“Hell is empty, and all the devils are here.”

In an open letter written in 1898 by the prominent French writer Emile Zola and addressed to the President of France, Zola accused the French government of antisemitism and the unlawful jailing of Alfred Dreyfus, a Jewish French Army Captain accused of espionage. Subsequently, Zola was prosecuted for libel and found guilty. He fled to England but returned to Paris in 1899. Nine years later, in 1908, in Paris, Zola was murdered.

We have much to learn from this episode in French history.

Today, for the governments of Australia, Canada, France, and the UK., their Jewish constituents have become irrelevant when it refers to Jews and Israel. The term ‘honest dialogue’ with its Jewish citizens has become an oxymoron. Between the political lines issued by these governments, their message is clear. They wish Jews would just go away and keep quiet, and everything will be fine! That has as much chance of happening as Hamas, the deluded, splenetic psychopaths of genocide fame, saying they love Jews!

I accuse the governments of Australia, Canada, France, and the UK., of their absence of fair and balanced dialogue between their Jewish communities and themselves, of thriving on the ignorance of the masses, much of which is intended to influence the actions and feelings of individuals who desperately need to find an enemy. The antisemites have found it! The Jew is the enemy. The trend has been established.

I accuse the governments of Australia, Canada, France, and the UK., of cultivating a national community against the Jew. It is this image that many Jews would associate with antisemitism in its nastiest form, defined here as to persuade an audience to accept a particular idea or cause, often by using biased material or by stirring up emotions, especially with prospective voters of another religious persuasion.

And Hamas et al, who have been designated as a terrorist organisation in more than 60 countries, encouraged by the rhetoric of these governments, their wishes have been fulfilled.  It is a love affair. Husband and wife are like one flesh.

For the antisemitic masses, who now openly say Jews are not welcome in their respective countries, I accuse the governments of Australia, Canada, France, and the UK., of penetrating the emotions of the hatemongers, of the antisemites, who publicly vilify and delegitimize Jews.

I accuse the governments of Australia, Canada, France, and the UK., of fomenting an ideology the likes of which are unlikely to be forgotten. They have crossed the red line. It is an utter travesty. They have shown their true colours.

To quote American writer Eric Hoffer, “Passionate hatred can give meaning and purpose to an empty life.”

For Jews, it is just one other cycle of events, of baseless lies and despicable accusations, with very little moral fibre left within their ranks.

Yes indeed, as Shakespeare wrote in The Tempest,  “Hell is empty, and all the devils are here.” •