Unfortunately, the extreme right does not have a monopoly on the use of anti-Jewish sentiments. As I wrote in my book “Never Again?”, the current conflict in the Middle East has created a new opportunity for the heralds of anti-Semitism to find supporters among those who have historically rejected this shameful phenomenon.
All over the world, including Europe and the United States, those who consider themselves “liberals” or “left wing” often take the side of the Palestinians in the Middle East conflict. They proceed from their traditional rejection of imperialism carried out by Western powers, including the United States, Great Britain and France.
Therefore, in any international dispute, they favor, as they believe, the side of the “third world”. In this case, it is to the Palestinians, who really suffer from poverty and deprivation, and therefore deserve sympathy (and much fairer treatment than they received from Jordan and other Arab countries, who are standing up for the cause of Palestine only in words).
Most of these liberal sympathizers of the Palestinian cause condemn terrorism by certain Islamic extremists (although some justify such actions). But the liberals seem to have reserved their harshest criticism for Israeli politics. Many overlook or even justify the use of violence by Palestinians and their supporters against innocent Israeli citizens, but at the same time strongly condemn any retaliatory or defensive measures by the Israeli Government and army. Because of this one-sided approach, criticism of Israel coming from the mouth of representatives of the left wing often crosses the line and becomes overt anti-Semitism.
This leftist anti-Semitism is often intertwined with the stereotype of Jews and their attitude to money and serves to promote the Palestinian cause. Dozens of supposedly liberal European and even some American newspapers publish cartoons depicting powerful Jews who use their money bags to control Uncle Sam and destroy innocent Palestinians. Some of the authors of these cartoons, including college students and other young people, probably have a vague idea of the origin of the vicious images of Nazi mythology and the early anti-Semitic tradition. Unfortunately, it is easiest for activists of any political persuasion who want to find supporters of their cause to push the emotional buttons of racial or national intolerance of an ordinary person.
Another source of anti-Semitism, implicated in vicious stereotypes, can be found among the many members and supporters of the organization “Nation of Islam”, or the so-called “black Muslim” movement.
