The real enemy

You know those people - what are they called again? Damn. My memory these days. Oh yes, that's it: Jews. Well, you may have heard that these Jews have been the object of a certain amount of prejudice during a couple of millennia, a prejudice that went so far on some occasions as to amount to hatred and even persecution, with one particularly aggravated episode which I won't go into here. But anyway, it is possible that you might have formed an impression from regrettable stuff of this sort that over the years these aforesaid Jews have had enemies here and there, and you might have formed the further impression that their enemies haven't altogether disappeared, what with the preaching of hatred against them in some quarters and indeed some countries, the increase in attacks on Jews in parts of Europe, the vandalization of synagogues and cemeteries, the denial by some that there ever was any aggravated episode, and so forth.

Think again. This is from a letter announcing a meeting to be held in the House of Commons:

18 January 2006

Dear Colleague

Tuesday 31 January 2006, 5-6.30pm
Committee Room 6, House of Commons

Baroness Jenny Tonge and I are writing to invite you to a meeting to hear a presentation by Alan Hart of his new book "Zionism: The Real Enemy of the Jews". This highly readable and authoritative book argues that we must understand the reality of the history of Israel and distinguish between Judaism and Zionism if we are to find a peaceful solution to the Israeli/Palestinian conflict and prevent the growth of anti-Semitism.

The letter, signed by Clare Short and Jenny Tonge, goes on to give some details about the book's author, Alan Hart.

So, the real enemy of the Jews - by contrast, one must presume, with their merely apparent, or more fictitious, enemies - is... Zionism. It comes as a surprise to me that it has taken an 'authoritative' book to establish that Judaism and Zionism are not the same thing, a proposition that would already have been known by every serious person, since Judaism is a religion and Zionism, loosely, is support for a Jewish homeland approximately where Israel now is. But never mind; some people are more slow-witted than others. Ms Short and Baroness Tonge are in any case signed up to preventing the growth of anti-Semitism by endorsing the claim that the 'real enemy' of the Jews is the idea that the Jews are entitled to a homeland in the place where they have their origins as a people.

On the back of this letter of invitation there is a blurb about Alan Hart's book. He urges 'informed and honest debate' and, to this end, courage. Why courage? Because...

"The one thing most people of all faiths and none have in common is fear of offending Zionism and being falsely accused of anti-Semitism." To back his plea that we all stop being frightened of offending Zionism - "all means the media and politicians especially" - Alan explains the difference between Judaism and Zionism, and thus why it is perfectly possible (despite Zionism's brilliantly orchestrated assertion to the contrary) to be passionately anti-Zionist without being in any way anti-Semitic.

The big worry of the moment, creasing everybody's brow and causing them a dull pain in the stomach, is 'fear of offending Zionism'. I hadn't noticed that. What I do notice, on the other hand, is the way that Zionism here is not only an entity that can be offended; it also 'brilliantly orchestrates' assertions. Alan's 'authoritative' book tells you that you can be anti-Zionist without being anti-Semitic. Well, I don't need a book for this, I can tell you it in a single sentence. You can also be anti-Zionist with being anti-Semitic, or you can be anti-Semitic through the form of your anti-Zionism. In addition:

Alan believes that nothing is more important for justice and peace than ending the silence of troubled mainstream diaspora Jews on the matter of Israel's behaviour.

The silence of diaspora Jews is something else that comes as a surprise to me, but then I don't know everything. Guess who has the major responsibility for justice and peace? Why, mainstream Jews. Vis-à-vis those Jews, Alan sees himself as 'a concerned and caring goy'. With concern and care so fondly expressed, who needs a pie in the face?

It will be obvious from the foregoing that I haven't read Hart's book. I hope it's better than this piece of publicity for it. Shabbat shalom.