4. Arab, Muslim and Radical Islamic Antisemitism
A. Origins and Scope
B. Louis Farrakhan and Black Antisemitism 
C. Arab and Islamic Antisemitism by Arab Leaders and in Society
A. Origins and Scope
With the collapse of the Middle East Peace Process, even before the outbreak
of the Al Aqsa Intifada (2000), Antisemitism in the Arab world increased.
It continues unabated, unchecked by the western world, or Arab leaders.
Even Israel turned a blind eye to Palestinian Antisemitism at the time
of the Oslo accords. Today, hatred of Jews is central to the rhetoric
of the Arab and Muslim world - and has become increasingly virulent, disseminated
by the media across the Middle East, as well as via satellite television
into Europe.
The origins of Antisemitism in the Arab world itself go beyond the longstanding
Middle East conflict. Indeed, The Israeli Forum to Coordinate the Struggle
Against Antisemitism - a think tank of Israeli intelligence, Foreign Ministry
officials, and leading researchers - asserts that:
- The most dangerous strand of Antisemitism has its roots in Islam;
- The rising number of Muslims in Europe (estimates range from 15-25 million
Muslims) is responsible for fuelling terror attacks, street violence and
general harassment of Jews.
In this reality, far-right groups - such as France’s National Front,
led by Jean-Marie Le Pen and Austria’s Freedom Party, led by Jorge
Haider - can stand by, or play a supporting role, as "Muslim youths",
young adults of Maghreb (North African) extraction and Palestinians resident
in those countries run riot and accomplish the job for them. This is not
limited to France, although the origins of the young Muslims vary in the
UK, the US, Germany and the other European Union countries.
Daniel Pipes concludes:
"Antisemitism, historically a Christian phenomenon, is now primarily
a Muslim phenomenon -- and not just in the Middle East, but right here
in the United States. Muslims today are the most vibrant and explicit
anti-Semites, and it is they who contribute most to Jew-hatred here. Muslims
speak in terms of overt Antisemitism hardly found elsewhere in the West.
It is important to note that this Antisemitism in the Arab world is not
peripheral, but expressed by the leaders of Arab countries"
http://www.danielpipes.org/article/288
B. Louis Farrakhan and Black Antisemitism
A prevalent theme in the rhetoric of the Nation of Islam, the Black Muslim
movement in the U.S., is that Jews control America. There is no more conspicuous
example than that of its leader, Louis Farrakhan, who has combined Islamic
Antisemitism with black pride. His comments about Jews are replete with
allegations of financial control, profit-making, wealth and power, as
well as conspiracy and murderous malpractice, while calling Muslims to
unity and religious hegemony. The overt antisemitic and oft repeated allegations
are not indictable in the US.
Towards the close of his 1996 Friendship Tour in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia,
he called for the Muslims of the world to unite and form a "superpower."
"Those who fear Islam fear that Islam is going to replace the Western
hegemony in the world, and they are right…" he said.
"Farrakhan has caused problems for the Jews of America... Farrakhan
calls Jews 'bloodsuckers,' …
"In the past, Farrakhan has … accused Jewish doctors of injecting
the AIDS virus into black babies, and in a January 24 speech at a Harlem
armory he said, 'We know that the Jews are the most organized, rich and
powerful people, not only in America, but in the world. They're plotting
against us as we speak.' " http://www.adl.org/media_watch/newspapers/20040108-ChicagoTribune.htm
Hear a Farrakhan Speech: http://abbc.com/historia/farak.ram
[Advisory: this is an anti-Israel website, not recommended for unprotected
computer systems]
C. Arab and Islamic Antisemitism by Arab
Leaders and in Society
Notes
It is important to note that this Antisemitism in the Arab world is
not peripheral, but expressed by the leaders of Arab countries, Muslim
states and inducted into society, via media and government-controlled
education.
 Cartoon from The Radio
Islam Website
Another important theme is the Holocaust, especially from Palestinian
and pro-Palestinian sources, but the comparisons between Israel and Nazis
are more widely networked:
"Holocaust denial and revisionism is on the rise in the Middle
East.
The Holocaust is denied, revised, or Israelis are compared to Nazis.
"
http://www.adl.org/holocaust/denial_ME/hdme_genocide_denial.asp
Syria
During October-November 2003, a 29-part, Syrian-produced, Ramadan special
'Al-Shatat' (Diaspora) was aired by the Lebanese Hizbullah-affiliated
Al-Manar TV station. The series purported to show the history of the Jews
and the evolution of Zionism; it is also transmitted to European countries
via satellite.
A sample quotation of the tone, clearly antisemitic in motif:
"The Jews have sought to control the world for many centuries,
via a secret global Jewish government."
To download this file: http://www.memri.org/video/
In Syria, Antisemitism is taught from an early age. Government text books
introduce ideas in stages, in the guise of introductory and advanced Islamic
studies, regional history, and politics. They are explicit and unequivocal,
to the point of demanding "elimination" of the Jews.
"Syrian children are taught to hate Jews and Israel with
such ferocity that genuine reconciliation between the two peoples appears
unlikely in the near future."
Center for Monitoring the Impact of Peace
- Grade 6: "The Prophet [Mohammed] knew about the treacherous
intention harbored in the Jews' souls."
- Grade 8: "It is known that the Jews of today do not have any
connection to Palestine."
- Grade 9: "Co-existence with them or having them as neighbors,
is an enormous danger that threatens Islamic and Arab existence with
destruction and extinction Their criminal intention should be turned
against them by way of their elimination." [Source: Islamic Studies
textbook]
- Grade 10: Zionism is.., "a racist-imperialist-colonialist-aggressive-expansionist
political movement."
- Grade 11: Zionism is… the "new Nazism" and a "model
of racist evil."
Source: The New York-based Center for Monitoring the Impact of Peace
www.edume.org
"Jihad, Jews and Antisemitism in Syrian School Texts," (30pp),
The Jerusalem Post, June 26, 2003 http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=JPost/JPArticle/ShowFull&cid=1023716554752
Saudi Arabia
Despite close diplomatic ties to the Middle East Peace Process, Antisemitism
in the Saudi kingdom is rabid.
Saudi Arabia is a theocracy; although its political elite is not devoutly
religious, it views itself as the guardian of Mecca and a central pillar
of Islamic influence. With an entirely Muslim population, the Saudis have
never rescinded or amended application of Islamic law on the inferior
(dhimmi) status and undesirability of "infidels". Wahhabism
calls for a strict adherence to Islam, dhimmitude expresses an intolerance
of everything foreign. This is well detailed in an AJC report to the US
Congress http://www.ajc.org/Terrorism/TestimonyDetail.asp?did=224&pid=1989
Saudi Arabia's oil wealth has long been linked to the finance of anti-Israel
propaganda with antisemitic content, the sponsorship of academic positions
in major US universities which create and foment in their limelight pockets
of aggressive student campaigning against Israel, and, of course, to the
anti-American and anti-western terror of Al-Qaida.
 Ar-Riyadh, November
28, 2003
Source: ADL www.adl.org
The Palestinian Authority
The Palestinian Authority produces antisemitic literature and propaganda
in quantity.
The main themes that appear are:
- That Jews are inferior, even sub-human;
- That Jews are planning and executing heinous crimes which
constitute a mortal danger, if unchecked;
- Defensive action is necessary for protection against
the Jewish threat
- Holocaust Denial.
 [Al-Hayat Al-Jadida, Apr.
5, 2003 Source: PMW.org.il
 In a crossword
that appeared in Al-Hayat Al-Jadida, 18th February 1999, Yad Vashem
was the correct answer to the question:
What is the Jewish Center for eternalizing the Holocaust and the lies?
For an extensive collection of Palestinian Antisemitism see:
http://www.pmw.org.il/new/cartoonphoto-De-humanization%20of%20Jews.html
Egypt
Antisemitism in the Arab world is not restricted to countries at war
with Israel, but can also be found with her allies. Egypt has serialized
The Protocols of the Elders of Zion on State television and visitors
to the Museum of Manuscripts were able to see a copy of The Protocols
of the Elders of Zion.
Morocco and Tunisia
In this period, there have been clear cases of killings, bombings and
other attacks on Jews and Jewish property by individual Muslims and fundamentalist
Islamic groups, some associated with Al-Qaida. Initially, the authorities
in these countries were reluctant to admit these were terror incidents
by Islamic groups, or antisemitic acts, connected with anti-Israel groups,
but the bombing outside the synagogue on the Isle of Djerba killed German
tourists, and their investigation underlined the origins of the attack.
The situation is considered volatile in both countries, with radical Islam
considered a threat to the regime, but little being done to investigate
it.
Turkey
The simultaneous November 2003 suicide bomber attacks on two Istanbul
synagogues deliberately targeted Jewish places of worship, but killed
many bystanders on the street, including Turkish security guards. http://www.jafi.org.il/education/antisemitism/fire1103.html
The authorities were initially cautious in attributing these to terrorist
groups identified with radical Islam, but the subsequent investigations
and bombings in Istanbul's foreign commercial centers was clearly linked.
Responsibility was claimed by Al Qaida on both occasions, albeit through
the weak cover of a disintegrated Turkish terror cell.
Beyond the Middle East
Islamic Antisemitism is also to be found in the wider Muslim world, originating
from countries not directly implicated in the conflict with Israel.
Former Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad denounced: "Jewish
world domination", at the opening of the Conference of The Organization
of the Islamic States, which brought together Islamic leaders from 57
countries:
"The Europeans killed 6 million Jews out of 12 million, but
today the Jews rule the world by proxy," …
"They get others to fight and die for them."
Morton Klein of the Zionist Organization of America, writes:
"Hatred of Jews is widespread throughout the Muslim world.
It is taught in the schools and preached in the mosques. Cartoons in
Muslim newspapers routinely portray Jews in blatantly anti-Semitic terms."
Source: Daniel Pipes http://www.danielpipes.org/article/1294
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