Palestinian State being built with Israeli Assistance

This brilliant article on Israeli assistance in building a prosperous and independant Palestinian state changes ones views on the conditions of the Palestinian camps, the prospects of a genuine solution, and on Israel's efforts towards peace and co-existence. The West should understand that Israel's government is serious about peace and co-existence, wants peace and prosperity for all peoples in their area, and knows how to get the job done. The West should learn from Israel and work together with it, rather than setting unrealistic goals and demanding methods that don't work. Read it to be informed more objectively!

Anti-Semitism in the UK

The Jewish Chronicle shows a video at a recent Carol Service in London. An outspoken British anti-Semite named John Sullivan, said, among other things, the following:

'Everybody in Britain can see what a nasty, unpleasant type of people Jewish people are in English [sic; i.e., England?]... [Jewish people] like parasites... you are not part of my country... you are cruel and unpleasant people... Jewish people, when you look through the history, are vindictive, probably evil... very unpleasant... if you're Jewish... adjust to the British way of life, which is basically Christian, trusting and charitable.'

A few words in response are necssary. I am writing as both a British national and a Christian.

There are 'nasty, unpleasant' people among all races, nationalities, and religions. To generalise and condemn any one people as such is outrageous. Certainly among the Jewish people one will find more decent, hard-working, and loyal people than among many other people groups. To use the word 'parasites' made me feel like being in the Middle Ages with its stereotype anti-Semitism that condemned Jews simply for being Jews, blamed and persecuted them for things they didn't do, and demonised them unlike any other people group in history. Mr Sullivan mentioned history, which really reveals his terrible ignorance - it's embarrassing really - and how it apparently shows how 'vindictive, 'evil' and 'unpleasent' Jewish people are. If anyone was vindictive and evil in history it was the Christian 'church' towards the Jews: they persecuted and killed Jews for allegedly killing Jesus; they tormented and tortured Jews in the most brutal and evil ways, the Holocaust being its climax. What kind of history books Mr Sullivan reads is a mystery to me... Demanding for Jews to adjust to the British way of life is an insult to a people who had to, were forced to, assimilate more than any other people. Jews adapted to forgein environments in an exemplary manner. Mr Sullivan should make the same remark to Musilms today who want Sharia law, don't want to teach their children English, German or Dutch (depending on the country they live in), and hardly dress the way a country's nationals do. Mr Sullivan's 'descriptions' (i.e., caricatures) of Jewish religion and philosophy is absurd (and shows again his ignorance): 'Love thy neighbour' is from the Jewish Bible (Leviticus 19:18), promoted by Jewish rabbis as the most important commandment (e.g., Hillel, Yeshua), and today seen as the foundation of Judaism and Jewish life. Christianity has adpoted Jewish values because its Messiah and Lord was a Jewish rabbi who simply taught what the Torah teaches. Mr Sullivan also misinterprets 'an eye for an eye,' which is not a vindictive law, but one of justice, which sought to restrain damage inflicted on others. Leviticus 19:18 makes clear beyond a doubt that Jewish religion does not want revenge, again a core value adopted by Christianity. Finally, not accepting Jewish people as part of Britain is not only anti-Semtic, but also racist - and therefore unacceptable!

On behalf of philo-Semite Christians and Britons, I would wish to extend by deepest apologies to all Jewish people in Britain and elsewhere for these remarks, which clearly do not represent the general British or Christian view of Jewish people or Israelis.

Shalom,

Gordon