Anti-Semitic Imagery at Egypt Protests Draws Yawns from Western Media
Careful observers of media coverage of the protests in Egypt will have noticed a certain symbol turning up in the protests again and again — typically scrawled on a photo or caricature of Hosni Mubarak. The symbol in question is, namely, the Star of David. In a post for the Weekly Standard blog, I commented yesterday on the appearance of the below caricature on the front page of the German daily Die Welt.
The caricature was clearly visible in the background of a larger photo showing an Egyptian soldier being carried triumphantly on a protestor’s shoulders.
Neither the accompanying article nor the caption to the photo made any reference to anti-Semitic and/or “anti-Zionist” sentiment among the protestors.
But it is not only Germany’s Die Welt that has managed the unusual feat of documenting, but not seeing the evidence of anti-Semitism amidst the protests in Egypt. Here some further examples of the same motif, depicting Hosni Mubarak with a Star of David scrawled on his forehead or over his face. The implication that Mubarak is a stooge of Israel and/or “the Jews” is obvious.
(Reuters photo; source: Die Zeit)
(video still; source: MSNBC)
(AP photo; source: The Daily Beast)
(unattributed image; source: Politically Incorrect blog)
Why are you so surprised? This is what islam is all about – Jew-hatred.
Everybody get with the program!
Mathias Kuntzel, a brilliant German historian, does a masterful job of showing the roots of Islamic antisemitism as it piggybacked onto Nazism.The two are each others lifeblood.
It will never change, unless Islam is TOTALLY reformed, issues a public mea culpa and a fatwa against Jew hatred.
Being taught that Jews are subhuman, akin to apes and pigs, twists peoples minds in perverted ways.
Yes, but western media ignoring this in great part is leading to the antisemitism we are witnessing daily in Europe and elsewhere.
It will be easier to reform the media before Islam.
“banalization”? How deep into your thesaurus did you go for that 10 dollar word?
Are you honestly surprised this is drawing yawns? Anti-semitism only counts when a skinhead or neo-nazi does it. Muslims get a free pass. Really, did you expect the Egyptian uprising to be clean when the Muslim Brotherhood has had a large hand in it?
Oh come on! every time some does something you say its anti-Semitic.. Mubarak is number one traitor of his country, and yes he contributed a lot with Israel to impose all sorts of torture and killing against a harmless, helpless nation.
I hope you trip on your prayer rug.
Let’s attempt to get a sense of perspective, shall we?
How many rockets have these “harmless”, “helpless” people launched against the Israeli civilians?
If you’re going to use adjectives like this, be prepared to back them up with facts.
Those who have lunched ‘rockets’ as you’d say are merely DEFENDING themselves from so-called ‘civilians’ who have taken their land. wouldn’t you do the least of that if you were in their position. The land of Palestine doesn’t belong to Jews. Want facts? here you go: more than 1000 killed in Gaza (source: BBC article jan. 09)
Mr The Boo The Jews did not steal anything. They conquered you (the Arabs/Pals)and beat you fair and square.
As the losers, unable to respond, you make accusations based on your own vile hatred. When it comes to fighting for what you believe in, your only weapon is falsehood.
As it happens, I wouldn’t. But then, I’m handicapped in the same way as the Israelis, being neither a filthy barbarian nor affiliated with a death cult. Asymmetry, you see.
Great Godfrey, hurry back–the world needs you direly.
http://weaselzippers.us/2011/02/02/canadian-human-rights-tribunal-orders-womans-house-seized-because-she-insulted-muslim-employee/#comment-43278
the muslim hordes are everywhere and they use freedoms laws to screw us over.
the above article should be bringing canadains to the streets for democracy.
Doesn’t everybody know the liberals’ media is anti-semetic? After all, that media is only a reflection of their paymasters,
We will hear paeans of praise from most Western Media when the Muslim Brotherhood takes over the government of Egypt. So why would you expect them to comment, note, or make any sort of issue of the use of the Star of David as a mark of Cain on Mubarak or anyone else for that matter? Especially the European press has decided that the demise of Israel will be little noted and never regretted. Far too many in the U.S. tend to agree.
and of course you won’t hear abou this in the western media either
http://www.jpost.com/Headlines/Article.aspx?id=206130
Muslim Brotherhood: ‘Prepare Egyptians for war with Israel’
A leading member of the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt told the Arabic-language Iranian news network Al-Alam on Monday that he would like to see the Egyptian people prepare for war against Israel, according to the Hebrew-language business newspaper Calcalist.
Muhammad Ghannem reportedly told Al- Alam that the Suez Canal should be closed immediately, and that the flow of gas from Egypt to Israel should cease “in order to bring about the downfall of the Mubarak regime.” He added that “the people should be prepared for war against Israel,” saying the world should understand that “the Egyptian people are prepared for anything to get rid of this regime.”
Ghannem praised Egyptian soldiers deployed by President Hosni Mubarak to Egyptian cities, saying they “would not kill their brothers.” He added that Washington was forced to abandon plans to help Mubarak stay in power after “seeing millions head for the streets.”
Strike now Israel, strike now, hard, fast and decisively. Take out Syria, Lebanon, the west bank and Gaza and secure your future while the rest of the world contemplates its navel. Never waste a good crisis as President Sputnik and party would say because I doubt there will ever be another opportunity like the one at hand to secure your future.
John, the lapdog media fetches what it is trained to fetch.
They see hatred in the Tea Party when none exists, they fail to see hatred when it is aimed at Israel, anyone right of center and anything to do with Sarah Palin, Glenn Beck or Rush Limbaugh.
Selective myopia is not the sole problem. The problem is that there is no such thing as “journalistic ethics” on the left. It’s an oxymoron.
Leftism has become a disease of the soul. They wish to wear the mantle of liberalism, but leftism is not only a different species, it’s an entirely different genus. For leftists, the compassion, do-gooderism is nothing more than a front to overthrow free market democracy and replace it with social democracy statism and absolute rule.
The reason they don’t report on the open Jew-hating…is because it doesn’t fit their narrative. The truth matters not one whit to them. The filtered “message” is all that matters. In fact, in the land of the leftists…Jew-hating is a bloodsport for many. Unless, of course…one becomes the proper kind of Jew, one who sells out to leftism itself.
Totally agree. Leftists betray themselves when they say: principles & morals are relative. They hardly know (or care) that they describe themeslves perfectly.
With Mubarak in charge and our billions of aid and tourism, the Egyptians basically hate the US and Israel. With Mubarak gone and the Muslim Brotherhood in charge, the Egyptians basically hate the USA and Israel.
I say it is time to sharply curtain aid and support to these people until we see some true progress towards a tolerant and truly democratic state. Not the likes of these thugs whose first instinct is to insult their benefactors like us and push to wage war on Israel as soon as they control the military.
The same kind of approach should be applied to all these islamo facists states. They are essentially not worthy of the democracy they demand.
I disagree. I have been in Egypt as an American for a year and I have had nothing but the word “welcome” used when I tell them I am an American and I am never around Egyptians with money. I have not had one single hostile look or comment.
In fact Egyptians like and respect Americans very much and are not an aggressive or hostile people. I have been photographing the protests for 5 days straight and they are really happy I am here. The pro-Mubarak protesters only showed up in force today but I took the day off because I thought it would be uneventful.
It is the pro-Mubarak faction that is hostile towards journalist’s and many have been roughed up and arrested the entire time since last Friday. The key has been for me to stick close to the anti-Mubarak protesters and keep a low profile coming and going.
The thing is that many Egyptians do not approve of the American gov’t. They used to say “Obama No. 1″, when I told them I was an American and that has disappeared entirely.
James, They treat you well because you let them know you are on their side. Try dissenting by, for instance saying, ” israel has the right to defend itself like any other nation.” and see what kind of response you get. If you have the courage to so so. I will think none the less of you if you do not. In the muslim world. ” the enemy of my enemy is my friend”. Do not confuse that with democratic values.
You assume I don’t dissent merely to prop up an idea, not because I don’t actually dissent.
I gave a guy here pure hell for telling me that the Jews all evacuated each other from the Twin Towers on 9/11. 2 days ago I saw a friend of his at Midan Talat Harb and he said I was too hard on the guy and that he we simply had different points of view. I told him to no be so stupid and asked him if he would have all the phone numbers of muslims if he visited America.
I constantly argue with my friend Medhat about Israel cuz he is so in favor of Palestine that he is a little adrift from my point of view.
I was told not to take a picture of a tank in Tahrir Square 2 days ago and I the men “guarding” the soldiers that this was wrong. If the army comes to a public place like Tahrir (Freedom) Square and I can’t take a photo then call it “Unfreedom Square” and go home cuz you’re no ready for freedom. I was so enthusiastic and talked so long to these guys that an army commander came over and told me not to be angry.
Instead of questioning the courage of someone constantly violating curfew and standing up for himself or assuming nonsense, try listening and learning. A person whose mind cannot be changed shouldn’t be reading comments that prove their assumptions wrong and then coming on with other personality defects I have to advance their “truth” in some other way.
I’m actually here. Try saying that 10 times instead of assuming I’m a stupid dupe of a coward all at sea.
James would never say that Menachem- he is on record here saying he is going to make Palestine a state by himself if he has to- he thinks that will solve everything and bring “peace” – you see he is one of those who still hold to “it’s all Israel’s fault” (yeah sorry J, those damn Jews just won’t lay down and die)
And of course being in the fire he cannot be too supportive of those who fired upon him qand arrrested him.
Not one of James photos reflects the jewhate in the streets- Mubarek as traitor Zionist- he shot notone picture of the proMubarek people
Yes James good photography – you can see LIGHT so well, too bad you cannot see the “LIGHT”
…
TOMMYGUN NICE POST
EITHER WAY THEY STILL HATE USA- as they have been taught- if Israel disappeared tomorrow it would not change
Since it is obviously facetious for me to say I would go to the West Bank and personally set up a Palestinian state should there be another 9/11 you are on the record as misrepresenting what I said.
Second point: even a cursory read of my essays about Israel and the Palestinian Arabs would show a viewpoint that is quite the opposite of what you said about Jews. That’s blank number 2.
Thirdly, I don’t read Arabic. That means I shot signs I couldn’t read. Only afterwords did I have them translated and they are all variations on “Mubarak Get Out” – no Jew hatred. Third blank from you.
Fourth: I shot none of the pro-Mubarak people because for 5 days there were none, absolutely none, on the streets. Not until yesterday in the camel charge in Tahrir Square did they show. That was my first day off since the previous Friday. In any event, the pro-Mubarak people are violently anti-media and it is them that have been roughing up journalists – they don’t want their picture taken. Fourth blank.
And of course the fifth blank is that their was no Jew hate in the streets to photograph. Better luck next time.
I lived at Talit Harb for some time before moving to Midan Kitkat for a change of pace; and yet there was little change from the rabid hatred of America and the West in the people I encountered daily, on the streets, in the shops, at the university– at American University of Cairo. Two years of that was about enough to put me off Islamic culture for eternity. It is also enough to put me off Leftism in its myriad forms as well.
May’s essay, “Nostalgie de la Boue” or “Nostalgia for the Mud” is a strange thing to see: He argues against what I call, after Herodotus’ critics, “philobarbarism,” but in such a way as to make it, too, like Daniel Flynn, a new form of anti-Americanism.
Throughout Egypt, which I explored extensively, and perhaps intensively, I encountered deep hatred of Modernity, particularly in anti-Semitism and anti-Americanism. Any expressions of “my friend” were unctuous and manipulative to such a degree I came to hate the very word “friend.” Smiling Egyptians would, from across the street, draw their fingers across their throats, smiling and laughing. Up close and personal, they were cowardly and grovelling, demanding of money and favours, in spite of my rather obvious lack of financial abilities, and were filled with hatred of all the world that passes them by, flinging themselves into a fury of Islam, zebibas on most foreheads, rage in most eyes. How one can miss that is
beyond me.
This is not the right forum to debate this topic properly. I can only say that one should not put much credence in any short comments about the nature of things in Egypt. Unfortunately, it seems our government is getting its information from just such sources. May isn’t completely wrong here, just not right enough about things that matter. I’m dismayed that I can’t do any better here. I urge that one keep looking before making any decisions about who to support here.
(If my link doesn’t take one to No Dhimmitude but to some weird Christian site, please excuse me. I might again have been hijacked.)
Every once in a while I come across a post with laser like clarity. Yours Dag is one such post. I would like your permission to email it to my friends and associates with full credit to you of course. Thanks regardless. MBY
Shalom, chavar. Of course you’re welcome to it. I think that’s real nice of you to ask.
Yalla, Dag.
I can only say that I have spent months around Talat Harb St. and Adly St. and have seen not one thing like you have described and I am very obviously an American in my dress, U of Minnesota baseball cap and height and constantly interact with people.
For a people who hate modernity they are constantly playing with the 2 cell phones it seems even the doorman have or on Facebook.
It is true that there is anti-Israeli feeling here which is almost universal but not necessarily anti-Semitism but it could be. I saw not one American flag burned in 4 days in Tahrir Square nor has anyone ever drawn their fingers across their throat to me or been derisive towards me.
It should be noted that were I to refer to Jews as cowardly and groveling that it would be immediately thought of as anti-Semitic. Congratulating each other on such insults to Egyptians could be looked at as anti-Arabism and you might want to think twice about passing around such “laser like clarity”.
They’re not crazy about the American gov’t but like Americans very much – at least where I’ve been which is Abu Simbel to Cairo and points in between. I stayed 4 days at Abu Simbel and the people were unfailingly friendly. People here invite me to their homes to meet their parents, insist on paying for dinner after asking me out, come to see me at the hotel far out of their way after work and are neither groveling or cowardly.
In fact, I’d say if there is any groveling it is in showing how friendly they are. A lot depends on how one comes off personally. I am constantly laughing and joking with Egyptians.
It’s true that Egyptians close to tourism try and screw you on a dollar every chance they get and it has been with great delight that I pay normal taxi fares of 5 to 10 pounds when they are asking for 50 but this is not the average Egyptian in my view.
I have to say that I am amused by the fact that “clarity” seems to consist of anyone who agrees with your mindset rather than experience.
To write that there is a “rabid hatred of America and the West” in Cairo is utter nonsense that comes close to an outright lie.
Liberals have eliminated the term anti-semitic except as a historical term. For further proof see 3. TheBoo above. Anti Semitism no longer exists just as the Nazis can no longer be referred to in internet posts.
In the West opinion writers go through painful contortions to not mention Jews when referring to Israel, or anything else political “neocon” “hasbara” or “zionist”, but never “jews”.
In the Arab world such distinctions do not exist. Jews are Israel and Israel is Jews. There are no such false illusions there. After all they dont object to Israeli Arabs, the whole problem with Israel is its Jewishness, if they were all Muslims there would not be anything to talk about.
Arab anti-Semitism is so blatant and widespread that it is simply part of the scenery for western observers. Because it is so accepted western liberals, particularly european ones, can use is as a cover for their own latent anti semitism.
Well said. My only suggestion? Change ” latent ” to blatant.
I’ve been in Tahrir Square for the last 4 days, maybe 4 hrs a day. I didn’t see one caricature of a Jew and I saw hundreds of signs.
Only yesterday did I start to see the other type you mention – that of Mubarak with a Star of David on his face and those were only 2 or 3.
However what I did hear in chants, again really only starting yesterday, were chants suggesting that Mubarak and Israel had an unhealthy relationship and those were not uncommon.
I believe Anwar Sadat was killed over the peace treaty with Israel and anti-Israeli sentiment in Egypt is quite high so I am surprised I didn’t see more such signs. The vast majority of signs simply said the equivalent of “Mubarak Get Out”.
It should be mentioned that the old Jewish Temple on Adly St. in downtown Cairo has has a 24 hr. guard for a long time, sometimes as many as a dozen police and intelligence.
For 5 days that guard has been gone and no one has harmed the temple. In fact, I sat with locals who were guarding it cuz they considered it part of their history. Those locals were muslim and Christians.
My own conclusion is that there is simply no real story to report on this matter of the signs although the hostility against Israel in Egypt is certainly not imaginary. I’m just saying it wasn’t really happening in Tahrir Square if you view it in its proportion.
On the other hand, there is definitely a strong undercurrent here that is very unhappy with the stance of the Egyptian gov’t concerning Israel. Where this will lead is anyone’s guess at this point.
Now you’re spoiling a perfectly good article.
===============
http://af.reuters.com/article/tunisiaNews/idAFLDE7111Y820110202?rpc=401&feedType=RSS&feedName=tunisiaNews&rpc=401
Egyptians want more Islam in politics – poll
Egyptians want Islam to play a large role in politics, reject radical Islamists and think democracy is the best political system, according to poll data collected in Muslim countries last year.
The data, published by the U.S.-based Pew Research Center in December, gives an idea of Egyptian public opinion before the current protests there broke out.
Collected in April and May of last year for Pew’s Global Attitudes Project, the report described Muslim attitudes about religion in politics in seven countries — Egypt, Indonesia, Jordan, Lebanon, Nigeria, Pakistan and Turkey.
A sample group of 1,000 was surveyed in face-to-face interviews. Here are the data for Egyptian responses:
ON ISLAM IN POLITICS
– Is it good that Islam plays a large role in politics? 95 percent said “yes” and 2 percent “bad.”
– Is Islam’s influence in politics positive or negative? 85 percent said “positive,” 2 percent said “negative.”
– How much of a role does Islam play in Egyptian politics now? 48 percent said “large” and 49 percent said “small.”
Egyptians don’t think of Islam as an entity which blows up or oppresses people so of course they want it’s presence in their law and gov’t.
Islam is in fact a gov’t/religion and in this respect the Christian church has at times in the past had great power but not as a default mechanism as has the history of Islam in it’s relationship with governance.
To be truthful I don’t think the Egyptians have sorted out how to make both a viable economy and Islam come together. Any democracy that comes to Egypt will be nothing like American democracy and in any event they have no wish for such a thing.
This is very much a work in progress and whether it will lead to disaster or a better, economically fairer and freer Egypt no one knows. It is certainly fair to say that Egypt has its issues and a lot of them together with the fact that they simply have too many people.
It has been a precarious balancing act for many years and any upset can push Egypt on a downward slide. The fall elections and how fair they are and how they come out will be huge.
My on observations are that on a personal level Egypt has a lot to learn about concepts such as the greater good and letting people you disagree with alone. Americans have had an anti-authoritarian streak that is beginning to fade quite a bit yet is still far in advance of Egypt and Egyptians will need every bit of not liking to be told no without even a hint of real representation if they are to have a chance at a better life.
One thing for sure will take Egypt down, and that is any kind of anti-Western outlook in general which I am happy to say is really not in evidence in Egypt generally and, with the new generation, is even less so than ever. It is such a complicated problem that it is difficult to succeed with generalities.
I honestly think that when it comes to hard realities by which countries succeed that the Egyptians really don’t know how to get there from here.
” One thing for sure will take Egypt down, and that is any kind of anti-Western outlook in general which I am happy to say is really not in evidence in Egypt generally and, with the new generation, is even less so than ever.”
Wishful thinking.
From the last 2010 Pew Research poll of Egypt-
Stoning for those who commit adultery, 82% in favor.
Whippings and cutting off hands for robbery, 77% in favor.
Death penalty for converting from Islam, 84% in favor .
Support for “modernizers” , 27% in favor.
Support for “Islamists “, 59% in favor.
Since I have been here a year and talked to many, many people it is not wishful thinking. I have spent the last 5 days with the protesters and there was not a single one of the many who came up to me who wasn’t happy I was there and photographing the event. On the other hand had I not taken the day off cuz it started out so calm I might have had my head knocked in at Tahrir Square. However they might simply be mad at journalists for taking sides. Honestly, I don’t know why they, the pro-Mubarak supporters, roughed up journalists today; it is the first time since this all started that any pro-Mubarak people have turned out in force.
I have yet to have had one single person show the slightest hostility to me during this 12 months – not one.
It seems to be a matter of perception at times. A man on Joe Scarborough today reflected Toronto Girl’s experience at the Pyramids and said that based on his experience last year that Egyptians hated us and that he had people coming up to him pretending to be police and making fun of him. I was at the Pyramids in the same time frame.
Being a travel photographer I have spent quite a bit of time at the Pyramids and have experienced none of this. Having said that, it is not hard to see a copy of “Mein Kampf” displayed at many outdoor bookstalls in downtown Cairo.
Perhaps Egyptians are great liars. I have been to many countries and I honestly think I could make a friend for life here every day if I wanted to.
Please give the people on the ground some credit instead of using the combination of a keyboard, superior intellect and morality as trumping actual experience. It is a liberal trait wherein reality means nothing and one is right when one is wrong and right when one is right.
That Pew poll seems to be anti-Ru Paul and anti-crime more than any indication of anti-Western. People have been so friendly to me here that it is somewhat astounding. Brazilians have the reputation of being laid back and my own perception is that they are more anti-American and less friendly than Egyptians and I have spent a year all over Brazil. During that year in Brazil, I had more pointedly anti-American statements, though few, directed at me than the year in Egypt. Take it for what it’s worth.
James I do not mean to belittle your experiences. Nor do I think you are being less than honest. I do think that you would have a different experience if you yourself dissented from the crowd. You are taking pictures which serves their purpose. You are being tolerated not respected.
the muslim brotherhood are quick learners. they know they need to present a good face to the international media.
in iran 1979 it was the same thing. after this is over I doubt you will have the same reception (I don’t mean in a week or so but after the MB consolidate their victory)
The Ben Ezra synagogue has been closed since 1988. Boiler problems, I was told…..
In 2002, while living in Israel, I went on a quick tour of Cairo to see the pyramids, etc. I saw many anti-semitic books there, including the gift shop at the Pharonic Village…a place for tourists. They don’t care, their Jew-hatred is unlimited. My tour guide asked me why I hated Palestinians and wanted to kill them?! This guy was a university-educated, English-speaker. I hated Cairo, couldn’t wait to leave.
I’m beginning to think “James May” is a pseudonym for the ghost of Walter Duranty.
Since you’re not actually here I’d say a keyboard perspective is much closer to a Duranty. As for being tolerated I guess I should know how people come off who I’m talking to better than someone not there at all.
It’s wishful thinking to say otherwise since what you’re left with is only what you want to believe without a clue as to what is going on in Tahrir Square. I’m not sure where the issue of respect particularly comes in – they’re just people who, for 4 days, were really happy to see a time come they never thought they would.
I spoke to judges, lawyers, students, and many more.
I’m not sure how useful it is to make comments to suggest I am a dupe or a fool without something more persuasive than the idea that a massive intellect at a keyboard simply trumps my experience in person and on the ground. You’re only revealing what you want to believe and not anything about the truth. Why you want to believe the narrative you do is something for you to figure out and not something to filter through an idea of my being ignorant or simply stupid.
I take no sides in this matter and maybe that is so difficult to recognize that it seems like a position in and of itself.
Probably because you’re coming across as WAY too rosy about it all, and your account doesn’t connect in any manner with any other account I’ve ever heard. According to you, the Egyptians over there are a hell of a lot nicer than the Egyptians over here.
Get a grip.
It’s much more likely that those protesters think mubarak is too close to israel. That’s hardly surprising, and it’s not “anti-semitic” – it’s just politics. The star of david happens to be the central symbol of the israeli flag. It’s also easy to draw (never underestimate that). Are there arabs who don’t like israel? Well, you know, I think there just might be a few.
Show me some jewish caricatures, some nasty blood libels, some international conspiracy theories. All I see is a bunch of people who don’t like their leader’s relationship with israel. That IS a problem, I agree, but it’s not anti-semitism.
When you start watering down words like this, eventually they’ll mean nothing at all. Keep working at it, and kids will be using the term “anti-semite” like they currently use the word “gay”. It will lose all meaning.
Never let stereotypes get ruined by reality. The muslim hordes are everywhere! Woooo! Or as Glenn Beck is saying, this is the putch that will lead to WW3! Panic! Hide your daughters! Buy gold from Glenn Becks sponsors!
Sigh. First, this rebellion is about the economy first and foremost, not about the US and Israel. Second: Sure, the good ole “jews control the financial world” stereotype is alive and well in the arab world. But the anger aimed at Mubarak for helping in the blockade of Gaza is something else, its a real anger, a political and righteous anger. Turkeys government have read that well, and adjusted their policies. Mubarak was tone-deaf to his own people, on this as in oh so many other issues.
With regard to Brazilians have the reputation of being laid back and my own perception is that they are more anti-American and less friendly than Egyptians and I have spent a year all over Brazil.
all I can say after many years in Brazil and having worked with Arabs for more than 10 years that this is back to front.
If one is a Muslim one will actually be considered as a friend and if not it will only appear as if one is a friend. Taquiya plays a very large part in the culture and no matter how many cups of coffee and backslapping one enjoys the infidel can not be accepted sincerely without problems in the clan.
The Brazilians on the other hand will let one know their opinion however laid back with resorting to the use to the language façade.
Como pode ficar reversado si e minha experiencia? O ideia que todas musselmaun são mentirosos e ridiulo.
The same kind of stuff was evident at a “support” rally in Toronto:
http://www.jewishtribune.ca/TribuneV2/index.php/201102023961/Egypt-Tunisia-support-rally-brings-out-anti-Israel-crowd.html
As the Egyptian Sandmonkey — a blogger who has himself been in the news lately — once pointed out, a good many Egyptians do not seem to have a problem holding mutually contradictory positions at once. His example was:
1. “The Holocaust never happened.”
2. “Hitler should have finished the job.”
3. “The Israelis are worse than the Nazis.”
He said that it’s not uncommon to hear Egyptians say all three sentiments without pausing for breath.
I would add to that thought that, in my experience, Muslim Arabs sometimes seem incapable of insulting one another without using the word “Jew”. When the Danish cartoons were all the rage (literally and figuratively), Danish cartoonists were accused of being Jewish. And so on.
So it doesn’t surprise me to see Mubarak being slandered with a Star of David. I don’t see this as indicative of opposition to Mubarak being pro-Israel — which he isn’t, as far as I’m concerned. It just means that whoever is holding the picket sign is insulting Mubarak by invoking Judaism.
(Does that count as antisemitism? By Western standards, certainly. I would guess that, by Egyptian standards, it’s like an American saying that a politician is “corrupt”; such accusations don’t warrant a second glance anymore.)
Matthew: you’re right that criticism of Israel is not necessarily antisemitism (although the former is often used today as cover for the latter). But you’re asking for classic signs of antisemitism in a country where Mein Kampf is a bestseller?
respectfully,
Daniel in Brookline
same SANDMONKEy has a recording at Roger Simon on PM today, saying he heard it on TV- the JOOOOS are funding the pro Mubarek- the JOOS are in the streets making trouble
no one there see whois really coming in Hamas and HEzzbos
of course he cannot see MB as any worry- like JM just thinks the people in the streets will carry the day
yeah with no leader and no weapons
he is there too
funny he sees & hears what you don’t
There are morons everywhere. You should read some of the unhinged conspiracy theories about 9/11, or chemtrails, or FEMA camps, or fluoride. Or obama and terrorists, or obama and muslims. Or, for that matter, some of the assorted nutbaggery that gets posted as comments on this site.
And the latter is VERY frequently used to misrepresent the former. Mostly, in fact, these days. I have no particular problem with israel – I understand the problems they’re facing now, and I know their history. I don’t think they’ve ever walked like they’ve talked, but I also don’t think they’re very different to most other western industrial countries on the hypocrisy scale – and their enemies are far, far worse. But even I’ve been called an anti-semite (in quite nasty terms, by somebody fairly high-profile) for utterly ridiculous reasons – basically it was his way of shutting down an argument about a specific news story, the facts of which were (quite embarrassingly) not on his side. It’s a pretty vicious slur, and it made me quite angry at the time. Now I just think he’s a tosser.
The term is now basically reduced to a tactic that certain polemicists use to smear people they disagree with. Which is a pity, because there really are a lot of honest-to-goodness anti-semites out there. Trouble is, now there’s no really credible term we can use to distinguish them from people who just think israel should be held accountable for the things it does. And yes, just just by saying that, I will be called an antisemite by certain sorts of people. That’s why I think the term is becoming meaningless. It’s no longer primarily used to describe actual anti-semites.
Hmm, I don’t think that’s true. It IS said to be a “bestseller” in the palestinian territories (what that amounts to in an area of 3 million people, I’m not quite sure), and it was (very) briefly a big seller in turkey (in the wake of a particular international flap), but I can’t find any suggestion anywhere that it sells well in egypt. Keep in mind that it continues to sell reasonably briskly in the US as well – I’ve heard a figure of about 100,000 copies a year, but I can’t confirm it.
I attempted to read mein kampf, many years ago, and anyone who wants to find any sort of coherent philosophy or enlightening framework for disparaging jews (or anyone else) is going to be disappointed. I tend to be suspicious about these “bestseller” claims simply because it’s such a rubbish book. To the really unhinged hater, I think the protocols would hold far more meaning – I’ve skimmed those too (no, I’m NOT a nutter, I’ve taken a look at all sorts of wacky things just out of cultural curiosity) and they’ve aged surprisingly well when you consider that they were written in the 19th century. If you squint, you could actually imagine them supporting a crazed conspiracy theory about rupert murdoch.
“Classic signs of antisemitism” just aren’t relevant in this context. It’s not “classical antisemitism” at work. At least, that’s what I think. It’s just local politics.
WHY I STAND WITH MUBARAK
The chaos and violence that’s rocking the streets of Cario is rooted in the Napoleonic invasion of Egypt and the spread of Western values and ideas in that country for 200 years. It is the birth pangs of a new, free Democratic Egypt, a progressive development that could be hijacked in the short term by the regressive forces of radical Islam as has happened in Iran and elsewhere. That mustn’t happen, and Egypt’s current regime headed by the anti-Islamist Hosni Mubarak, dictator of thirty years, is determined to prevent it even if that means using violent and brutal force and alienating the Obama regime. And that is a good thing. We who want democratic change in the Middle East who supported the invasions of Iraq and Afghanistan (the overthrow of Saddam and the Taliban) and the Green Revolution in Iran stand with Mubarak against Moslem and secular extremists.
The forces of radicalism now headed by Mohamed El Baradei threatened the use of violence if Mubarak didn’t resign and leave Egypt by Friday. A defiant Mubarak who is for an orderly constitutional transition to democracy via elections (with no interim government) refused to resign or leave. He made the concession of not seeking reelection and allowing elections in September to determine Egypt’s future. But that wasn’t good enough for the radical Mr. El Baradei and his reactionary Islamist allies (who are anti-democratic like their murdering brothers in Gaza) and want a full blown anti-Western Sharia state. THEY WANT POWER AND WANT IT NOW! And called for Mubarak’s overthrow and death. They want to replace the entire government, Parliament, constitution and all, with “a national unity government.” I explained the reason for this here . Under the existing constitution El Baradei is ineligible to run for the presidency (and the outlawed Muslim Brotherhood-rightly banned-cannot form a political party). El Baradei would need to head a political party for at least one year-he doesn’t head any party and elections are seven months away. Understandably El Baradei and the very dangerous jihadist Brotherhood are in a hurry to seize power in Egypt; and Mubarak (God bless him) is willing to fight them to the death to prevent that. He did this before with the Brotherhood-who he almost bludgeoned to death-and will do so again. It’s either Mubarak’s way to a democratic future or the highway-Obama and ElBaradei be damned. And that’s where we are.
Seeing that violence was coming his way-he rightly takes El Baradei’s and the Moslem Brother’s threats seriously-Mubarak struck the first blow hitting the protestor’s preemptively with pro-government forces as the army looked on. The best defense is a good offense and Mubarak rightly took the initiative. If El Baradei and the Islamists (whose ranks are being swelled by outside forces: Hamas, Hezbollah, etc.) want power on their evil, regressive, supremacist terms then they’ll have to take up arms and fight for it-fight for their radical medieval future, fight for their prophet and Islam, fight for oppression and totalitarianism. There is no middle way here. No room for compromise. No concessions to radical Islam. This is a war to the death for the fate of Egypt. And in this war I STAND WITH MUBARAK!
Click my name to read my articles on the crisis in Egypt.
Oh, and by the way — have a closer look at the bottommost photo. Is that not Hosni Mubarak, with a red star of David on his forehead, a red eyepatch, and fangs dripping blood?
I’ll leave it as an exercise for others to decide what stereotypes THAT represents.
I’d say it means they don’t like mubarak.
Try to remember that that gaza blockade wouldn’t be possible without egypt’s cooperation, and that puts mubarak in the frame to anyone who has a problem with the situation in gaza – and most gazans are, ultimately egyptians. They might be wrong about the rights and wrongs of it, but it’s hardly necessary to be “anti-semitic” for egyptian arabs to have a problem with israel’s foreign policy, and it’s hardly necessary to be “anti-semitic” for egyptians to have a problem with mubarak’s cooperation with it.
Accept it – not everyone who disagrees with israel on any issue at all is an anti-semite. Like I said before – keep watering down that term and eventually it’ll mean nothing at all.
You know, you keep saying that a man can oppose Israel without being an anti-semite. I agree with you that such a position is coherent ON PAPER. Oddly, the real-world examples of this principled stance never do turn up, do they? Perhaps I’ll meet one some day. But between you and me, I expect I’ll find a snipe first.
Yeah, well, that premise is extremely important to certain sorts of people. And “opposing israel” covers an awful lot of ground – there is a difference between being grouchy about the gaza blockage and wanting to see israel destroyed. That’s another distinction that tends to undermine a certain sort of argument.
“Undermine”–once again, perhaps on paper. Yet again, though, here we encounter a theoretical distinction that never ends up amounting to a real-world distinction.
If you say so.
Whaddya mean “on paper”. There are plenty of things any country does that can be critiqued without at once relegating the act to bigotry.
If I don’t like Brazilian foreign policy – Portuguese basher?
Does Greek quibbling over Macedonia equal my deep hatred of Greeks?
Don’t be so blithe. Israel has no special dispensation on this issue.
No doubt some people do say ‘Zionism’ when they mean anti-Semitism and it would be stupid to ignore the anti-Semitism in world history but let’s not start with even more political correctness where we give over some special shield to Israel wherein reality can be transformed into racism if someone simply doesn’t want that reality expressed.
I appreciate your on-the-spot reports from Egypt, James, and I take your observations seriously; I hope you keep them coming. On the other hand, I do have several critical points to make as I’ve read through your own comments and replies and wish to share my concerns with you: 1) All you would have to do is read the myriad talkbacks in Israeli publications such as Ynet and the Palestinian publication, Maan News, to realize how disgustingly apparent it is that the demonization of the state of Israel and Jew hatred very often come from the same source. Normally, such individuals who produce these pithy comments are quite uneducated. Maan News just put up a guideline in order to weed out such hostile commentary but the people behind this visceral hatred really exist, James, and, I suppose, in much greater numbers than you would admit. The loathing of Jews in the West, as you must admit, has a long and ugly history and appears to have have a kind of set quality to it. 2) While I cannot argue about your own observations, I wonder whether you realize how powerful (by all accounts) the Muslim Brotherhood really is in Egypt. Mubarak has managed to keep them from gaining a strong foothold in government up until now but, with his demise, the “Brotherhood” is the only organization other than the military which would be able to assume the reins of power once the current regime is gone. As to the “Brotherhood”, it is based on a fundamentalist Islamic philosophy (Salafism); the “Brotherhood” promises that the treaty with Israel will be overturned (see Barry Rubin’s recent articles for clarification); and it also promises to wage jihad against the Jewish state. Given this organization’s strength, I wonder why you have not been able to report on its efforts in the protest against Mubarak. I look forward to your reply.
You’re right in saying “there are plenty of things any country does that can be critiqued without at once relegating [sic] the act to bigotry.” However, in Israel’s case that “can be” never seems to take that final real-world step to “are.”
You needn’t hate the Portuguese to dislike Brazilian policy, nor does disputing Macedonia’s status amount to hatred of Greeks. You see, I’ve SEEN people argue similar points vis-a-vis these nations, while not letting them amount to hatred of the nation in question. As I said, the first time I see that parallel hold true for anti-Israel arguments, I’ll let you know.
Robert, even the people in Egypt can’t seem to agree on the true numbers and influence of the Muslim Brotherhood.
I can’t say anything definite about the Muslim Brotherhood and the protests. My sense of it is that they were not really involved and didn’t show up in Tahrir Square til the 3rd full day of the occupation of that square, and then not in great numbers. In any event I can honestly say I didn’t feel a shred of anti-Western behavior during the 4 days I photographed in Tahrir Square.
My other sense is that, despite what outsiders say, the Muslim Brotherhood simply lacks the sheer numbers to effect any kind of a protest like the one that has taken place and I don’t see them in any way as being the cause of them but rather jumping on the bandwagon so to speak. One of my friends here is funny because when he spots one on the TV news coverage (supposedly by their beards) he says they have “black hearts”.
It is certainly true that there are people who say “Zionism” when in fact they mean “I don’t like Jews.” The problem is that I can’t read minds when people say this but looking at their other remarks in context when possible usually allows one to ferret this stuff out.
I have just put up a link to the story behind my photos if you want a little back story. It’s a small link at the bottom of the photo page itself once you enter.
http://www.jamesmaystock.com/EgyptRev/Assets/EgyptRevSplash.html
As far as this issue with Israel again, my instincts tell me that it is not possible that every one who in NOT anti-Semitic is going to go along with Israel’s policies; all things being equal it seems reasonable to assume that people who are entirely fine with Jews are going to be rather split on Israel’s policies.
Matthew, I sense that you’re deliberately avoiding the issue.
Are Egyptian demonstrators saying that they don’t like Mubarak? Of course. That they choose to express this, not by declaring him to be Israeli, but by declaring him to be Jewish — complete to the fangs dripping blood, a classic symbol of the antisemitic Blood Libel — is antisemitism.
(The use of the blood-red eyepatch, no doubt representing Moshe Dayan, makes it anti-Israeli as well. As you keep insisting, the two terms are not equivalent. But there’s a lot of overlap.)
There is absolutely nothing wrong with criticizing Israeli policies, or Israeli politicians, or Israelis; every Israeli I’ve ever known (relatives included) has done all three at great length. If you think the Gaza blockade is unjust, go right ahead and say so. But if you ascribe special rules to Israel that do not apply to other countries — for example, that Israel should absorb thousands of rockets aimed at civilian centers from a territory it completely evacuated, and have no right of response or of self defense — well, that goes beyond criticism, and approaches bigotry. And if one criticizes Israel using the symbols of antisemitism — the fangs, the blood, and so on — then that is no longer anti-Zionism; that is antisemitism.
I, too, do not want the term ‘antisemitism’ to be cheapened by using it where it doesn’t belong. On the other hand, I don’t want to shrink away from using the word where it fits. And if a blood-red Star of David, accompanied with fangs dripping blood, do not represent antisemitism to you, then I have to wonder just how much you need.
respectfully,
Daniel in Brookline
What are the chances that an Islamist Egypt will try to build nuclear weapons? Starving, crumbling,impoverished, collapsing Egypt? Roughly 100%. Why? Because countries that cannot afford bread can ALWAYS afford bombs. Hatred, racism, and militaristic hysteria can actually make people forget that they have no food.
If an Islamist Egypt reopens the war against Israel, Israel’s response should be massively disproportionate, and it should single out the Islamist ruling clique, and make them pay personally.
The Boo…
Israel is recognized by the UN…it is a legitimate state.
Read a 2010, December article in Newsweek on how German scientists after World War II helped Egypt develop nuclear weapons and super-guns to attack Israel…
Luckily the program was ended by the West German government…
Just read your running commentary on the Egyptian protests, James. I would characterize your style as both literate, evocative and disarmingly casual. I do thank you for sharing your releases with the people on Pajamas and also your photos. I was only able to bring up two of them but both were telling. It appears that you have a very exciting professional life.
A few questions: 1) Who are the “friends” you speak of while detailing the protest events in Egypt and your own difficulties in getting in and out of the “action”, so to speak. 2) Given the fact that you did not see any of the black bearded men normally associated with the Muslim Brotherhood, I must assume, along with you, that they have not played an important part of the actual protests so far. On the other hand, according to an article in Ynet appearing today, the “Brotherhood” is negotiating with Omar Sulieman to become part of the ruling clique. If this is the case, then I think it certain proof that they are a powerful group within Egyptian society and a force which must be reckoned with. Would your former hesitancy about characterizing their strength and possible future role be altered in view of their parlays with Sulieman?
Continue to keep well, James, and here’s hoping you’ll keep reporting to us at Pajamas.
My friends are just people in the neighborhood. A doorman, a lawyer, a few Christian guys.
There are Muslim Brotherhood people to be seen now. I said that they were not really part of the picture on the street protests in the beginning but they are there now for sure. The MB seems to have had little part in the organizing of the street protests which really got going on Jan.25 on social networking sites like Facebook. This seems to be anything but an Islamic protest.
They were a force all along in Egypt as well and that is why they are parleying with the gov’t. But the core of the protesters who have kept this drive alive in its worst moments are seemingly unassociated with the MB. That is not the gospel but my impression.
Right now everyone is kinda playing nice in order to oust the current regime but whether they can all sit down and really respect each others differences in a parlimentary way is unknown. The big cat in the next room is the army which at this point seems more or less happy to have a role that points outward and not against the people but there are no doubt factions within factions there too. Egypt is simply not cut and dried in this respect and we can only hope that they go at each other the way democracies operate which respects the overall peace and takes their voter lumps until the next round.
I just came back from Tahrir Square and it is at once jubilant but eerily somber in some ways as well and an undercurrent hard to describe but a little tense. Once night falls that core group of anti-gov’t protesters will be left alone once again as it has been every night. Whatever one thinks of them they are brave and resolute. The army is trying to get them to leave short of violence but the protesters are not budging. The is a very real worry here that business will resume as normal and the gov’t will scoop up all the people involved at their leisure.
There are a few friendly checkpoints to go through set up by the protesters themselves now; they check your ID 4 times and search your bag and frisk you. The crowd in the square is as before, many different small grass roots groups giving speeches with no one dominating the crowd.
There are also 2 checkpoints on the other side of Talaat Harb Square I am somewhat worried about since at 9:30 last night a journalist warned on Facebook the square was the scene of foreigners and journalists being robbed and beaten up. I avoided them by coming down a different street.
I saw only one other foreigner and a half dozen photographers inside Tahrir, otherwise it’s locals. There are piles of rocks ready to be used at a moments notice as well as soldiers and tanks.
I saw a ton more businesses open today and almost normal traffic.
I am concerned that you were only able to scroll over two of the photos at my sight. What browser are you using?
I am really dull when it comes to computers/internet, James. My browser is internet explorer. Does that make sense?
Maybe, it depends on whether you have the latest version of IE or not.
I recommend Firefox as a superior browser. I admit I make my site with little consideration paid to Internet Explorer as many web folks consider it somewhat buggy and even quaint.
I do know that my site looks fine in Firefox and Safari.
I have a mac and so I can only look at my site while on the latest IE which supports mac which is the old 5.2.
I find it interesting that there has been almost no mention in the media of the two Coptic Christian families (men, women and children) murdered by an Islamic mob in Egypt during the past week.
Nor has there been much mention of the fact that the new head of the Muslim Brotherhood, Mr. Badie, defeated reformists with the organization. He is considered a hardliner who adheres to the tenets of Mr. Qutb, the founder of the Brotherhood and admirer of European fascism. Mr. Badie’s speeches have been cautious concerning domestic conflict, but not so with regard to Israel and America. He says that confronting the Zionists is a “priority” (his own words), and calls for “continuous jihad” and says that attacks against foreign occupiers (meaning the U.S. troops in the region) are an obligation.
Question: Didn’t this “democratic” uprising begin when coptic Christians protested in the streets against Egyptian police who were not doing enough to protect the coptics from Muslim terrorism?
Hmm, I have heard that Christians were PROTECTING some Muslim families. I am really sure I read it just yesterday, I’ll try and look it up.
Other than that, it’s really sad. More and more religious conflicts flare up in the whole world and it seems we can do nothing about it. I feel doomed.
Elli
“but you who philosophize disgrace and criticize all fears, bury the rag deep in your face, for now’s the time for your tears”
Adina, and everybody else: read also Berlin to Bin Laden, by Christopher Hitchins http://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2011/03/from-berlin-to-bin-laden/8369/
The USA is going to turn its back on Israel. Watch and see.
Anti-semitism, like racism in all its forms is an evil that must be criticised.
But we are all very tired of the sensitivity of some Jews. Iam a black man in Africa and I know more than any Jew what descrimination is – if only because i have suffered descrimination at the hands of the victims of Anti-semitism.
The excuse of anti-semitism as a passport for acting with impunity has to end.
Moreover, the star of david – the symbol of Zionism is hardly the sum of all Jews’ worldview.
I will tell you what i keep telling my fellow Africans about slavery and colonialism: The holocaust was an evil thing that should never have happed. But it did, grow up and get over it. You cannot keep looking to the past to such an absurd level.
I am yet to meet a man who has nothing but admiration ( or at the very least respect) for such jews as Bill Gates, Mark Zuckerberg, Howard Schultz even the governor of katanga province of the Democratic republic of Congo Moise Katumbi.
But no one with an unpoisoned moral compass would condone displacing Palestenians by such warmongers as Neytanyau all in the name of the old diety Yahweh
Morality must not be tailoured to the needs of any particular race.
Age of Reason,
I agree that your ancestors have suffered from the ills of slavery and colonialism.
But I have to tell you that I don’t agree with you on your view on the Palestinian Arabs.
The Palestinian Arabs were in no way displaced by the Israelis. They were displaced because the rulers of their Arab rulers, such as the neo-Nazi Haj Amin al Husseini to leave their villages so that they can “drive the Jews into the sea”. Furthermore, when the Arabs lost the war,the Palestinian Arabs were not allowed to their villages – not by the Israelis but by their own Arab brethren. Gamal Abdel Nasser, the military leader locked (literally) up the Palestinian Arabs in the Gaza Strip – not using keys, but at gunpoint, turning the Gaza Strip into an open air prison. To add to the problems, thugs loyal to Haj Amin al Husseini went about terrorizing Palestinian Arabs who are opposed to or critical of him.
However, when the Israelis occupied the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, they improved the livelihood of the Palestinian Arabs. This is backed up by UN (which is never known to be pro Israel)statistics ans youtube videos.
In fact, a video in around 2007 showed the Gaza Strip provision store looking more modern and selling more chocolates than a typical Western provision store. Furthermore, a water theme park that looked as grand as those in the West was built in the Gaza Strip, only to be burned down by Hamas, not Israel.
On Benjamin Netanyahu, in no way is he a warmonger. He is opposed to the peace process between the Palestinian Arabs and the Israelis, but his action is justified.Throughout the peace process, Yasser Arafat and other PLO members were spouting anti-Semitic and war inciting words to Palestinian Arab audiences,away from the view of Western audiences. In fact, PLO leaders say that the peace process is used as a Trojan horse to launch another war against Israel. You can refer to Palestine betrayed by Efraim Karsh. And if you are reading books by Rashid Khalidi, Avi Shlaim, Edward Said or any of the new historians, who twist what is mentioned in Israeli archives for their own agenda.
Lastly, please don’t insult Yahweh your Creator by calling Him an “old diety”. His hand has been protecting Israel against the bloodthirsty, thievish Arabs since 1948.
There is such a loose use of the concept of anti-semitism nowadays. To show a poster with Mubarak’s face with the David’s star on is not antisemitism at all. It is a simple political slogan, which wants to state that Mubarak has put Israeli interests before Egyptian ones. The use of imagines like this are common in any form of political protest. Israel’s victimism is far too naive, for a country that had no problems dropping bombs on cinvilians and children in Gaza, for a country in which the legal system allows the recruitment of mercenaries from devastated African states, who are currently employed by Gaddafi to repress the rebellion.
It seems that any single depiction of the David’s cross or the simple utterance of the word “Jewish” is considered as antisemitism: this is silly. A political stand against Israel and against Mubarak collusion with Israel is not antisemitism.