If anyone still doubts that the intersection between anti-Semitism and anti-Israel rhetoric is both real and virulent, they’re guilty of either overwhelming ignorance or unbelievable self-delusion.
This weekend, a pro-Palestinian convoy was seen traveling through North London as anti-Israel protests broke out across the United Kingdom. Adorned with Palestinian flags, the small crowd delivered revolting anti-Semitic statements with a megaphone.
“F*** the Jews,” the “activists” screeched. “F*** their daughters, f*** their mothers, rape their daughters.”
“Free Palestine,” they added.
"F*** the Jews. F*** their daughters, f*** their mothers, rape their daughters. Free Palestine."
This is happening in LONDON. pic.twitter.com/eVWC1KFs5q
— Ian Haworth (@ighaworth) May 16, 2021
As they should, multiple British politicians condemned these blatant acts of anti-Semitism. Prime Minister Boris Johnson tweeted, “There is no place for antisemitism in our society. Ahead of Shavuot, I stand with Britain’s Jews who should not have to endure the type of shameful racism we have seen today.”
There is no place for antisemitism in our society. Ahead of Shavuot, I stand with Britain’s Jews who should not have to endure the type of shameful racism we have seen today.
— Boris Johnson (@BorisJohnson) May 16, 2021
Yes, it should go without saying that screaming “F*** the Jews” and “rape their daughters” is a disgusting example of anti-Semitism. But there is another layer being missed: that these “protests” are not — supposedly — meant to be about Jews. They’re about Israel.
Except that, to those who hate Israel, there is often no difference. Many of those who despise the existence of Israel do so not because they love the Palestinians whose land they incorrectly allege was “stolen,” but instead because they are driven by a deep hatred of Jews.
Such a blatant expression of Jew-hatred under the guise of protesting Israel is, after all, far from unique.
Man left severely bloodied by anti-Israel protester(s) in NYC today. Graphic video by @elaadeliahu: pic.twitter.com/cWEakjmcTF
— Andy Ngô (@MrAndyNgo) May 12, 2021
Not only that, the terrorist organization which effectively controls the Gaza Strip explicitly describes their objective as the destruction of Jews, not Israel.
“Our struggle against the Jews is very great and very serious,” the Hamas Covenant reads.
“The Prophet, Allah bless him and grant him salvation, has said: ‘The Day of Judgement will not come about until Moslems fight the Jews (killing the Jews), when the Jew will hide behind stones and trees. The stones and trees will say O Moslems, O Abdulla, there is a Jew behind me, come and kill him.’….There is no solution for the Palestine question except through Jihad. Initiatives, proposals and international conferences are all a waste of time and vain endeavors. Palestine is an Islamic land,” the Covenant later argued.
“The day that enemies usurp part of Moslem land, Jihad becomes the individual duty of every Moslem. In face of the Jews’ usurpation of Palestine, it is compulsory that the banner of Jihad be raised,” the Covenant added.
Yes, the disgusting anti-Semitism witnessed on the streets of London this weekend should be condemned simply for its demonstration of bigotry. But let’s not pretend for a second that such an attitude towards Jews is antithetical to the vicious pro-Palestinian movement which seeks a “free Palestine” from “the river to the sea.”
It’s not about Israel. It’s never been about Israel. It’s about Jews. And the disgusting anti-Semites waving Palestinian flags from their cars as they called for Jews to be murdered and raped showed just that.
Ian Haworth is an Editor and Writer for The Daily Wire. Follow him on Twitter at @ighaworth.
The views expressed in this piece are the author’s own and do not necessarily represent those of The Daily Wire.