January 4, 2004

Anti-Semetism in Europe

An interesting article in the Jerusalem Post (registration required). The author is an ex-Marxist, an Italian columnest for the La Stampa Sera. bq. The small bombs that exploded during the past few days in the face of the European community, first in Bologna at President Mario Prodi, then at Trichet, president of the Central European Bank, and lastly at the Europol of AJA, fortunately did not hurt anyone, yet they could not have been more symbolic. bq. Europe has erred in its calculations, and its political and intellectual line of conduct is in the process of drowning it. Its betrayal of Israel that began in 1967 has enveloped it in a torrent of lies, exaggeration and cynicism that has the potential to destroy its moral and cultural fibre. The filth that has risen from its sewers of history is known as anti-Semitism. and more: bq. It is also true that Italian President Silvio Berlusconi was honored in the US with a dinner by the Anti-Defamation League for taking a stand that is opposed to the typical European position. Indeed, when Prime Minister Ariel Sharon visited Rome recently, he was welcomed sympathetically. bq. Yet Italy is not the only country that leaves cause for optimism. Spain, Portugal, Hungary, Denmark, the Czech Republic and the countries of the "New Europe" - Lithuania, Estonia, Latvia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Cyprus and Malta (that will join the community of European nations in May) - understand that an anti-Semitic Europe is unpresentable and unacceptable to the United States, whom they consider their most loyal friend. and more: bq. For its part, Europe has two choices: either to try and understand Israel's legitimate security concerns in its attempt to achieve peace, or to continue living in denial and attributing to Israel the wicked intent of dominating others. If it opts for the latter, more and more anti-Semitism will erupt, and Europe will be destroyed, as it was in the past. Excellent insights... Posted by DaveH at January 4, 2004 9:39 PM