Time to get nasty
In the UK, we have tragically joined the club of countries in which Jews have been murdered for being Jews. Trades unions, universities, the NHS to name a few are now all hotbeds of hatred against Israel, relying on the oft repeated lie that this about support for the Palestinians. On reflection I don’t believe that these antisemites even bother to say this about support for the Palestinians.
We need to change our focus. Since October 7 we have, or rather many of our communal leaders have, concentrated on the old ways and we have seen the results. Speaking to local and national government in an effort to persuade them to take action to protect us largely got nowhere. The meetings with university vice-chancellors have also largely been a failure. There is a certain satisfaction to be had as a leader to have access to the top levels of higher education, but when that access comes to naught you have to ask was it worth the bother.
There is another problem with meeting those who refuse to do what they should. The meeting gives legitimacy to the defaulting party. The vice-chancellor can say he (or she) met with the Jews, said how sorry he is they are upset, that he abhors antisemitism and, here is the kicker, other forms of racism. That last part just tells the world that antisemitism is no different to any other form of racism and what is all the fuss about when the Jews talk about a unique hatred.
Where do you go from here? The answer is nowhere because now there is an argument over what was said, with the university saying they are doing their best and the Jews claiming the opposite, or worse, saying they had a great meeting and all will be well.
The attacks on us are broad and varied. There are new anti-Jew groups sprouting up on social media as well as the more well-established organisations on campus harassing Jews, telling lies about Israel and working towards a Jew free zone. In many respects the extraordinary has become the ordinary, so inured we are to these differing attacks. We need to take a step back and pretend that we are a different minority. What would we do if we were black, how would our protests be dealt with then.
Easy. As for the universities, I am certain that if there were a whiff of prejudice against a black student, those responsible would be suspended immediately, with the prospect of those responsible being expelled from their course. So why not us?
Traditionally we have believed that education is the way forward. Just explain to our enemies about our history, our culture and how horrid Hamas is, and all will be well. Only it hasn’t worked. The education offensive has just not done the trick. Tea and scones with the leader of the council or the vice-chancellor doesn’t work anymore, though to my mind I am not sure it really did. These institutions are our enemy and frankly have been for some time. Now they just cannot be bothered to hide it.
So let’s try something different. Whether it be local government or an educational institution, we should do what the supporters of the black student would do. Turn up with whistles, placards and loudspeakers, demanding resignations, inquiries and prosecutions.
Pick the demo day with care. Check out the university open days and then turn up declaring – with the loudspeaker, remember – that it is not the cuddly place of learning they are maintaining, it is a hotbed of racism where students are not protected and there is no redress when they are harassed. That might get their attention.
As for local government look no further than the West Midlands. If there was a protest there, I missed it. Surely it shouldn’t be too hard to get some people together to wait until the council is sitting inside their building and then make a lot of noise on the outside. The way in which the council assisted in banning Jews and Israelis from attending a football match between Aston Villa and Maccabi Tel Aviv is a national scandal and should be treated as such.
Jewish demos work. I have been on a few and have seen the impact they have, not least because we don’t do this sort of thing and when we do, those who do not follow these issues sit up and take notice. I suppose what I am saying is that we need to stop being nice and, within the law, get nasty.
