Martin Amis On British Anti-Semitism
Martin Amis interviewed in Haaretz by Maya Sela:
I live in a mildly anti-Semitic country, and Europe is mildly anti-Semitic, and they hold Israel to a higher moral standard than its neighbors. If you bring up Israel in a public meeting in England, the whole atmosphere changes. The standard left-wing person never feels more comfortable than when attacking Israel. Because they are the only foreigners you can attack. Everyone else is protected by having dark skin, or colonial history, or something. But you can attack Israel. And the atmosphere becomes very unpleasant. It is traditional, snobbish, British anti-Semitism combined with present-day circumstances.
The Palestinians aren't noticeably darker than the Israelis.
Israel is held to a higher standard than Iran because it is considered a Western country, and it wants that status. If Israel WANTS to be considered a third-wold backwater, then by all means...
Israel is not held to a higher standard than North America or Europe.
NicoleK at January 22, 2013 12:11 PM
"The standard left-wing person never feels more comfortable than when attacking Israel."
Racism is the belief that some races or groups are inherently inferior or superior to others. "The standard left-wing person" is racist to the core.
Ken R at January 22, 2013 3:17 PM
"Israel is not held to a higher standard than North America or Europe." NicoleK
Except when people have launched rockets at those European countries, there have been wars fought over it... World War something or other? Bosnian something?
"As of November 2012, over 2,256 rockets had been launched at Israel from Gaza since January 2012."
Like the buzzbombs lobbed at London, there isn't tons of damage, except psychological, you'd think that was by design.
Sure, there have been retaliations to an extent, but nothing approaching real war, 'cuz after all, the enemy hides behind their women and children to prove their superiority.
In my mind it's quite rich that the Brits would be antisemites much, when it was the British mandate that led to the country of Israel, as many gyrations as that has been.
SwissArmyD at January 22, 2013 4:44 PM
The Palestinians aren't noticeably darker than the Israelis.
Actually many Israeli Jews look like me, as they are descendants of European Jews. Also, British Jews tend to look like they have been hiding in a cellar for a decade, and I believe he's talking about them.
Amy Alkon at January 22, 2013 4:49 PM
The problem is that the Brits, post WWII, wanted to and have forgotten the Keep Calm and Carry On and similar posters of the time.
They don't want to admit that Neville Chamberlain's "Peace for our time" was wrong.
Israel is fully within their rights to kill anyone who is shooting at them.
Jim P. at January 22, 2013 8:15 PM
"Israel is not held to a higher standard than North America or Europe."
I dispute that. Consider what France is doing in Mali right now. Now consider the international uproar that would result if it was Israel doing it.
Cousin Dave at January 23, 2013 7:22 AM
I've seen France do a lot of shady shit but never called out on it (except for a couple of blurbs in the news). Don't think these French goverment dudes are any less greedy than their American counterparts.
The rest of the Arab world treats Palestenians just as shittily as the Israelis do. They are considered garbage and never given any rights in whatever place they may find themselves. Don't the Lebanese consider them a nuisance and security threat?
I feel bad for the Palestinians but terrorism is never a solution.
Purple pen at January 23, 2013 9:11 PM
"The standard left-wing person never feels more comfortable than when attacking Israel."
Yeah, I quit reading at that point. Lazy writing doesn't impress or convince.
Gog_Magog_Carpet_Reclaimers at January 24, 2013 4:52 PM
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