piece in the link below.
While he points out the blatant antisemitism from the right , his criticism of antisemitism from the left is much more nuanced.
Perry points out that his parents are Holocaust survivors from Romania.
"This classic antisemitism still exists today, especially on the American far right. Neo-Nazis and white supremacists chant “Jews will not replace us” in a country where Jews make up less than two percent of the population. I’ve met Americans who genuinely believed Jews have horns. Evangelical support for Israel often stems not from love but from an apocalyptic theology in which Jews must return to the Holy Land before vanishing in Armageddon. It, too, is madness.
But not all hatred of Jews is rooted in this kind of deranged ideology—the situation today is more complex. The conflict between Jews and Arabs over the land of Israel is real, and the emotions it stirs—rage, grief, resentment—are not rooted in conspiracy but in history. In France, where antisemitism is said to be on the rise, many of the attackers are not white nationalists but angry Muslims. That doesn’t excuse it, at all. But it’s not the same phenomenon my parents endured."
........
He does point out the "hostile" environment at the universities shortly after October 7, mentioning that his daughter was attending Columbia at the time, but seems to skirt around the issue of the antisemitism referring instead to it as "tolerance for hate speech" by much of the protesters, though does express his outrage at university presidents from prestigious universities unable to answer the question when asked if "antisemitism should be condemned".
"To be clear: The climate on campuses has, at times, been hostile and alarming. My daughter was at Columbia University during the peak of the protests, and the tolerance for hate speech was infuriating. I was outraged to see university presidents—including the since-dismissed head of my own alma mater, the University of Pennsylvania—fumbling when asked if antisemitism should be condemned. It should be, obviously, unequivocally."
He argues that the far left is not antisemitic in the traditional sense, arguing I think, that many of the early communists were Jews, which in my view is neither here nor there. The anti-Jewish sentiment from communist circles has been pushed for as long as I can remember. The Protocols of the Elders of Zion is an example of antisemitic conspiracy laden crap that came from Russia.
Those from the left he argues is "not antisemitic per se", but simply the tendency that reduces everyone to a label. I don't care how you want to cloak it, it is still antisemitism.
He then discusses how rampant anti-Zionism is, using the rationalization that "many people sincerely believe Israel is committing genocide in Gaza", which he at least points out that while he disagrees with what is happening in Gaza, with a terrible loss of civilians, it is not genocide, and that if Hamas had surrendered, the killing would have stopped:
Of course, anti-Zionism is rampant. And yes, much of it is irrational and dangerous. Many people sincerely believe Israel is committing genocide in Gaza, and some are willing to excuse even violent acts against Jewish supporters of Israel. I disagree vehemently. What’s happening in Gaza, even at a terrible cost in civilian lives, is not genocide. Israel’s stated goal is the elimination of Hamas—a terrorist group that launched this war—and not the extermination of Palestinians. If Hamas surrendered, the killing would stop. (That doesn’t mean I agree with the war conduct or strategy.)"
It is an interesting opinionated analysis which is an interesting read:
https://momentmag.com/opinion-dont-cheapen-antisemitism/
One interesting observation I have is that it appears some feel it is safer to post here than elsewhere. I wonder why that is?
= new reply since forum marked as read
