The Return of Anti-Semitism

by Gabriel Schoenfeld

Book Overview

Although our government hardly acknowledges the fact, and fails to orient its policies accordingly, begins Gabriel Schoenfeld in this profoundly disquieting book, the United States is today locked in a conflict with adversaries for whom hatred of Jews lies at the core of their beliefs. To anyone with even a modest acquaintance with current events, it is clear that the Muslim world is today the epicenter of a particularly virulent brand of anti-Semitic...

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1893554899
• ISBN13: 9781893554894
• Release Date: January 2004
• Publisher: Encounter Books
• Length: 193 Pages
• Weight: 1.40 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.9" x 6.3" x 9.3"

Customer Reviews

A report on the popularity of antisemitic ideas today

In the 1930s, antisemitism was a serious problem. It manifested itself in widespread defamation of Jews, attacks on European Jews in particular, a series of horrible anti-Jewish laws, and an environment in which the combination of attacks on Jews and anti-Jewish propaganda caused Jews in general to become increasingly despised. So despised that it was possible to murder millions of them in World War 2. That is not exactly what is happening today. For the most part, Jews are faring well, and very few have been murdered. But anti-Jewish propaganda (much of it "antizionist") is widespread, especially in the Arab world. This book describes where things stand, and it notes the intensity of anti-Jewish propaganda in the Arab world, clearly showing that "the parallels between Nazism and the current Arab-Muslim brand of anti-Semitism are striking." It also shows how Arabs are training many of their children to be antisemites. A chapter on Europe shows a striking correlation between Arab attacks on Israelis and local attacks on European Jews. I hadn't realized the extent to which terrorist attacks inspire violence elsewhere, but the author also explained that "the September 11 terrorist attack on America led to a sharp increase in European violence against Jews," with dramatically increased incidents of violence in England and France in the months of September and October, 2001. The author says that antisemitism is a grossly delusional view of the world and its implications continue to reach far beyond the fate of the Jews. I agree, and that's a reason I think this book is important for everyone.

There are none so blind as those who will not see

It is a human trait that we do not notice trends and movements until AFTER they have arrived. How else to explain the refusal of Jews to leave Germany before WWII or currently, the blindness in regard to the growing anti-Semitism we see everywhere around us?Anti-Semitism has migrated from Christianity and settled in with Islam and the Left. At one time no respectable person would dare claim to be anti-semitic - it was only the uneducated, the ignorant, the fools. As noted by the author, suddenly it's in to be prejudiced and strangely intellectuals are leading the charge - from European capitals to college campuses. While some of this, the author notes, started as anti-Israeli feelings it has quickly evolved into an anti-Jewish message that is barely concerned with providing intellectual cover. And it brings nary a protest!General Zinni was interviewed and named those responsibile for the Iraq mess. His answer was telling - he named five Jews in the administration - not the VP, not Bush, not Rice or Rumsfeld. No, five Jews. When this was pointed out he stated that he did not know the faith of the five, sopmething so hard to believe as to be dismissed out of hand. The real story is that he sought to blame Jews for our troubles (shades of the Black Plague) and nearly got away with it. Not suprisingly he is pro-Arab. This was followed by dottering Sen Hollings who woke up to blame the war on "Jewish interests" then said he was not blaming the Jews - Go figure.The book does not answer the psychological or emotional reasons for this trend perhaps because there is no answer for irrational thinking. The answer is found in ideology. The European (and increasingly American) Left supports the Arab cause in the ongoing Middle East battle. The question of WHy an intellectual would choose religious fundamentalists, thugs and terrorists over a Western-oriented society that allows dissent is a question that must be answered in another book.But the fact remains, as the author notes, that anti-Semitism is a function of most Arab governments and this brainwashing has spilled over to its inhabitants who regularly march in protest - not for political, economic or religious freedom. No, crowds proclaim their hatred of Jews and their fervent wish to exterminate them. The book is well-documented but given Zinni, Hollings, NPR, the Cairo Times and the hate spewing from Damascus, Pakistan and Iran and the voice of terrorists murdering "Jews" on film, exactly, uh, how detailed must one get? This is an important book that should be updated frequently with the latest signs of this most disturbing of trends.

Disturbing. Required Reading !

I purchased this exceptionally, well written, in-depth study further to my own research into anti-Semitism (hatred of the Jews) spanning many years.Replete with specific references, the text of this work provides a compelling and deeply disturbing investigation as to how, virtually unnoticed by large elements of the International community, a lethal hatred of the Jews has once more come to the fore and depicts how it has been so influential in manipulating public attitudes through the media & also it's influence within political realms pertaining to circumstances in the International arena.At the outset, the book declares that to anyone even modestly acquainted with current events, it is readily apparent that the Islamic World is today the epicentre of what is cited as a particularly virulent brand of anti-Semitic hatred.The reader is shown how throughout the Islamic world, Israel has been allegedly transformed from a country into a malignant force, cited as embodying every possible negative attribute - aggressor, usurper, occupier, corrupter, infidel, murderer and barbarian, with the Israelis themselves being allegedly viewed as foot-soldiers of the same dark force instead of human beings, parents, students, civilians, women & children. The book demonstrating how this hatred depicts the Jews themselves as constituting what is described as the sinister force behind almost every significant event in the World. Through a seemingly endless, inexhaustible supply of material, the historic and underlying causes of this irrational hatred are discussed. Individual readers must make up their own minds upon the many aspects of this investigation, some aspects of which may be seen as controversial by some. One issue examined is how Islamic anti-Semitism perhaps draws and meshes seamlessly with it's Christian and Nazi "cousins" in Europe where similar patterns of anti-Jewish hatred were practised, taught & richly developed for centuries in some areas of Europe. Further discussed is how such teachings may have found an entrance corridor and a sympathetic audience amongst the Arab/Islamic world surrounding the re-birth of Israel in 1948. Nazism's ideology cited as having been defeated on the battlefield but the book showing how named Arab leaders had already been thoroughly steeped in it's doctrines and eager to embrace it's ideological package in relation to the Jews. The study declaring that the Arab world's hatred of the Jews now equals that of Nazi Germany at it's peak and discusses how that seldom will you find anyone opposing or discrediting anti-Semitism in the Islamic world or even amongst it's supporters. References are also provided of the dissemination of hatred through official Arabic Government channels and publications where Jews are depicted as "apes and pigs" and the "worms of the entire World". In one example, tthe book illustrates how what are described as Iranian anti-Semitic propagandists, erase all distinctions among Israel, Zionism

A wonderful account of the ageless evil

This wonderful new book sheds light on the scourge of renewed anti-Semitism. The author looks at two main elements in the new rise of hatred that the world has not seen since the days of Nazi Germany. Focusing on the radical left and fundamentalist Islam the author clearly demonstrates this new alliance that holds hatred of Israel at its center but which publishes anti-Semitic literature and fans the flames of terror. Here the book examines the recent pogroms in France where religious Jews were assaulted whenever they ventured onto the street and Jewish centers were bombed, although not reported, this rise in evil is clearly shown to be the shame that now overhangs Europe.The book draws two major reasons for the rise in anti-Semitism. First the author explores the Arab-Israeli conflict and shows how the catharsis of anti-Zionism has grown into full blown hatred through the government sponsored publication of Elders of Zion by many regimes such as Saudi and Egypt. Then the book looks at the fact that many leftist Europeans us Israel as an excuse to be anti-Semitic, in affect attacking the holocaust survivors so as to remove themselves from the shame of not preventing the Holocaust. This two pronged offensive is uncovered in this excellent book which rivals in its directness the `Never Again' work of Foxman. A must read for anyone interested in Intolerance, diversity, anti-Semitism, Islam or Israel.Seth J. Frantzman

Gripping, and terrifying

This is an extraordinary book; I couldn't put it down, and when I finished it, I was filled with despair about the direction of events. The book clearly shows that the menace of anti-Semitism is becoming ever more deadly and pervasive. I haven't seen any reviews yet, but I suspect it will be the focus of much attention; among other things, the author pulls no punches in discussing the purveyors of the new anti-Semitism, including various leftwing Jews, many of them tenured academics. The picture painted here--meticulously documented and written in a voice of urgency--is alarming in the extreme. It is certainly easy to see why Elie Wiesel wrote a blurb calling this book "necessary" reading.