Anti-semitism (Judophobia) does exist and has a distinct history. Having head some Isreali settlers (with strong American accents) hold forth there is a clear case of this ideology having been transferred to Arabs, but this in itself compicates matters but does not dissolve the origins of anti-semitism.
There is perhaps many comparisons and direct links that can be drawn between Judophobia and Arabphobia especially in Isreal-Palestine, however, none will dissappear by pointing out the many contradictions involved as rationality has never been a strong point in anti-semitism as it developed in Europe at any stage.
The big contradiction is of course that European Jewry did not have a middle eastern origin in the first place, nor was the semetic language used for anything much more than religious puroposes. Sandwiched between Christians and Musilms during the 9th century (if memory serves) a tribal confederation wisely chose to be come Jewsih and invited teachers to come and convert them, for the very good reason that as Jews both Islam and Christianity recognisied them but they did not appear to be more favourable to one side then the other.
So there right at the basis of anti-semitism is a fairly major flaw which has been know from historical sources for ages but never seems to effect the basis of belief - the Jews at whom this was directed were racially no different to many of their niegbours, they spoke varieties of indo-european languages which produced the wonderful amulgum which was Yiddish, their religious observances soon varied to a major degree to that of practicing Jews of the Middle east and elsewhere, the only semetic contact was with rabbic Hebrew, which itself soon varied from the relgious Hebrew spoken elsewhere (nevertheless supplanting in Isreal these perhaps "purer" linguistic forms).
The foods, clothing, customs of what 19th century Europe saw as foriegn semeticism, was in fact completely home grown, a decision of real-politic trnaformed into religious and social practices.
Like it or lump it anti-semiticism has these contradictions at its very foundations. Heavens knows the so-called racial traits the Nazis used to identify "jews", I suspect that there were no end of people in Europe who exhibited traits originally drawn from the European steppes who ancestrally never had any "Jewish" connection. The much vaunted racial identification employed by the Nazis has this other dimension, it was completely arbitrary (an odd accusation really, but does say something about the human ability to see what it is looking for whether it is there or not).
Aside from out and out racism, there is the tendency whenever there are communal antagonisms and conflicts to inflict the "otherside" with traits and characteristics which make the struggle against them all the more righteous (hear Serbs speak of Albanians, or Balinese about Javanese and echoes of the same thing can be found whether or not there is any "racial" or linguistic differences).
Charles has a point, but in this context I think Chip has a better one. On top of it all, irrational communal hatreds and adhoc racism (that is racism which does not require or even suggest the need for an elborate "scientific" expression), is quite happy to adopt anything at hand to dehumanise what is seens as foes, so I think the obvious point that Arab peoples are in fact semites makes a fairly minimal impact (while it may be satisfying to point out to some of the right-wing settlers that they are in fact not descended from a semetic people while those they hate are, I fear it will caut little ice).
--- Message Received --- From: "Chip Berlet" <cberlet at igc.org> To: <lbo-talk at lists.panix.com> Date: Wed, 27 Feb 2002 16:52:13 -0500 Subject: RE: Anti-Semitism
Hi,
Dear Charles:
There are many types of prejudice against Jews: religious, ethnic, racist. Jews are not a single "race" whatever race means anyway, since it is a social constuct. But bigots are constantly asserting that Jews are a race.
The historical roots are in the Anti-Semitic Party of Germany in the 1800s. But in an effort to retain the historical continuity of the concept and term, many people now use the term "antisemitism" instead of Judeophobia. No dash, no capital letter, to signify an awareness of the problematic nature of the original term.
Now, Charles, groups get to claim the name of their oppression. You cannot assert the term is no longer appropriate, just like you cannot assert the term "Black" is not appropriate because it does not accurately describe a range of skin colors in an ethnic group labelled as a race.
You don't get a vote.
Antisemitism is a reality. The type of argument you make is frequently used by bigots to sweep the reality of antisemitism under the rug. I realize that was not your intent, but once in a while it would be nice if you were current on a topic before posting your opinions as if they were up to date. The result here is that you display an alarming insensitivity to an issue that is complicated.
None of this deprecates the harsh reality of Arabophobia and Islamophobia, not just among Jews in Israel, but also widespread among many different ethnic groups in the U.S. These terms are also the ones used by the targeted groups, and I cannot change them simply because I might argue that "fear of -- phobia" does not encompass all the aspects of bigotry against Arabs and Muslims. No does it dismiss alarming antisemitism current in some Arab and Muslim circles. The issue in the Middle East is more usefully addressed by discerning in which countries does which form of bigoted ideology have the power to assert dominance and create oppression. In Israel, Palestinians are oppressed. In Yemen, Jews are oppressed.
Greg Schofield Perth Australia g_schofield at dingoblue.net.au _______________________________________________ _______________________________________________
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