Dutch premier hears concerns of anti-Semitism

[Behind the Aegis]

AMSTERDAM, Netherlands: Prime Minister Jan Peter Balkenende said Friday that Dutch Muslim and Jewish groups need to work together to ease tensions following a series of apparent anti-Semitic attacks.

At least four Dutch synagogues were targets of arson or stoning during Israel's three-week offensive against Hamas militants in the Gaza Strip that ended this week, and some demonstrators at anti-Israel protests shouted slogans of "Hamas, Hamas, Jews to the gas."

No one was hurt and damage has been minimal, but "the incidents are very serious," said Ronny Naftaniel of the Center for Information and Documentation on Israel.

In the latest incident, a house was torched in an Amsterdam suburb earlier this week. Neighbors said the word "Jood," or Jew, was daubed in yellow paint on the window, according to Zoomin.nl, a Dutch internet TV network, although film footage showed that part of the scrawled word was missing in the broken glass and police have not classified it as a racist act.

more...

[Idealism]

1. European anti-semitism dies hard, apparently

[cali]

2. And you know the people in question were ethnically European just how?

There really is no way of know from this article.

[LeftishBrit]

5. There isn't;; but, on the basis of past experience, probably quite a lot are.

There is some tension between Muslims and Jews in Europe, but there are also too many native xenophobes who hate either or more usually both. Neo-Nazis and related groups are a significant problem in most of Europe - and from what I gather, in America and Australia as well.

[Idealism]

8. From trends in the region for over a century

it is perhaps a generalization, but it often will be true in the end. Europeans have had a rocky history with their relations to Jewish groups, and Muslim groups are no better when it comes to xenophobia.

[LeftishBrit]

3. There is an increasing racism problem in the Netherlands

Both antisemitism and Islamophobia (the latter often mixed with general anti-immigrant bigotry).

Some of the problems are *between* Jews and Muslims, but a lot of it seems to be just good old traditional Europaean xenophobia. Certainly, the Jewish and Muslim groups would be well advised to cease all mutual bigotry and to start 'hanging together before they all hang separately'.

[delad]

4. couldn't agree with you more n/t

[shaayecanaan]

6. from the granny...

The far right British National party is trying to shed its antisemitic past as part of a drive to pick up votes among London's Jewish community. The party, which could get its first seat on the London assembly if voter turnout is low next month, is campaigning in Jewish areas across the capital and attempting to play on what it sees as historical enmity between the Jewish and Muslim communities.

In one leaflet, handed out in north London last weekend, the party's only Jewish councillor, Pat Richardson, is quoted along with a picture of young Muslims holding a placard reading: "Butcher those who mock Islam."

"I'm in the BNP because no one else speaks out against the Islamification of our country," said Richardson. "Being Jewish only adds to my concern about this aggressive creed that also threatens our secular values and Christian tradition."

The move has sparked a furious reaction among Jewish organisations who say the BNP is still antisemitic and racist.

The Board of Deputies, the London Jewish Forum and the Community Security Trust have launched a campaign with other ethnic minority and cultural groups and the Hope Not Hate campaign to combat the BNP threat.

Ruth Smeed, of the Board of Deputies, said: "The BNP website is now one of the most Zionist on the web - it goes further than any of the mainstream parties in its support of Israel and at the same time demonises Islam and the Muslim world. They are actively campaigning in Jewish communities, particularly in London, making a lot of their one Jewish councillor, their support of Israel and attacking Muslims. It is a poisonous campaign but it shows a growing electoral sophistication."

[LeftishBrit]

7. The BNP has also had a Sikh candidate; they are swift to exploit divisions between minorities

And the current leader Griffin has tried to make the party look more respectable and moderate to get votes - but it's still the old white-supremacist anti-minority anti-semitic party that it ever was.

Here are a few links:

http://www.stopthebnp.org.uk/index.php?location=election&link=/BNP05.htm

http://www.stopthebnp.org.uk/index.php?location=news&art=1062

http://www.hopenothate.org.uk/the-real-bnp/the-politics-of-the-BNP.php#3


As for Pat Richardson- she is a disgusting idiot and pawn.

[shaayecanaan]

9. There was a time...

when the KKK wouldnt admit Irish or Italians. Or Slavs. Nowadays they'll take both of them gladly.

Sign of the times.