Anti-semitism and censorship

I’m sorry but I just don’t buy it.

A group of prominent MPs, alarmed at the rise of anti-semitism in Britain, will accuse some left-wing activists and Muslim extremists this week of using criticism of Israel as ‘a pretext’ for spreading hatred against British Jews.

The charge is made in a hard-hitting report – by MPs from all three major political parties – which will be unveiled at a Downing Street meeting with Tony Blair on Thursday.
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Though emphasising the right of people to criticise or protest against Israeli government actions, it says ‘rage’ over Israeli policies has sometimes ‘provided a pretext’ for anti-semitism.

MPs, we are told, are demanding action against rising abuse, harassment and even violence. Other than increasing police presence at Synagogues, which maybe advisable, the other insinuation of this report does seem to demand tacit censorship. And I don’t buy that.

While I fully accept that anti-semites on the far left, and some Muslims, are using their hatred as a pretext to attack Israel – it’s what you get for living in a free society. This may sound unsympathetic to Jews who have been attacked or abused, or oblivious to Synagogues that have been defaced, but it’s not.

The same issues highlighted in the upcoming report apply to British Muslims. They have seen a rise in attacks because of their faith; they have seen Mosques defaced with graffiti; they have seen bigots use terrorism as a pretext for open hostility against all of them as a people. Hell, the BNP is even trying to drop their traditional anti-semitism to focus on hating on Muslims.

So why wasn’t a comparison made along with British Muslims? Could it be due to Denis McShane’s chequered history? It may be because it would then expose the authors to accusations of trying to call for censorship.

That we should have the freedom to attack governments and faith based organisations without being accused, overtly or tacitly, of anti-semitism or Islamophobia, is obvious. For someone such as myself, who constantly criticises not only governments but faith (and race) based bodies for their myopia or downright stupidity, such reports are akin to demanding that we engage in self-censorship. I cannot accept that.

What we can do is distance ourselves from those we see as having ulterior, racist motives. But that is all. Accusations of having racist motives should not numb criticism of governments or organisations.