about these important matters – something we must
do as a society in the interest of justice and peace. Israel continues its aggression while
claiming self-defense: a right usually reserved for the victims of aggression – and the same
right Israel denies its own victims.‖
Australians for Palestine hosted a public performance of the play ―Seven Jewish children‖,
widely criticised for promoting anti-Jewish tropes, in Melbourne in May. Its website
published articles with comments such as ―Just like the Poles and Jews who found ways
through tunnels and barbed wire to circumvent the Nazi plan to starve 400,000 people
walled up in the Warsaw Ghetto, these Palestinians too are finding ways to bring succour to
their people.‖ (30/6/09).
Although the many small groups which comprise the Australian far-left often make
declarations critical of racism in all its forms, demonisation of Israel is a common thread and
the extremes of language used to condemn Zionism and Israel can only promote a
mythology on Jewish "internationalism", powerful and evil, almost indistinguishable from
the far right. It should be noted that most of the groups in this sector are ambiguous, if not
internally contradictory, on questions of Jews and of Middle East politics, but the fact that
material was published promoting the concept of "Zionism" as an "international conspiracy"
and of Jews as Nazis warrants criticism.
Self-described human rights activist Maqsood Alshams wrote to a person who asked him why
he promoted extreme anti-Israel propaganda. (3/12/08) ―Dear Richard, The simple answer
is that you the Jews are real motherfucker bastards. In 1990 I myself entered in to the Jewish
Consulate in Istanbul in Turkey as a law abiding citizen, met two Jewish Diplomats named
Hayim Hosen and Eli Lev. I was stripped searched, sexually harassed, personally humiliated
by Mohsad agents, you should keep your dirty mouth shut calling any Bangladeshi a brother,
you guys are simply assholes. I don‘t want to make this an international issue being secured
in Australia. But simply Jews like you are the dirty scums! Stop playing the bloody victim
games. You scumms need to leave Palestine ASAP and give world a bit of peace! and kkeep
your dirty mouth shut! I wonder why God himself hate the Jews‖
The anonymous anti-Israel blogger Middle East Reality Check made a direct comparison of
Israel‘s role in the Middle East to Nazi Germany‘s occupation of Europe. (13/4/09).
The shallowness and intellectual dishonesty in some of the debate on the Middle East in
Australia was evident in the reception accorded a book written on Israel and Australia‘s
Jewish Community by an individual with no particular expertise, experience or skills but
who identified himself as a Jewish critic of Australian Jewry and of Zionism. While the
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