Sticks and stones
WHEN President Morsi of Egypt was quoted calling Zionists the descendants of “apes and pigs”, there was not a ripple of comment or criticism in the Muslim world. And yet much of his recent visit to Germany was overshadowed by hostile questioning from the media.
His clarification that his words had been taken out of context cut little ice with his audience.
This silence in the Muslim world reflects the deep anti-Semitism rife in the Islamic world. To most Muslims, there is no difference between ‘Jew’, ‘Zionist’ and ‘Israeli’. This ignorance and prejudice is reinforced by the virtual absence of any personal contact between Muslims and Jews.
Morsi, in his 2010 statement, went on to urge Muslims to bring up their children and grandchildren to hate Zionists. Now being pressed by the United States and others to publicly repudiate his earlier rant, Morsi is caught between the demands of his position as president of an American ally and the dogma of the Muslim Brotherhood.
But among Muslim leaders, Morsi is hardly alone in his anti-Semitism. President Ahmadinejad of Iran has never made a secret of his views on Jews and Zionists. In September 2008, he assailed them at the United Nations General Assembly as “a small but deceitful number of people called Zionists” dominating financial and political centres in Europe and the US in “a deceitful, complex and furtive manner”.
This charge resonates deeply among many simple Muslims who see a secret Jewish plot to dominate the world. This has its roots in a document called Protocols of the Elders of Zion that was forged and disseminated by the czarist secret police in 1903. Despite being discredited decades ago, the Protocols continue to inform Muslim attitudes towards Jews.
However, it was not until the creation of the state of Israel in 1948 that Muslims across the world began to express their anger and hatred against Jews openly. Unfortunately, they draw no distinction between Jews and Zionists, although many Jews are not Zionists and many Zionists are not Jews.
Much of the support for Israel and the Zionist movement in the US, for example, comes not from Jews but from Christian Evangelists. They believe that the End of Days will come when the Jews have reclaimed the Promised Land pledged to them by God. The Chosen will then ascend to Heaven. Evangelists are convinced that they will be in this select band that, ironically, excludes Jews.
Muslims often argue that when Jews were persecuted across Europe, and were being exiled and subjected to bloody pogroms, they were protected in the Islamic world. There is much truth in this, although the record is mixed. Often, Jews were treated as dhimmis and forced to pay jaziya, a special tax levied on non-Muslims. As second-class citizens, they were often made to wear distinguishing marks.
But it is certainly true that compared to their lot in most of Europe, they were far better off in Muslim countries where many of them were very successful. However, following the creation of Israel, thousands of Arab Jews migrated to the new state. Now, very few live in Muslim countries.
This mass migration has meant that few Muslims have ever met a Jew, and are therefore willing to believe any slur applied to them. So when Morsi described them as “bloodsuckers who attack the Palestinians, these warmongers, the descendants of apes and pigs”, few Muslims questioned his choice of words.
It is certainly true that the Palestinian conflict has fuelled the virulent anti-Semitism rife in the Muslim world today. Over the years, I have lost count of the many articles critical of the Israeli occupation of Palestinian lands that I have written. Indeed, many of my European and American friends have voiced their revulsion at Israeli policies in the West Bank.
I should mention here that several of these friends are Jewish. It would thus be a mistake to assume that all Jews blindly support Israel’s expansionist land grab and its oppression of the Palestinian people.
But while the Palestinian tragedy might explain some of the anti-Semitism rampant among Muslims, it’s not the whole story. I suspect there’s a strong element of envy that underlies these negative feelings: here is a small group of people who, despite being homeless and persecuted for centuries, has managed to achieve so much against all odds.
Muslims tend to credit American support for Israel’s success. While it is certainly true that US military equipment has been crucial to Israel’s domination, its soldiers have fought bravely and have been brilliantly led. Israeli high-tech factories export their state-of-the-art equipment across the world. Israeli agronomists have transformed the desert.
Jewish scientists and writers have won scores of Nobel prizes. Indeed, this tiny community has contributed to finance, the arts and the sciences out of all proportion to its numbers. But in our blind anger, we overlook these glittering achievements. Even in terms of Islamic texts, Jews are ‘ahle-kitab’, or ‘people of the Book’. While there are many negative references to them as well, the fact is that they are the followers of the oldest of the three major Abrahamic faiths.
So while Muslims can (and mostly do) oppose Israeli policies, this should not blind them to the dictates of common decency and good sense. Calling adversaries names might assuage our anger, but it does not change reality. I am reminded of the childhood rhyme: “Sticks and stones may break my bones/But words will never harm me.”
Apart from moral considerations, practical politics demands a more mature approach. When people like Morsi and Ahmadinejad resort to such childish and hateful rhetoric, the rest of the world tends to be more, and not less, supportive of Israel. Israeli leaders like Netanyahu can underline this anti-Semitism to their friends and detractors in the West, and ask for their help against such implacable foes.
Israelis have long equated criticism of their country with anti-Semitism, seeking to use this ploy to silence its critics. Even Jewish detractors of Israel are subjected to this slur by the powerful Zionist lobby in the US. But by using shrill anti-Semitic rhetoric, Muslims have undercut their own credibility. Now, even rational criticism of Israel is ascribed to anti-Semitism. Ultimately, this has damaged the Palestinian cause.
The writer is the author of Fatal Faultlines: Pakistan, Islam and the West.
And if a Jewish leader had referred to muslims using the same words? World War 3!
There are good and bad people in every group, Jews and Muslims included, but the injustices by the Israeli government in both Palestine and Israel must be roundly condemned by all moral people and that
generally it is not is an indication of immorality and hypocrisy on the part of Israel’s friends. Israel’s political leaders do not exactly use kind words about Muslim leaders either. Of course all should use civilized language and Muslim countries are responsible for a lot of injustice in their own lands. However one wrong does not justify another. The theory about people being envious of Israelis is a popular lark in certain western countries- one wonders who started it. Respectfully yours.
Timely article. I recently supported Jewish voice for peace in support of President Obama’s nomination for secretary of Defense who was strongly opposed by Israeli lobby.
Goes backj to not being to have open discussion. People, when they do not know better, will usually the crowd.
without open but respectful discussion you will get intolerance, hate and prejudice because the dominator will dictate through demagoguery.
I agree with you. Actually, a lot of Mullahs talk like Iranian President Ahmadnizad too. It is a rabble rousing type of statements, good to charge up the crowds. I have often wondered what does it accomplish. I recently visited Israel and the holy shrines of three main faiths there were no restrictions. There were Muslim visitors from England as well. No restrictions. I was also impressed by the greenery, agriculture In Israel, along the areas I visited considering the severe shortage of water.
In the subcontinent, where there is shortage of water, everybody expects govt. to solve the water problem rather than take small scale initiatives.
All three religions have descended from Abram and have same God and almost same scripture. Therefore there is no point in hating each other.
As usual, an excellent thoughtful piece. The plight of the Muslim countries is such that even sensible Muslims will not live in these countries let alone Jews or people from other religions. One should also recognize that Israel is the only democratic country in that entire region. The ignorance of majority of Muslims led by ignorant religious establishments is taking the entire Muslim world into a deep dark hole from where there is no return.
Excellent, thoughtful piece, in deed. Instead of wallowing in self-pity and demonizing others, communities should pay more attention to spreading education, and cultivating a scientific mind that questions prevailing beliefs. But then, both education and scientific spirit will end the current power structure in the Islamic world. Vested interests have compelling interest in status quo.
Very good article. Kindly also write in Urdu dailies that cover larger demographics.
I think the writer seems to have made a blanket statement about all Muslims. Muslims in the West who are critical of Israeli policies have no qualms about working with Jewish businessmen, doctors, lawyers or other professionals. So there definitely is that distinction made between Israeli policy and Jews. However, considering that Muslim lands are under sway of determined extremist forces who don’t even spare fellow Muslims, chances of any understanding towards Jews is diminished.
I totally agree with you. It is long overdue that the Muslims all over the world choose the leaders who think before they speak. These leaders have done more harm to the causes of Palestine and Kashmir then any Jew or Hindu.
We Muslims don’t like any other community in the world except ours — even liking our own — is highly ‘debatable’ — something we.surely don’t know how to do — with words.– without destroying lives and properties.
You are one of the few persons whose articles I find interesting, clear and non-biased but I believe you have completely become disillusioned with the Israel’s ploy to inflict damage to Pakistan in collusion with India and off course USA with its imperialistic hegemony.If you believe in Quran, the you should know that it has been clearly mentioned that Jews and Christians can never be your friend.I do not mean to declare jihad on them but Evangelicals or Jews their common enemy is Muslim.
“—–Apart from moral considerations, practical politics demands a more mature approach. When people like Morsi and Ahmadinejad resort to such childish and hateful rhetoric, the rest of the world tends to be more, and not less, supportive of Israel. Israeli leaders like Netanyahu can underline this anti-Semitism to their friends and detractors in the West, and ask for their help against such implacable foes.—-”
This is worth thinking about , seriously
Don’t know why we are having arguments about Jews, Christians, Hindus, and Muslims. It has nothing to do with religion. It is about economics politics and control. Don’t know why people bring religions in to this. Attitude is a little thing that makes a big difference. If you have an important point to make, don’t try to be subtle or clever. Use a pile driver. Hit the point once. Then come back and hit it again. Then hit it a third time – a tremendous whack. The big fish eats the small one.
Thank You, Irfan.
How true.
Our religion followed Judaism and Christianity and under Islamic tenets we recognize prophets from both religions. Resentment felt for the injustices meted out to the Palestinian people have no place where common decency in speech and behavior matter. The writer is right in saying that we are alienating an entire race of people with such foul mouthed words.