Reality Bytes…writes Michael Kuttner

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As I have mentioned on more than one occasion, hardly a week passes without some reminder that Israel and Jews continue to be the target of obsessive politicians and individuals.

Michael Kuttner

Whether ignorance or just plain prejudice drives this agenda the plain fact is that playing the blame game and attributing negative, ancient hatreds and negative accusations against us is merely a continuation of the same old diet which we have faced over the last two thousand years or so. However what should be ringing alarm bells is the rising crescendo of such delegitimisation not only from the expected sources such as Europe but also emanating from what have been until recent times places considered enlightened and untainted by past historical contaminations.

Here is a summary of this last week’s examples which is not by no means exhaustive but serves to illustrate the dangers facing us all and which we ignore and downplay at our peril.

The continuing Kerry fantasy drama reveals how detached from reality one can be, especially as our potential peace partners never miss an opportunity to demonstrate their undying yearning for a Jew free landscape. This was amply demonstrated by Saeb Erekat, the PLO chief negotiator. First, he made it clear recently while speaking to foreign supporters that the Palestinian Arabs will never accept Israel’s right to exist as a Jewish State. As he stated:” our entire existence as a people is predicated on denying Jewish rights and nationhood. I cannot change my narrative…” Then, in the presence of Tzippi Livni, the Israeli Minister tasked with negotiating some sort of a deal, the same PLO representative boldly asserted that he had a 10,000 year history stretching back to the Canaanites. His ancestors were in Jericho well before the Israelites arrived and suffered a nakba type disaster when Joshua and his fellow terrorists destroyed the city.

Do you discern already which way the wind is blowing? Needless to say this blatant piece of fictitious historical and genealogical revisionism went viral and thus millions are already convinced that Jewish Israeli crimes against the ancient Palestinian/Canaanites are nothing new. I am still waiting to hear a firm and robust condemnation of this piece of Jew hatred from Israeli Government Ministers, the President and Diaspora Jewish leaders, many of whom are never backwards in giving advice when they feel we are too assertive of our rights.

In a further declaration of non compromising stances, this same individual told an audience of Arabs in London this weekend that no Israelis (i.e. Jews) would be allowed to reside in a Palestinian Arab State, every centimeter of East Jerusalem is part of their future capital (this includes the Mount of Olives & Western Wall) and that as well as Arab refugees and their descendants being allowed to come back to Israel, extensive compensation must be made to those who may not want to do so.

The Palestinian Arab Authority Minister of Holy Places declared this week: “The PA demands total control of the Western Wall and every centimeter of land taken in 1967..”  Bearing in mind that our peace partners deny the Jewish historical connection to Israel and given the dismal track record of religious tolerance in our immediate vicinity, let alone the ethnic cleansing of Jews from Jerusalem in 1948, can anyone other than somebody totally detached from reality, really believe that a genuine peace is attainable with these people? Kerry/Obama and their supporters obviously do. Need one say any more

Hamas has objected about the teaching of human rights, Magna Carta, Martin Luther King, and Gandhi in UNRWA schools. They maintain that teaching such subjects is “alien to our culture.” UNRWA spokesman, Adnan Abu Hasnah told the Palestinian News Agency in response that UNRWA would never adopt curricula that violate customs and traditions of the Palestinian people. I am still waiting to hear an intelligent comment from the UN Secretary General as well as donor nations. Australia is undertaking a review of its foreign aid priorities. Canberra should start with closely examining exactly what happens to its taxpayers’ money in Gaza and in UNRWA schools.

The President of the European Union Parliament, Martin Schulz, addressed the Knesset. As a declared “friend” of Israel, this German politician then proceeded to condemn Israel for its “siege” of Gaza and stealing of water resources. He and his leftist Israel supporters then recoiled in horror when all the MK’s of the Bayit Yehudi Party contradicted his false claims and walked out. Obviously those who spread untruths expect today’s Jews to meekly remain silent as they were accustomed to do in the past. Was the walkout diplomatic? No, but then was it diplomatic to stand in front of Israel’s elected representatives and trot out lies which are part of the EU’s campaign against the Jewish State? Needless to say our esteemed President soon groveled and issued copious apologies. No wonder our adversaries believe they can attack us with impunity.

The Danish Government has banned Shechita. Its Agricultural Minister declared that animal rights come before religion. Moves have already been made in Scandinavia and Europe to also ban Brit Mila because the rights of babies come before religion. The head of the Danish Jewish Community nevertheless believes there is nothing to worry about because relations between the Danish authorities and the community are excellent. Unfortunately this myopic  wishful thinking and naïve belief that Judeophobia has nothing to do with it repeats the same blindness which afflicted Germany’s and Europe’s communities prior to and after 1933.

Belgium has just passed a law allowing euthanasia for children. Given the rise of far right anti Jewish and anti immigrant parties there and in Europe, how long will it take before the same route taken in 1930’s Germany to kill “undesirables” (i.e. mentally challenged children, Jews & Gypsies etc) becomes the norm? In this same wonderfully liberal country, persons unknown for the second time took over the railway public address system and announced that the next stop was Auschwitz and all Jews would need to get off and take a shower. Those responsible have still not been apprehended.

The USA Presbyterian Church has issued a report which accuses Zionism and Zionists of supremacist beliefs and therefore entirely responsible for crimes against the peace loving Palestinian Arabs. In other words we are still guilty of original sin and no doubt theologically deserve everything coming to us.

To prove that we have our own home grown useful idiots, a Jewish teacher at an ORT run school in Israel told his class that Jews have no right whatsoever to be in Israel/Palestine. When a pupil complained to the authorities and the teacher was censured, his colleagues were outraged and called a strike in solidarity. Other academics and so called enlightened liberals joined in the chorus accusing critics of being fascist.

The above few examples of just one week demonstrate the enormity of the problems facing us. I am often accused of being paranoid, alarmist and concentrating on bad news. True, there is good news out there, but if we ignore and minimize the hate boiling beneath the surface and erupting globally we will never be able to tackle the potent threats in real time before it is too late.

Shimon Peres once said that Israel does not need public relations because if we only would behave according to the whims and wishes of the international community we will have all the public relations we need and love will envelop us.

Those who believe this fantasy have learnt nothing from our history. It’s up to the rest of us to scream and shout and work actively to stem the tide of delegitimisation.

Michael Kuttner is a Jewish New Zealander who for many years was actively involved with various communal organisations connected to Judaism and Israel. He now lives in Israel and is J-Wire’s correspondent in the region.