Gideon Levy writes about a phenomenon I have discussed in the past:
Anti-Semitism is raising its head. Not in Warsaw, Munich or Paris, and there’s no need for the Anti-Defamation League to wave the evidence around. It’s right here, in our own home, in verdant Ramat Aviv, the most enlightened suburb of Tel Aviv, our most enlightened city. The entry of a handful of ultra-Orthodox Jews to this lovely, modest and tranquil neighborhood has provoked an unlovely wave of racism, tearing the thin veil of openness and liberality from this seemingly left-wing community. If anyone were to behave this way toward Israeli Arabs, the residents might raise a hue and cry, but when it comes to Haredim the gloves are off because attacking the “blacks” is the fashion.
A quote from my above cited posting on this topic is worth repeating:
Communalism, racism, xenophobia – whatever word you want to use – is becoming rampant in Israel. Shinui, the flag-bearer of this repugnant phenomenon, is the fastest growing political party in the country. But this hatred is not only directed against Arabs. As Levy points out, some of the worst and most disgusting language used by Lapid is directed against the Haredim – the ultra-orthodox Jews. Sadly, Meretz, the so-called leftist party in Israel, vies with Shinui on who can savage the Haredi community more. When American Jews start talking to me about anti-semitism in Europe, I often respond by saying that the most anti-semitic country in the world is Israel. No European politician, not even Haider in Austria, would dare to publicly talk about Jews the way Lapid talks about Haredim.
Tags: Anti-Semitism, Xenophobia