Zionism and Islamophobia

“They do not integrate”, “they form a state within a state”, “they are threatening our culture and heritage”, “they want to take over our society and enslave us all”.

The above claims, which were the linchpins of modern antisemitism and used against Jews for centuries, are now directed at a new “threat”: Muslims. After the holocaust, antisemitism is no longer  acceptable and any person who espouses antisemitic views will find himself ostracized from society, cast into the same bin as slavery supporters and child molesters. Bereft of their favorite target, the bigots of the world needed a new enemy and they were easily provided one: Muslims. Unlike antisemites, politicians who espouse and preach anti-Muslim views are part of mainstream society, shaking hands on Capitol Hill and running for office in Europe. Fox News and the rest of Rupert Murdoch’s propaganda channels spew Muslim fear and hatred vitriol 24/7.

In an ironic twist of history, extreme Zionists and Jews are leading the charge and are the flag bearers of this new form of antisemitism. The person who coined the mendacious term  “clash of civilizations” is a Jewish professor from England, the most rabid anti-Muslim talking heads and propagandists, such as Daniel Pipes and Pamela Geller are Jewish, and it is not surprising that the most rabid Muslim haters are hard core Zionist supporters. In every demonstration and rally against Muslims, the flag of Israel will be waved. It has become a symbol of Muslim hatred around the world.

The Zionists and their supporters have managed to draw the line in a new imaginary battle of the 21st century: a supposed global war between Judeo-Christians and Muslims. This world view is a fallacy of course and the Judeo-Christian values are a figment of the imagination of Zionist supporters. Historically, the Jews’ animosity was with Christians and Christians have been the biggest tormentors of Jews throughout history. Jews massacred Christians in Palestine (614 a.d) and Christians massacred Jews and Muslims during their crusades. Judaism has much more in common with Islam than with Christianity. But facts and logic don’t really matter when you are promoting a global war, which you believe will help the cause of Israel and enable it to continue  usurping Palestinian land and its subjugation and ethnic cleansing of the Palestinian people. It’s all Kosher.

If you subscribe to that world view and clash of civilizations, then Israel is the front lines in that battle, as it itself proclaims to be. The most rabid Muslim haters will be the biggest Israel supporters. After all, it is us against them and Israel is part of “us”.

Islamophobia is gaining quickly, and the flag bearers of this new form of xenophobia are scot-free. Extreme Zionist Jews, being the leaders of the charge, provide absolution for the sin of racism. No longer does a person need to worry about being labeled a racist and a bigot when he sides with the Jews. In this view, the Jews, who hold the victim title in western society after WWII, provide the moral absolution for minority hatred and xenophobia, as long as you hate the Zionists’ enemies. After all, what could be more noble in post-WWII world order than to side with Jews and their state? Every bigot and every scoundrel waves the flag of Israel to deflect accusations of bigotry (case in point: Glenn Beck). Zionism is now the first refuge of the scoundrel.

(I should probably mention that Jews outside of Israel are mostly liberal and many shudder at the thought of minority persecution. However, those who set the tone in this new world view are the most vocal and the bearers of the most radical form of Zionism.)

You’d think that the State of Israel, claiming to represent the victims of the Holocaust, would be smart enough to distance itself from this vile group of bigots who carry its flag. You’d think that this ironic twist of history would be all too obvious to be ignored. Forget about it! Geert Wilders, the leading European anti-Muslim is warmly welcomed in Israel, shakes hands with Israeli Knesset Members and Ministers. Glenn Beck, a buffoon TV personality mostly known for his anti-liberal and anti-Muslim diatribes and conspiracy theories (mostly involving liberal Jews), has an enthusiastic reception when he speaks in front of the Israeli Knesset. Nobody is rejected: fascists, radical reactionaries and even neo-Nazis  are all welcome in this alliance of the bigots.

The case of terrorist Anders Breivik should not come as a surprise to anyone. When incitement to minority hatred and xenophobia gets a Zionist Kosher stamp and is part of the mainstream discourse – someone is bound to heed the call and take up arms. And not surprisingly, that someone is also waving the flag of Israel.