Jerusalem Post writer declares "new level of hostility" toward Israel in Britain

July 22, 2009: In startling language, the Jerusalem Post writer Robin Shepherd chronicles the rising tide of abuse toward Israel coming from what looks like every facet of society in Britain:

 "There's something in the air. The Israel-haters smell blood, and they're going in for the kill. It could be that we are on the threshold of a new era. But why now?

The simplest explanation is that the relentless, unremitting stream of anti-Israeli invective that has been pumped into the public mind in Britain over the last decade or so was always going to reach critical mass at some point"

Ironically, while anti-Jewish events are receding for the fourth straight year in the United States (according to this report at the ADL), across the Atlantic the numbers seem to be climbing. Jews number at approximately 350,000 persons out of a total population of 61 million throughout the UK. In February 2009 the UK Guardian ran an article which stated:

"Police patrols have been stepped up in Jewish neighbourhoods following the most intense period of antisemitic incidents to have been recorded in Britain in decades."

The UK Guardian article estimated anti-Jewish attacks as occurring at an average of seven per day, which was bringing about a rise in Jewish emigration to other countries such as the United States, Canada, and Australia.

The Jerusalem Post article by Shepherd makes a list of items which contributes to the burst of hate in Britain: 1) The election of Barack Obama provides cover for a more forceful posture against Israel; 2) the election of Netanyahu with Avigdor Lieberman named foreign minister. Both men have long been deeply unpopular in the UK; 3) The speeches of UK Foreign Secretary David Miliband now includes language quite similar to those of veteran anti-Israeli figures in the UK; 4) the hard stand taken by the Israeli government against Iranian atomic asperations has stirred repeated calls that Britain is about to be dragged into another war that only benefits Jews, and; 5) Netanyahu has made the acceptance of Israel as a uniquely Jewish entity a pre-requirement for negotiations for the 'two state solution' for Palestinian goals for their own state. Since that requirement has no hope of being accepted anywhere, in effect the twin-state plan is dead.

Shepherd goes on to say:

"Put all of these factors together and it becomes easier to understand why a situation which was awful to begin with has deteriorated so rapidly.

The obvious question now is where next. With the partial arms embargo in mind, we should obviously be watching for an extension of formal sanctions. Outside the governmental sphere, it is a racing certainty that unions will renew efforts for trade and academic boycotts. Media hysteria will grow as each new assault on Israel's integrity helps legitimize and validate the next. For the Jews of Britain, the prospect of increasing anti-Semitism against this backdrop is all too real"

For related reading on this subject, refer to: "Why Folks Hate the Jews" and "The Roots of the Holocaust"

Update: July 24, 2009 - - ynet.com has an article saying that anti-Jewish attacks in Britain are at a 25 year high.