Anti-Semitism and Repercussions of Pro-Israel Alliances

By Sarah Ann Haves

COMMENTARY

International Holocaust Memorial day is marked every year on January 27th. This year, the glaring facts of a global rise in anti-Semitism has brought home news to Jews in Israel and abroad that the world is still full of Holocaust deniers, racists and haters of the Jewish People.

While international Holocaust ceremonies have been taking place over the past couple of days, statistics on increased acts of anti-Semitism, worldwide, are simultaneously being reported. But, it does not seem to be filtering down to some government leaders who could be taking more serious actions towards stopping hate crimes against Jews from occurring.

Britain’s Prime Minister Theresa May is the first international leader to meet U.S. President Donald Trump at the White House. It is doubtful that Britain’s 62% increase in anti-Semitism in 2016 compared to 2015, is on the agenda of their discussions. This increase has been blamed on extreme right organizations in the U.K.

The United States shares the same problem of extreme right organizations gaining power and influence, including white supremacy groups that have been troubling to all minorities in America. During Trump’s campaign, these groups disseminated hate speech, which in the past, has led to increased anti-Semitism and a furtherance of Holocaust denial.

In 2016, anti-Semitic acts rose in America by 45% on U.S. campuses, fueled by the activities of the Students for Justice in Palestine group. Why are the presidents of American colleges and universities not outlawing this group from continuing their incitement against Jewish students?

Twitter has become a source for anti-Semitic language directed towards Jewish journalists. There were some 20,000 anti-Semitic tweets targeting 50,000 journalists, initiated by 1,600 Twitter accounts, during the period of August 2015-July 2016. More attention needs to be paid to cracking down on social media that allows anti-Semitism to be disseminated through their networks.

This month, a series of bomb threats frightened American Jewish organizations in 17 states, causing the temporary evacuation of workers in Jewish community centers, schools, and other institutions. The U.S. has in place the Secure Community Network, which coordinates with the Department of Homeland Security, helping to keep Jewish community buildings safe from hostile attacks. There is also the Bomb Threat Guidance document provided by America’s security departments; and, the Anti-Defamation League’s “Protecting Your Jewish Institution” security manual.

The question is, do these safeguards extend into religious Jewish neighborhoods, where Jewish people live in community together, and shop at the local kosher supermarket – areas that may be vulnerable to future anti-Semitic attacks? Is there adequate law enforcement patrolling these at-risk communities?

In Europe, a further look at the increase of anti-Semitism implicates Germany. Germany had a double increase in the amount of anti-Semitic attacks in 2016 compared to 2015. While German police recently cracked down on far-right extremist groups in six states who were planning attacks against Jews, Germany’s policy on anti-Semitism is not being adhered to throughout the country. A regional German court in the city of Wuppertal refused to charge suspects who torched a synagogue, excusing the anti-Semitic act as an acceptable demonstration against Israeli policies.

Meanwhile, reports indicate that the main rise of German anti-Semitism is a result of Islamic influence due to the refugee crisis, as well as the rising popularity of the extreme right.

Not only are new extreme right groups in Europe to blame for increased persecution of Jews, but radical left organizations are participating, as well. This includes leftist European government leaders who influence their constituents by their anti-Semitic public comments.

Furthermore, there are trends being overlooked of what could cause a major upsurge in anti-Semitism worldwide in 2017, which is not readily being discussed, publicly, by analysts.

Several future agreements expected by President Trump’s Administration in coordination with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government could cause conflict with the Palestinians, Arab nations, and Europe. Yet, Israel will continue to take steps to increase its sovereignty over its land. The expected strengthening of the American-Israeli alliance, with new land policies likely implemented this year, could stir up more hatred towards the Jewish People. Pro-Israel supporters need to be prepared for volatile times ahead.

Since the exit from the White House of former President Barack Obama, who was not considered a true friend of Israel, the political tide is now turning towards positive relations between these two allies. Under the Trump Administration, Israel is expected to be covered by the U.S. on the diplomatic front. But, this also opens up the possibility of criticism from those countries whose leaders think that the U.S. cannot be an objective Middle East peace broker. France, for example, is still expected to try and help the Palestinians in international forums to continue trying to internationalize the peace process, looking for ways to isolate and force Israel into an imposed agreement.

Moving the U.S. Embassy to Jerusalem, which Trump has promised to do, has received a strong backlash from Arabs and Palestinians already. The rage against this proposal could very well start another Intifada (Palestinian Uprising), if and when the Embassy move takes place.

To his credit, Trump has been appointing Jewish leaders to his cabinet, who are strongly supportive of Israel. Trump is also surrounded by Evangelical Christians, including his Vice President Mike Pence, who is expected to support Trump’s pro-Israel policies.

However, as Netanyahu’s government coalition insists in passing future bills into law to annex certain Israeli cities and towns considered settlements beyond the Green Line, will Americans and Israelis be ready for the expected fall-out, including mass demonstrations on Middle East and European streets? There is also a bill expected to eventually pass through the Knesset that would legalize all settlement outposts. Legislation on both these controversial issues has been shelved until Netanyahu meets with Trump at the White House in February 2017. The two leaders are expected to discuss the settlement issue, and the consequences of annexation and legalization, along with other major issues of mutual concern to both countries.

As the Land for Israel caucus in the Knesset continues to push for annexation of Israeli towns and cities in the West Bank (Judea and Samaria), many Israelis are expressing their support for these actions.

At the same time, Trump has appointed a pro-Israel supporter, Nikki Haley, as U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations. Her job will be to figure out a way to end anti-Israel bias, by threatening to cut off U.S. funds to certain UN organizations.

In Europe, the new European Parliament President Antonio Tajani seems to be a proponent of EU-Israel ties, and has said he will preserve the rights and safety of the European Jewish Community… a welcome statement for community leaders.

All these steps are a positive reinforcement of a new tide on the part of some international countries towards supporting Israel diplomatically, allowing the Jewish State to exercise its sovereign rights over its own land.

The hope, at the same time, is that steps will be taken to increase law enforcement, especially in the United States and Europe, to protect Jewish citizens who may end up in the cross-fire of Palestinian and Arab anger. Fueled by what they perceive as a challenge to their aspirations towards statehood, the Palestinians, along with extreme anti-Israel agitators, may decide to engage in armed conflict against Jews in the Diaspora and in Israel. They may see this as the only way to preserve their diplomatic gains over the past eight years towards imposing an internationalized solution on Israel. If diplomacy doesn’t work for them, they could start another uprising, which could spread to Arab streets in the Middle East. This may be their way of seeing their goals for Palestinian statehood achieved, hoping to further isolate Israel internationally. It’s time to prepare for the possibility of such a scenario.

“Why do the nations rage, and the people plot a vain thing? The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the Lord and against His Anointed…” Psalm 2:1-2

(c) 2017 Messianic Vision all rights reserved. This article is not reproducible except with permisson from Messianic Vision.

Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture taken from the New King James Version. Copyright ©1979, 1980, 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Ms. Haves is a news analyst, reporting on political, diplomatic, military and spiritual issues in Israel and the nations.