Palestinians did not invent anti-Semitism, but benefit from it

Anti-Semitism is the oldest hate.

In the past, it was naked. Today, it often hides behind “causes.” 

Historically, a hallmark of anti-Semitism was persecution, culminating in murder and the expulsion of Jews from much of Western Europe, including England, France, Germany, Portugal, and Spain.

There was nothing subtle about it.

Jew hatred is rooted in religion.

The followers of the first monotheistic religion, Jews, were subject to charges of disloyalty from nations that worshiped multiple gods. Christianity’s (and Judaism’s) one god triumphed over the many gods.

Later, significantly and tragically, the Catholic church charged Jews with deicide — killing God. (It took until 2011 for Pope Benedict to officially exonerate the Jews.)

More than anything else, deicide justified anything that good Christians did to Jews, including the Holocaust, the mass murder of some 6 million Jews (along with millions of others). 

The Nazis killed one-third of world Jewry, and the Jewish population has not yet climbed back to the 16.6 million alive before World War II. 

Notice that none of this connects in any way with Palestine, which provides the latest cover for anti-Semites.

Which is not to say all who are “pro Palestine” are anti-Semitic.

It is to say that some are.

When they chant “Death to Israel,” they are saying “Death to Jews.” That is indisputable.

When they chant “We are Hamas,” they are saying death to Jews, because that is Hamas’ purpose. You can see it in the second paragraph of its charter.

The current talking point is that Israel’s actions create anti-Semitism, even though Jew hatred has been around for millennia. It is true that anti-Semites seize on anything Israel does to fan the flames of hate.

Let me ask you this: On the distant day that Arab Palestine achieves independence (Jewish Palestine already has), will anti-Semitism end?

Of course not.

Will opposition to Israel end?

Of course not.

The oldest hate will not go away, but it can be driven underground, made shameful, by loud denunciations by Christians and Muslims of good will.

Like racism, I see no end to it. The best we can do is drive it to the fringes.