Jewish World Review Nov. 18, 1999 /9 Kislev, 5760
Jonathan Tobin
Blood Libel Revisited
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CAN WORDS HARM ISRAEL? In an era where the Jewish state has been subjected to
every form of warfare, why should we care if someone uses hate speech and
accuses it of heinous, preposterous crimes? History answers that violent
words can lead to violent deeds.
The question is raised by the latest incidence of anti-Jewish hate speech by
a leading figure in the Palestinian Authority. In this case, the offender was
none other than Suha Arafat, the wife of Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat,
who chose to accuse Israel of using poison gas to kill Palestinian women and
children.
Mrs. Arafat’s chutzpah was compounded by the fact that she made the remarks
in the presence of America’s first lady, Hillary Rodham Clinton. Mrs. Clinton
was on a diplomatic/political trip to celebrate the peace process, as well as
promote her own putative candidacy for a U.S. Senate seat from New York.
Most of the commentary on this flap has concentrated on its possible effect
on New York voters. Yet there is more here to think about than whether or not
Mrs. Clinton’s political future has been harmed by her failure to respond
promptly and specifically to these despicable and utterly preposterous
charges.
The fact is, this kind of disgusting language is nothing new for the
Palestinians. Ever since the Oslo peace process empowered the Palestinian
Authority, its officials have engaged in every type of Jew-hating talk
imaginable. They have invoked all the traditional themes from the medieval
blood libel to Holocaust denial.
Indeed, despite the smooth talk coming from Arab leaders in the presence of
American audiences, they have never stopped whipping up hatred of Israel
among their own people. Despite Israel’s concessions and commitment to peace,
there is no getting around the fact that its Arab peace partners have never
gotten with the peace program.
While American Jews continue to be outraged by these incidents, the answer
from some Israelis is a yawn.
Having been subjected to anti-Israel propaganda for decades and hoping that
peace is not far away, they have become inured to the sound of Arab
calumnies. Every time some P.A. official launches yet another vile piece of
slander against Israel or the Jewish people in general, someone can always be
found to make excuses or to rationalize it as meant only to please Arab
audiences.
Or, as Ma’ariv’s top political correspondent, Chemi Shalev told me himself a
couple of weeks ago, incidents like these are irrelevant to the progress of
the peace process. As far as left-wing journalists like Shalev are concerned,
there is a moral equivalence between Israel and the Palestinians.
Yet, that is a moral equivalence that most Israelis and, indeed, most
American Jews do not accept. Nor should they.
And given the context of Mrs. Arafat’s statement, I believe this time, the
outrage cannot be limited to skeptics about the peace process. Blood libels
cannot be ignored.
It is no use mincing words. Mrs. Arafat’s words were nothing less than a 1999
version of the old blood-libel tale. Even worse, it appears that her
sentiments seem to reflect Palestinian public opinion.
While I have little doubt that this is a story that will soon be forgotten by
the mainstream media as the rush of other events overtakes it, these words
ought to be remembered.
Israel’s government has chosen to continue with the Oslo process and that
means that more Israeli territorial concessions, as well as a Palestinian
state, are on the horizon.
Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak knows the peace Israel will obtain in
exchange will be no better than the willingness of the Palestinians to live
up to their word. That is Israel’s choice to make, but it should not engender
complacence about its security.
This knowledge should also make it clear why Israel is demanding serious
security measures and Palestinian compliance. While we should have needed no
insulting speeches from Suha Arafat to understand this concept, it is all the
more reason why the United States should back Israel’s insistence on
increased security and strict Palestinian compliance.
It is no exaggeration to say that if the United States is willing to
countenance hate speech from Palestinian “friends” such as Mrs. Arafat, then
the peace itself may yet prove more problematic than optimists are counting
on.
It’s up to Washington and its envoys (including emissaries such as the first
lady) to speak out forcefully to make sure the Palestinians understand that
the United States takes this issue
seriously.
JWR contributor Jonathan S. Tobin is executive editor of the Philadelphia Jewish Exponent. Let him know what you think by clicking here.
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