[News] Jews in Britain divided

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A diaspora divided
by Arthur Neslen in London
Wednesday 07 January 2004 10:00 PM GMT


Shock waves from the continuing carnage in the Middle East are increasingly 
dividing the Jewish diaspora, and the rifts are becoming ugly.

Aljazeera.net has uncovered evidence of an anti-Semitic hate mail campaign 
against Jewish peace activists in London, which involves rabbis and at 
least one respected Israeli literary figure.

Diaspora Jewish communities have traditionally rallied round Israel in 
times of crisis. But faced with an occupation that seems to have no end, 
and a perceived increase in anti-Semitism accompanying it, discontent among 
British Jewry is rife.

Even the highly conservative Board of Deputies of British Jews is now said 
to estimate opposition to the Sharon government within the UK Jewish 
community at about 30%. Some rightwing Zionists are turning on their 
co-religionists with vitriol.

Hate mail

Deborah Fink, 37, is an activist with Jews for Justice for Palestinians 
(Jfjfp). She was targeted in a hate email campaign after she helped 
organise a ''Just Peace UK" satirical Christmas Carol protest against 
Israel's occupation of the Palestinian territories last month.

In one week she received over 150 emails. Some were virulently anti-Semitic.

"Too bad Hitler didn't get your family," a Bruce M Seligsohn wrote. "With 
six million Jews dieing (sic) 60 year ago it's a shame scum like you 
somehow managed to survive."

"Hitler killed the wrong Jews," agreed another anonymous writer.

"It was harassing, "said Fink. "It took up my time and I found it upsetting 
that Jews could say that sort of thing to other Jews. Also, I depend on the 
internet for my work and I was worried that if it continued, I could lose 
my business."

Four other people were targeted in the hate email campaign, one of whom had 
to delete all the emails she was sent "because it made her felt dirty," 
said Fink.

But even a rabbi joined in the tirade. "Your Jewish soul died the day that 
you sold it to the purveyors of murder," Rabbi Allen Kaplan wrote to Fink. 
"Your soul, my dear, is petrified and lost."

Israeli journalist

Perhaps the most surprising aspect of the hate mail campaign was that it 
appears to have begun with an appeal by the celebrated Israeli novelist, 
playwright and journalist, Naomi Ragan, for a "counter-campaign" against 
Jfjfp by British Jews.

In fact, it turned into an international campaign against British Jews.

Ragan sent out Fink and four other activistsemail addresses on a mailshot 
[circular email sent to many recipients] that slandered Debbie as a 
"self-hating Jew" before concluding with a Christmas carol that called for 
"dove-brained supporters" of the Palestinians to "all be hung from the 
nearest tree."

The prose will not win Ragan many literary prizes. However, Caleb Ben 
David, the managing editor of the Jerusalem Post, which employs her as an 
opinion columnist, said that they would be taking no action.

Anti-semitic accusations

"We wouldn't take a position on judging Naomi Ragan's conduct," he said. 
"The private life of our outside contributors is not the business of the 
newspaper. Did she break the law? No."

Whether Ragan's actions would render her subject to prosecution under 
British law is a moot point. But the implications of her group's words and 
deeds were not lost on Fink.

"They call us anti-Semitic, but they're the ones who're being anti-Semitic 
towards Jews who think differently to them. I'm shocked that journalists 
and rabbis will stoop so low," she said.

"I was particularly disgusted by the rabbi telling me I had no soul, 
actually. They're influential people and if he's saying that about me, 
what's he saying about Palestinians?"

Peace groups

Such concerns are voiced more openly these days. Since the Intifada began, 
Jewish peace groups have mushroomed with organisations such as Jfjfp and 
Just Peace (JP) organising protests and pickets.

One newly formed group, Jews Against Zionism (Jaz) has gone further, with 
members disavowing their right to returnto Israel. Eighty people attended 
the inaugural Jaz meeting in London last June.

In November, the first ever Jewish anti-occupation demonstration was staged 
in the heart of London's Jewish community, Golders Green, despite several 
threatening phone calls to protest organiser, Dan Judelson.

One simply said, "If you come to Golders Green, you might not get out again".

Physical attacks

"The Board of Deputies of British Jews has a responsibility for this 
situation," said Judelson. "They don't promote threats, but they do 
absolutely nothing to stop them, and only support every action that Israel 
takes.

In the event, the far-right Betar group held a counter-protest, waving 
Israeli flags and shouting "traitors" and "anti-Semites" at the peace demo. 
One Israeli army veteran, Pete Hall, was attacked by extremists as he left 
the anti-occupation protest.

"We were just packing up to leave, when two guys in their forties ran up, 
punched me in the face and then ran off again," said Hall. "I was knocked 
to the ground and the side of my mouth was cut.

The irony of the situation was not lost on the former soldier. I was in the 
Israeli army in 1967," he added. "I can't believe that the Jewish right in 
England is now attacking the Israeli left.

OH LITTLE TOWN OF BETHLEHEM*

Oh little town of Bethlehem,
How still we see thee lie!
A wall is laid where tourists stayed,
And tanks go rolling by.
And in thy dark streets shineth
No cheerful Christmas light;
The grief and fears of three sad years
Are met in thee tonight.

How silently, how silently
The world regards it all,
As now thy heart is torn apart
By Israel's ghetto wall.
They terrorize a people -
A war crime and a sin;
Their winding "fence" can make no sense;
Revenge can still get in.

Oh promised child of Bethlehem,
Cast down the iron cage,
The walls of hate that separate
And harden and enrage;
Bring justice and make equal;
Come down from far above;
And come to birth upon this earth,
As hope and peace and love.

*Alternative Xmas Carol, sung by 'Just Peace UK' anti-occupation protestors.

Aljazeera
By Arthur Neslen in London

You can find this article at:
http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/DD27DEC3-20CD-40E6-A3EC-273E68FC6655.htm 



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