Gilad Atzmon considers the alarming results of a recent survey of attitudes among British Jews which found, among other things, that nearly three quarters of British Jews support Israeli war crimes in Gaza.
The Jewish community in Britain seems to be over the moon. A survey that was published a few days ago suggests that British Jews are nothing but “peace lovers”. The Guardian newspaper was also quick to report that 77 per cent of “British Jews favour a 'two-state solution' in Israel”.
In practice, this actually means that at least 77 per cent of British Jews believe that millions of dispossessed Palestinians should continue to dwell in refugee camps and never be allowed to return to their homes, cities and villages. I am actually far from impressed with British Jewry’s inclination towards peace.
Seven out of 10 UK Jews support Israeli war crimes in Gaza
Professor Dan McGowan pointed out recently that Israel and Palestine are in fact “one country with one water system, one electrical grid, one monetary system, one telephone system and one postal system. It is already one state, although half the population has lesser rights or none at all.” Bearing McGowan’s insight, I wonder what drives 77 per cent of British Jews? Why don’t they really welcome Palestinian people to return to their land and enjoy exactly the same civil rights British Jews celebrate in the UK?
But a further question must be raised here. What is it that qualifies British Jews or any other Diaspora Jews to interfere or engage so closely with the fate of millions of Palestinians?
As it happens, the survey provides us with more devastating news. At the time of Israel’s Operation Cast Lead against the Gaza Strip in 2008-09, we were shocked to discover that 94 per cent of Israelis supported the Israeli armed forces’ murderous tactics in the Strip. As this new survey clearly reveals, the lack of ethics in British Jewry is far more concerning. Eighteen months after the massacre in Gaza and a year after the UN fact-finding mission on the Gaza conflict found Israel guilty of numerous war crimes and crimes against humanity, nearly three quarters (72 per cent) of British Jews agreed that Israel's action in Gaza in 2008 and 2009 was "a legitimate act of self-defence". I believe that in practice this means that seven out of 10 British Jews support Israeli war crimes and somehow dismiss the finding of the UN fact-finding mission. This is pretty scary.
The study, which was carried out by the Institute for Jewish Policy Research, (JPR) found that Jews in Britain strongly identify with Israel, with nine out of 10 having visited the country. JPR's executive director, Jonathan Boyd, said: "Fundamentally, we found that most Jews feel a strong sense of connection to Israel, and for many it forms an important and even central part of their Jewish identity.”
“…the notion that in Britain there is a minority community, the overwhelming majority of which supports war crimes, is pretty shocking, especially considering the devastating fact that every political party in this country is bankrolled by different shades of the ‘Friends of Israel’.”
For many years I have argued that within the Jewish secular discourse there is no ideological or spiritual dichotomy between the Israeli, the Jew and the Zionist. It is probably impossible to determine where the Zionist ends and the Jew starts. And yet, the notion that in Britain there is a minority community, the overwhelming majority of which supports war crimes, is pretty shocking, especially considering the devastating fact that every political party in this country is bankrolled by different shades of the “Friends of Israel”.
I wonder how the British public would react if they find out that 72 per cent of the Muslim community supported the killings in Mumbai, 7/7 or 9/11. I guess that we all know the answer.
Note: In comparison, please review the key findings from a 2007 survey by the centre-right think tank, Policy Exchange, of more than 1,000 Muslims living across the UK. It reveals an image of a real pluralist and liberal community. Only '7 per cent admire organizations like Al-Qaeda that are prepared to fight the West. Thirteen per cent of 16 to 24-year-olds agreed with this statement compared with three per cent of over-55s.
Among the 2007 survey’s findings was that “36 per cent of 16 to 24-year-olds believe if a Muslim converts to another religion they should be punished by death, compared with 19 per cent of over-55s". And yet, this is still far less alarming than the relentless attempt of Zionists to silence every Jewish convert to universalism or humanism.
Gilad Atzmon is an Israeli-born musician, writer and anti-racism campaigner. His latest jazz album, "In loving memory of America", was released on 1 March 2009 and can be purchased here.
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