Anti-Jewish sentiments are rampant among simple-minded opponents of Israel and the US Middle East policy. As what's left of the secular Left (opposed to capitalism & imperialism) further declines in influence and Islamists take the center stage as the "last internationalists" (though not of the left) who can challenge the Empire, I predict that anti-Semitism will spread further. If we want to decrease anti-Semitism (and racism, sexism, etc.), we'll have to rebuild a secular Left.
It is disingenuous not to recognize the prevalence of anti-Jewish (not just anti-Zionist) sentiments among today's Muslims; however, it is equally disingenuous to disconnect the Israeli oppression of Palestinians from the rise of anti-Jewish sentiments in the Middle East and among the Muslim diaspora, especially given that Muslims, on the whole, co-existed with Jews more amicably than Christians did with them before the emergence of Zionism and the state of Israel.
It is sad -- for Jews and Muslims alike -- that the "Israeli connection" is today unmentionable:
***** Pearl's father: 'Israeli connection' could hinder investigation
By Yossi Melman, Ha'aretz Correspondent and News Agencies
Professor Yehuda Pearl, father of murdered Wall Street Journal reporter Daniel Pearl, has told Ha'aretz that he fears that making public his son's Israeli citizenship could adversely affect investigative efforts by Pakistani police to apprehend the killers and track down the murdered reporter's body.
In a telephone conversation from his Los Angeles residence, Professor Pearl expressed regret and anger over the revelation by the Israeli media of his family's "Israeli connection." The U.S. media, which was aware of the information, complied with the family's request not to make it public. The American media was asked to comply with this request after information was obtained that confirmed reports that the 38-year-old reporter was dead....
***** The Jerusalem Post February 26, 2002, Tuesday SECTION: NEWS; Pg. 5 HEADLINE: Family of slain journalist Daniel Pearl never lost hope BYLINE: Tom Tugend
...During the month following Daniel Pearl's kidnapping, there was deep concern that publication of his family's Israeli roots would further endanger his life.
Spokesman Foster and other representatives of Dow Jones, The Wall Street Journal's parent company, worked intensively behind the scenes in New York, Los Angeles, and overseas to alert news organizations to the danger inherent in publishing the names of Pearl's parents or their background.
"We were particularly anxious that networks reaching large international audiences, such as CNN and BBC, would not break the news," Foster said.
Since the death announcement, major newspapers have reported, without elucidation, that the Pearl parents have remained Israeli citizens. The reality is a bit more complex.
Israeli citizenship can be lost only through a formal renunciation, so almost all Israelis who move permanently to a different country automatically retain their original citizenship, even while assuming the citizenship of their new country.
In that sense, Foster confirmed, Yehuda and Ruth Pearl carry dual United States and Israeli citizenship, while their son, born in the United States, was purely an American citizen.
However, due to a bureaucratic quirk, the Interior Ministry lists Daniel Pearl as an Israeli citizen. Prof.
Pearl has chided the Israeli press for reporting this information, fearing it might adversely affect the investigation by Pakistani officials and the return of his son's body.... *****
Why should the "Israeli connection" be unspeakable, though, if Israel and its anti-Palestinian policy had nothing to do with anti-Jewish sentiments among Muslims? -- Yoshie
* Calendar of Events in Columbus: <http://www.osu.edu/students/sif/calendar.html> * Anti-War Activist Resources: <http://www.osu.edu/students/sif/activist.html> * Student International Forum: <http://www.osu.edu/students/sif/> * Committee for Justice in Palestine: <http://www.osu.edu/students/CJP/>